this may be too complicated to explain in here, but I was wondering how the AFL player movements work.
I understand the trade period, and the rookie draft.
but what about delistings and free agency (unrestricted / restricted).
for example, if this was in the NRL, could we say decide that Haas was too much trouble and simply say "see ya, delisted"
This is my jam.
So the key points in answer to your questions are:
Delistings generally happen in three ways:
1. Most common - to players who are in the last year of the contracts and the club doesn't want them anymore, essentially, this is just not renewing a contract like Turpin
2. Players that the club doesn't really want to keep but they are contracted, so they delist them but will retake them in the Rookie Draft (this happens for mature age players a few days after the national draft), in this instance, another club can come in and take them if their picks come before the club in question, so teams will never do this with a player they want to keep, it is too risky
3. A player who is contracted can be delisted but they get their contract paid out in full and this comes off the club's salary cap for the next season, this NEVER happens
Free Agency is convoluted man. Basically:
- An unrestricted free agent is someone who has been at a club 7 years I think and is NOT in the top 25% of the salaries for the team OR has been delisted in the past
- A restricted free agent is someone at a club under 7 years And/or is in the top 25% of earners in the team
- Unrestricted free agents will usually receive a compensation pick in the national draft depending on how long their new contract is, their age, the salary in the new contract and a number of other factors
- A restricted free agent can sign with another club but their existing club can match the contract offered if they choose and force a trade with the intended destination club
I hope that helps somewhat