The AFL Commission today advised both the Gold Coast Suns Football Club and the Carlton Football Club they would each be provided with competition assistance, after making an application to the League under Rule 19.2 (Special Assistance).

At its meeting yesterday in Melbourne, AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said the Commission had considered applications from both clubs and had determined each club required differing levels of assistance, after a detailed assessment of the core issues facing the two clubs, their separate strategic considerations, their opportunities for improvement and an examination of how their respective issues should be addressed.

The Commission’s decisions were:

Gold Coast Suns FC:
The club would be provided an additional two category A rookie positions for the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
The club would have the right to pre-list three (3) players who have previously nominated or been eligible for the Draft or were previously listed with an AFL Club prior to the upcoming 2018 NAB AFL Draft (this right can be on-traded).

Carlton FC:
The club would have the right to pre-list two (2) players who have previously nominated or been eligible for the Draft or were previously listed with an AFL Club prior to the upcoming 2018 NAB AFL Draft (this right can be on-traded).

Mr McLachlan said the Commission had accepted the recommendations put forward by Andrew Dillon (AFL General Counsel) and Steve Hocking (AFL General Manager, Football Operations).

Mr McLachlan also said that following discussions with both the Brisbane Lions Football Club and St Kilda Football club, with respect to the special assistance provisions, Hocking and Dillon had recommended that special assistance not be provided to those two clubs at this time.

“The review by Andrew Dillon and Steve Hocking of the submission from the Gold Coast Suns was strongly concentrated around the club’s List Build and Retention history, its current TPP profile and an examination of the club’s environment and culture around the playing list.

“it was their recommendation to the Commission that the Suns needed to be able to access mature talent coupled with a greater emphasis on Club programs and growing Queensland talent to generate sustained success,” he said.

“For the decisions around the Carlton Football Club, the examination of the club’s request strongly focussed on its List Management and player age demographic, the development and leadership for its players and the club’s player management and high-performance areas.

“Again, it was recommended the club needed to be able to access mature talent for its player list.

“In the case of both clubs, it is the AFL’s view that the addition of 2018 player draftees, coupled with the current younger talent within both club lists, will be able to lift the clubs up the ladder through the next three years,” Mr McLachlan said.

The Special Assistance rule for the Commission’s decision-making reads as follows:
19.2 Special Assistance
(a) At the conclusion of the Home and Away Matches in each Football Year, the Commission may determine in its absolute discretion that a Club is entitled to one or more priority selections at the next occurring National Draft Selection Meeting. Such right to one or more priority draft selections shall be exercisable during the Draft as directed by the Commission.
(b) The Commission will exercise its discretion under this Rule 19 only in exceptional circumstances taking into account a recommendation from the AFL Executive, the recent on field performance of a Club and any other matter the Commission in its absolute discretion regards relevant.