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BRISBANE Lions general manager of football David Noble has voiced his frustrations at how the AFL awards compensation for losing free agents to rival clubs.
Noble believes the current system is unfair, citing the situation where Geelong received an end of first round pick, currently selection number 19 overall, for Steven Motlop moving to Port Adelaide.
The Lions also received an end of first round pick, currently number 18 overall, for losing former captain Tom Rockliff to the Power.
Jackson Trengove's move to the Western Bulldogs was set to earn the Power a second-round selection as compensation, but that was cancelled out when they signed Rockliff.
"The compensation pick that's evolved with Trengove, Motlop and Rockliff just does not add up at all," Noble told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.
"We're really frustrated and we're going to talk to the AFL.
"It is secret herbs and spices.
"I sit on the player advisory group and I understand free agency is not full compensation compared to when the new franchises (Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney) came in, but it still doesn't equate.
"We don't believe there are enough mechanisms or enough levels in there that give you the understanding."
The model the AFL uses has attracted criticism in past years when Melbourne received pick three for James Frawley moving to Hawthorn in 2014, while the Hawks received only pick 19 when superstar Lance Franklin went to Sydney.
Those decisions were made in line where the teams finished on the ladder the previous season.
"I've never understood the fact that a team almost lucks in to a position where you finish on the ladder, so if you lose a free agent in that, it's then attached to where you finish on the ladder," Noble said.
"I've always thought that the pick nine or 10 band is palatable for everyone, then you have end of first round, second, end of second round, third.
"We're going to put that on the table and see if those bandings can be reset or reviewed through the AFL system."
The AFL takes a number of factors into account when deciding on what compensation to provide a club when they lose a free agent, including their age, the contract offer and where they were drafted.
Motlop's deal with the Power is reported to be worth $2.2 million over four years.
AFL head of football operations Steve Hocking said that "fairly significant contract" would have played a large part in the Cats receiving an end of first round pick as compensation.
But Hocking conceded it was unlikely players would agree to have their salaries made public to end the speculation.
"I think we're a fair way off that ever happening," Hocking said.
"I'm sure at some stage that maybe the case, but I don't think players would want that occurring.
"The mechanism people are questioning, there is one that Andrew (Dillon) and Ken (Wood) do follow and the age of the player and also their contract is front of mind in that decision making."
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