‘Sick and tired’: Saints manager rips AFL draft system for denying premiers access to prodigy as leaving player is overlooked.
St Kilda president Andrew Bassat called the AFL’s father-son and academy structures “rubbish” at their annual best-and-fairest event.
Bassat addressed the majority of club players, coaches, families, and alumni at Friday night’s dinner for the sixth time in his term as club president, and throughout his speech, he discussed his well-documented views on access to players prior to the draft.
However, before launching his public attack on the league, he prefaced his criticisms of the “systems” by stating that they are not the primary cause for their lack of success since their first and only V/AFL title in 1966.
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“I won’t surprise too many (people) in the room by saying that we’ve been a relatively unsuccessful club through our 151-year history,” said Bassat.
“Before I go on to talk about the system, there’s no doubt by far biggest single reason for our lack of success, has been our own agency.”
Since their catastrophic 2010 finals series, the Saints have won only one final (2020 elimination final vs. Western Bulldogs), and they are largely regarded as one of, if not the finest, teams this century to have never won a championship.
“I will spend a minute talking about the system (father-son and academy picks), because it’s important I do so for two reasons – one, to talk about what we’re doing about it, but why I think this should galvanise us, rather than have us fearful,” said Bassat.
“The system isn’t an equal playing field, as we all know.
“The more I look at it, the system appears to favor wealthy teams as well as northern clubs. Our responsibility is to make up the statistics, not whine about them.
“In terms of what we’re doing about it, it’s fair to say that our club is sick and tired of meekly accepting its rubbish.”
Bassat’s address was temporarily interrupted by a burst of applause from people in the audience.
“We’re absolutely committed as a club to fight relentlessly, to ensure that we’re given a fairer opportunity for success.”
The 58-year-old then stated that he and the Saints had made inroads into what they believe are necessary changes that must be made across the competition, referring to clubs’ access to father-son prospects and how much they must cough up in draft capital to acquire a player of this nature.
Levi Ashcroft, the brother of 2024 Norm Smith Medallist Will and son of three-time Brisbane premiership player Marcus, is widely tipped as the best player in this year’s draft pool. However, the Lions will still acquire him, regardless of how early another team bids for him.
Bassat, who currently has pick 18 as their first pick in the draft, was furious that the Lions would still have access to Ashcroft at what he views is an excessively cheap price to pay – and he let it be known.
“We’ve actually made some progress this year; we led the charge to ensure that a fairer price is paid for father-son and academy (picks),” Bassat said, before revealing his caustic conversation with commissioners at last Saturday’s grand final.
“Unfortunately, the AFL, in its wisdom, decided to make the modifications the next year; hence, I had a terrific time after halftime (at the Grand Final), when it was very evident Brisbane would win.
“I found every single commissioner there. The conversation went like this: (Bassat): ‘I’ve got a terrific suggestion – how about you send the top player in the draft to Brisbane this year!’
“And they would start walking away, and I’d say, ‘Oh, don’t charge them for it.'”
“The system is total crap. We will fight the war until my final day as president, and maybe beyond.
Bassat’s address began to shift gears not long after, remarking that “success will never be given to us,” and that “the reality is, the system will only change slowly.”
Since the system’s inception in 1986, the Saints have produced three AFL father-son products, as well as three AFLW father-daughter choices, the most by any club in AFLW history.
Bailey Rice, the son of Dean Rice, who played 234 games, was their final father-son selection in 2015, and he played 11 AFL games.
2023 All-Australian. Callum Wilkie won the club’s prized best and fairest award, beating out colleagues Jack Sinclair and Josh Battle for the top prize.
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