Cornes: Free agency compo "couldn't be any worse", here's the fix

The AFL has reportedly tabled a free agency shake-up that would see compensation picks not start until pick No. 8 in the draft.

According to the AFL, the changes would “make it harder for clubs to match bids on Academy and father-son prospects in this year's draft”.

In what Kane Cornes describes as a system that “is a mess” and “couldn’t be any worse”, the Fireball co-host has endorsed David King’s suggestion of a one-man panel to have the final say on which picks satisfy a proposed trade deal.

Dissecting the league’s proposed changes, King said: “I don’t understand why we’re making this move and why now?

“To decide that we will protect the first – they’ve somehow decided eight – where’s that number come from?

“Why doesn’t Justin Reid (AFL Head of Football Performance and List Management) nominate what the pick is. Everyone accepts the final verdict of what he says.

“So when Lance Franklin goes to Sydney, instead of pick 19 Reid would say he is worth pick 3 or this is how it is guys. That’s his role. He has his finger on the pulse; he is the police of club list processes and everything under that banner.

“Why can’t he say Zak Butters is worth picks 1 and 10. Oscar Allen is worth pick 12. Why do we have to have this blanket? Butters is worth more than one pick.

“Look at teams in recent years, Kangaroos, West Coast, Port, Essendon, Carlton; for them to lose a star, they need a pick higher than eight to correct and come again. That’s way too deep.”

Cornes agreed with the notion of Reid coming in to have the final say in a set-up which mirrors the MRO.

“Free agency picks would not start until after pick eight… on the surface of it, besides the fact they are trying to screw Port Adelaide over because for the first time they have massive free agent about to leave, where did they pluck eight from,” Cornes said.

“It’s a system no one understands. At least someone would be accountable for that. Like the MRO, if you want to sook, sook to Chris. Largely we can blame one person.

“Would a gut-feel free agency system of one individual be better than what we have got now? It couldn’t be any worse.

“I would prefer first round untouched. Say West Coast lost their captain Oscar Allen for pick 19, is that going to satisfy everyone. But right now, the draft is a mess and they’re looking into it.”