How does the AFL draft work?

Question

Is it like in america where they draft people from college? how does it work? and how much is their salary cap?

Answer 1

All the draftees go through a training camp, with lots of different tests and what not. they also play in a state vs state competition.. then the clubs pick which players they want in order of where they finished the year before and how many games they won.

The salary cap is $8.5 million.

Answer 2

The footy draft is based on finish, like here in America, but extra picks for teams that finish in the bottom. For instance, Carlton got Matty Krautzer for a priority pick, but they tanked the last half of the season. The players don't go to college to play. They are drafted from the under 18's in Victoria (TAC Cup) and the SANFL, WAFL and other youth clubs, not actually school teams. If you are a player in high school age, you have already probably played under 14's, 16's and 18's on a state all-star team.

That is what I glean from nearly 25 years of following the game from America and five trips to Melbourne. I did get to see Gary Ablett, Jr play in the under 18's carnival.

I am sure a native can explain it better, more concise, exact in the relation to youth programs. But for fact, it is nothing like here where football, basketball and most baseball players go to college. I guess it resembles the draft pool in hockey, big-time youth clubs, although now a lot of players come from the USA college system.

Answer 3

In the draft, clubs receive picks based on the position in which they finish on the ladder during the season.

The number 1 pick this year was Matthew Kreuzer who went to Carlton,  he will earn a base of $53,700 plus $2,600 for each senior game. He also gets a $10,000 bonus for being picked first.

Fifth round pick, Aaron Kite (71st overall) who was picked up by Adelaide will earn a $46,300 base plus $2,600 for each senior game.

Also, 1st year players who play 1-5 games will get an extra $2,500, 6-10 games $5,000 and 11 games or more $7,500.

That's a potential haul of $128,400 for Kreuzer and $111,000 for Kite. Pretty good for two 18 year olds..