JUNIOR footballers wanting to make the step up from district competitions to major league next year will again have to do so with a three-point price attached to them.
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AFL Victoria has released its updated player points policy for next season, which features little change to this year’s inaugural structure.
One of the most contentious areas of the player points system this year had been the “transferred junior” rating of three points.
Former AFL Central Victoria regional manager Paul Hamilton, who was involved in the working party that developed the player points system, told the Bendigo Advertiser earlier this year he expected the transferred junior to be one of hot topics in the first-year review.
Hamilton – who has since departed AFLCV to take up the role of AFL Victoria state talent manager – said in August the policy aimed to reduce movement of junior players between clubs, “but at the same time there’s got to be some thought and discussion around aspirational players who want to move up the ranks”.
However, the rating for a junior player who, for example, wants to make the step up from the Heathcote District or Loddon Valley league to play in the Bendigo league will remain three points.
One Bendigo league club says it’s disappointed there has been no change to the transferred junior rating.
“Three points for a young player who wants to come in from a district league and have a go at playing major league goes against making them better for mine,” the club said.
“We understand it’s about some protection for the minor league clubs, but players want to strive to be better and we have a system that doesn’t allow that.”
Among the changes to next year’s policy is some amendments around the four-point “premium community player” category.
A premium community player this year was a player who had either finished top five in a club best and fairest, top 10 in a league best and fairest, or won a club goalkicking with a minimum of 40 during the previous three years.
However, under the 2017 policy a recruit will now only be deemed a premium community player if they achieved a top five finish in their senior club best and fairest the previous season.
The player points categories again range from six (played at least one AFL game in previous three years) to one for a home player.
AFLCV announced in September changes to the point allocations to 17 of its 36 clubs across the Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central leagues for next year.
2017 point changes:
BENDIGO – Eaglehawk (+2), Gisborne (+9), Golden Square (+2), Sandhurst (+2), Strathfieldsaye (+2).
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT – Leitchville-Gunbower (-2), LBU (+4), North Bendigo (-2), White Hills (+2).
LODDON VALLEY – Inglewood (-2), Mitiamo (-2), YCW (-2).
NORTH CENTRAL – Charlton (-2), Donald (-2), Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers (+2), St Arnaud (+2), Wedderburn (+2).