The loophole that allows AFL clubs to database established players arsenic rookies has descended into full “farce” aft Hawthorn delisted triple-premiership victor Jack Gunston with a committedness to adhd him backmost connected their database successful the AFL rookie draft.
Gunston, 33, is the 2nd premiership subordinate this week to bull the chop from the main database successful a determination designed to assistance clubs get successful the strongest presumption imaginable for the draught period.
Collingwood premiership victor Oleg Markov, who was portion of the flag-winning Magpies broadside successful 2023, was delisted alongside cardinal guardant Ash Johnson, with a nine committedness to re-sign them successful the rookie draft.
North Melbourne besides announced it would bash the aforesaid happening with mid-season enlistee Toby Pink, arsenic volition Sydney with Aaron Francis among a agelong database of rookie draught picks already sealed.
Hawthorn said the determination to displacement Gunston disconnected the database temporarily allowed it to “operate wrong AFL rules successful the utilisation of picks successful the upcoming draught period”.
Hawthorn nationalist recruiting and database manager Mark McKenzie said the database manoeuvre was made with Gunston’s afloat support.
“Ultimately, this database determination ensures the nine is successful the strongest presumption imaginable heading into the draft, which Jack was precise supportive of,” McKenzie said.
“Jack’s attack to this database manoeuvre speaks to his selflessness and committedness to Hawthorn successful wanting to enactment the nine successful the champion presumption moving forward.”
An outspoken professional of the rule, erstwhile Port Adelaide prima Kane Cornes labelled the misuse of the rookie list, initially designed to let clubs to draught players who needed to beryllium developed, arsenic a “disgrace”.
“What a disgrace the AFL’s rookie rules are,” Cornes said connected SEN vigor connected Wednesday.
”I consciousness similar I bash this each year, you tin spell backmost and perceive to my thoughts connected this for the past 10 years. Oleg Markov is 28 and the nine is allowed to re-rookie him.
“Make the rookie database for rookies and springiness those players the opportunities, not players that person been astatine aggregate clubs, are 28 years of property and person been delisted from their nine and volition beryllium re-rookied.
“The rookie database rules proceed to beryllium the biggest farce successful shot and this is different example.”