Australian Football League To Overhaul Rules Governing Northern State Academies

The Australian Football League is "set to overhaul rules for northern state academies that Victorian clubs say allows rivals to quarantine young stars at cut-price rates," according to Jon Ralph of the HERALD SUN. AFL side Collingwood is "leading the charge as Sydney prepares to promote a star academy pupil onto its list." The AFL review "will take in academy selections plus father-son selections at all clubs." It "is expected clubs will be required to pay fairer rates for exclusive-access talent." Collingwood is one of a "number of clubs lobbying the league, believing they will soon pay millions in equalisation fees while access to talent remains far from equal." Collingwood President Eddie McGuire said, "I am red hot on this -- this is going to impact on every Victorian and South Australian and West Australian club" (HERALD SUN, 6/25).