ASPIRING AFL footballers would be required to spend a year at an elite training academy and wait until they turn 19 before being drafted, if North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has his way.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the AFL Coaches Association in Sydney on Thursday, Scott said he favoured the introduction of what would come to be regarded as football's version of a gap year.
"I think the kids of 16, 17 and 18, their priority should be their school," he told AFL.com.au.
"I'd like to see the draft age go up to 19. Too often we're seeing 16-year-olds who want to be league footballers neglecting their school work and I think an elite level academy for boys who have just finished school and before they go into the AFL system is a good thing."
According to Scott, now entering his third season as coach of the Kangaroos, clubs find it difficult to straddle their dual roles of competing in an elite sporting competition and developing young players.
"The TAC Cup clubs do an amazing job considering the amount of time they have to spend with players. But we need an elite level academy once school is finished so they can concentrate on their sport and some tertiary study before coming into an AFL environment," he said.
More than a decade of playing and coaching at the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood and now North Melbourne has left Scott convinced of his position.
"The argument against that is always, 'What about the Chris Judd's of the world who are ready to play at 18?' but for every Chris Judd there are thousands of others who aren't at that level," he said.
"My concern is also for the two or three kids who get drafted to a football club, 99 per cent of them don't, so what happens to them when they're finished?
"An elite level academy for the year after they finish school makes a whole lot of sense."
AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan has heard such calls before, but said he is comfortable with the draft age remaining at 18.
"I'm not sure we have the money to fund a gap year," he said.
"There are about 140 young men who enter the AFL playing system each year, so there would be hundreds more who would be eligible for such a talent academy. We're talking big numbers here."
Sheehan said there was an understanding among AFL clubs that player development was part of their brief. The League's talent development pathway comprises six stages, with levels five and six, investment and maintenance, considered to be the responsibilities of the AFL clubs.
And he added that part of the attraction for young boys making football their sport of choice was the prospect of earning a comfortable five-figure wage in their first year after finishing school.
"There are 140 jobs up for grabs for 18-year-old boys each year. It's a challenge and they have much work ahead of them, but it's the chance at a great career," he said.
You can follow AFL Media senior writer Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
ACT NOW: The deadline to purchase a BOX ON pledge and have your name on the North Melbourne debt reduction jumper is March 31. Head to kangaroos.com.au/boxon now to make a pledge.
