jt wrote:
I keep hearing the GC have 'access' to one un-contracted player per club.
Can anyone explain this term please?
What happens if NO ONE from a particular club eg Carlton wants to go? (Highly doubt it but just hypothetically)
..it's just 'access'.. ..basically if say Gibbs isn't signed up before then, they get to offer him a contract first, before we get a look in.. ..Gibbs is free to accept, or refuse.. ..ideally, clubs will be extending current contracts beyond that year.. ..obviously, clubs don't generally like signing long term contracts, but GC17 is a big monkey wrench.. ..easily, very easily circumvented though.. ..just extend current contracts of players you dont wanna lose.. ..again, GC17 has access to 1 player from each club, not that they are garunteed to get 1 player.. ..just a garunteed foot in the door come contract time for that year.. ..their edge, is having an extra 1 million in their salary cap to splash around, and the fact that this year they get 12 17yr old kids (basically who they think to be the top dozen from the following draft), and then they get a truckload of kids from the following draft.. ..in all, more than half a team of young kids from the 'same batch'.. ..they'll wanna aim for a few youngish guns, and some good reliable mature bodies to mix with the kids.. ..if they're smart, they'd hold onto their picks.. ..and by doing so will help 'weaken' the draft pool for the other 16 clubs and they'll get an edge off that after a few yrs..