THE GROWING demands of talent identification has led to AFL recruiters joining the AFL Coaches Association to build an industry-wide model to support their unique and ever-expanding role within football departments.
At least 50 recruiting staff from across 17 of the 18 clubs are understood to have already paid dues to become an associate member of the organisation, a membership available to staff working within AFL football departments.
The first initiative of the Association is to consult with clubs and industry representatives to develop a standard employment contract and make it available to clubs to use as a template when contracting recruiters.
Recruiters are seeking to create discussion with clubs to address issues surrounding work-life balance, employment conditions and career development as the calendar of events requiring recruiters continues to expand with many of the game's most experienced list managers supportive of the initiative.
The year of an AFL recruiter now spans from January when the AFL Academy representatives travel overseas to the draft in late November and the induction of recruits in December.
Most football department staff are contracted until the end of October.
The recruiter's role involves weekend work, constant travel and little downtime during the season with the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships kicking off this week in the AFL bye rounds.
The role of recruiting department has expanded quickly in recent seasons as the demand on talent has increased with two extra clubs, changing trading rules and the development of the NAB AFL Women's League.
They cover competitions at all levels across Australia and have to be more aware of future prospects than ever before with the trading of future picks. They are expected to scan talent in other sports as well as international markets and have helped set up structures to support the recruiting of women.
This has all happened at the same time an AFL placed a cap on football department expenditure forcing even well-resourced clubs to trim expenditure where possible.
This has placed pressure on all roles within football departments.
AFL Coaches Association CEO Mark Brayshaw said the work done last year to develop standard employment contracts for assistant coaches showed what could be achieved if recruiters and clubs shared ideas with good will that could improve quality of life and subsequently performance of football department staff.
"Last year we became aware of good ideas that were in application across a handful of the clubs and we put them together and most of the clubs were happy to share what worked and what didn't," Brayshaw told AFL.com.au.
"We ended up with something that was of benefit across the board and we expect to do the same thing in this instance."
