Saints boss slams ‘nonsense’ draft move in fiery rant

St Kilda president Andrew Bassat has criticised the AFL’s draft system, claiming inequality exists between the league’s 18 clubs.
Bassat, who is also the co-founder of the employment marketplace website Seek, took aim at how the draft unfairly processes father-son and academy picks at reduced rates — labelling the current system “absolute nonsense”.
During his address at the Saints’ Trevor Barker Award, Bassat took the opportunity to voice his club’s frustration with the bidding system, claiming it favours certain organisations.
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Saint Kilda president Andrew Bassat used his speech at the club’s Trevor Barker Award to criticise the AFL’s draft system. @cleary_mitch via X
“It’s not a level playing field, as we know,” he told the room at Crown Palladium on Monday night.
“The system is designed to favour the wealthier clubs and it’s designed to favour the northern clubs, and our role is meant to be just to make up the numbers and not complain about it.”
Having been robbed of talent, Bassat vowed that the club would no longer settle for a bad hand and would fight for change.
“In terms of what we are doing about it, it’s fair to say our club is sick and tired of meekly accepting this — it’s rubbish — and we are absolutely committed as a club, relentlessly, to ensure that we are given a fairer opportunity for success,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
“We have actually made some progress this year. We have led the charge to ensure a fairer price is paid for father-son and academy [picks]. Unfortunately, the AFL, in its wisdom, chose to make the changes next year.”
In response to videos of Bassat’s rant popping up online, it appears that it is not just St Kilda who are critical of the draft with Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes commenting on one post: “He’s spot on”.
In August, the AFL announced changes to its points bidding system which will impact the draft, trades and free agency. However, this will not come into effect until 2025.
The Saints believe the draft value index (DVI) — the scale that determines the draft pick and accompanying points value used to secure linked talent — is unfair.
According to them, the introduction of state-based talent academies in NSW and Queensland voids the even playing field of the draft.
As the upcoming trade period and national draft will remain under the current arrangement, premiers Brisbane will be able to secure highly-touted youngster Levi Ashcroft early as a father-son selection.
Ashcroft, who is the son of club legend Marcus and brother of reigning Norm Smith Medallist Will, would have been a contender for the No.1 pick had he been on the open market.
But after agreeing to join Brisbane as a father-son selection, the Lions will get a 20 per cent discount on any bid for Ashcroft and have the luxury of picking him using back-end selections.
As it stands, the Lions have only picks 18, 56 and 69 in this year’s draft, equating to a combined 1228 draft points.
If the changes to the rules had been effected this year, the Lions may have had to trade a player on their list to secure more points to match a bid.
Will Ashcroft of the Dragons (L) and his younger brother Levi Ashcroft of the Dragons (R) pose for a photograph with their father, former Brisbane Lions triple premiership player Marcus Ashcroft. Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
“I had a great time after half time when it was pretty clear that Brisbane was going to win,” Bassat said.
“Every single commissioner I found, the conversation went to the effect: ‘I have a great idea. How about you give the best player in the draft to Brisbane this year?’. And then I would start walking away and say: ‘Aw, don’t charge them for it’.
“The system is absolute nonsense, it’s complete and utter nonsense. We will fight the battle, certainly until my last day as president, and hopefully beyond. We’ll fight this and, hopefully, make progress because right is on our side.”
Since father-son selections were introduced 38 years ago, the Saints have only ever had three compared to the Lions seven since 1999.
The AFL trade period begins on Monday.