PORT ADELAIDE will look to develop new talent academies in 2016 as the AFL considers levelling the draft playing field in future years.
That level playing field would allow clubs to gain priority access to any of their own academy-developed players through the draft bidding system.
At present, only the Queensland and New South Wales clubs after afforded that opportunity with their in-house talent programs.
Any moves to introduce such an draft concession would be extended across the league, ensuring parity across the 18 AFL clubs.
Port Adelaide is one of several clubs in traditional states to offer specialised talent programs.
Its Aboriginal AFL Academy has operated for two years as a dual football and educational outcome program, with players drawn from across South Australia.
Those players tour with the Academy, but are formally aligned to and play for local SANFL and district clubs – an example being Wayne Milera who was an academy member while playing for Central District.
Port Adelaide has committed to developing a female football academy next year working in the AFL’s talent and junior development framework, following the announcement Erin Phillips would tie herself to a Power bid for a licence in the national women’s competition.
Port Adelaide will work to develop a female talent academy after announcing Erin Phillips as its marquee female player [pic: portadelaidefc.com.au/Kane Chenoweth]
Other academy programs, including one for multicultural players, have also been considered, with Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas forecasting the likelihood of new academy development in his annual season-in-review letter to members.
That will be distributed in full to Port Adelaide members on Wednesday night.
“We will develop indigenous and multicultural football academies for children aged between 11 and 15 years in 2016,” Mr Thomas writes.
“These will be additional to the highly successful Aboriginal AFL Academy, which will continue next year.
“Any players who attend our indigenous and multicultural academies, and go on to be drafted, will be given priority access to join Port Adelaide if selected.
“This provides great incentive to the club to invest in the development of these young players and is seen as a positive initiative by the AFL.”
