Melbourne Demons coach Paul Roos has slammed free agency following the news that defender James Frawley is set to join Hawthorn. Roos labelled free agency as 'the greatest de-equalisation policy in the last 100 years.'
James Frawley is leaving the Demons for Hawthorn. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
A SPECIAL AFL committee ticked off Melbourne’s acquisition of the prized No. 3 draft pick as compensation for departed free agent James Frawley, who signed at premier Hawthorn on Monday.
The Herald Sun can reveal a three-man working group had the power to dampen the most contentious compensation selection awarded, but instead gave the green light in a jackpot result for the Demons.
The league has had the committee in place since free agency’s inception with a view to correct any “material anomalies” the AFL’s secret formula spits out.
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Former Gold Coast boss Travis Auld, AFL football operations boss Mark Evans and talent manager Kevin Sheehan are on this year’s committee.
Auld crossed to the AFL executive in July.
It is not known if the committee has ever activated its fail-safe powers.
A handful of clubs believed Frawley’s Hawks contract — believed to be worth $2.2 million across four years — could only net the Demons an end-of-first-round selection.
But the AFL instead awarded the highest band of compensation, a month after rejecting Melbourne’s submission for a priority pick.
Brisbane Lions chief executive Greg Swann last week said Frawley did not warrant pick three.
The AFL factors in contract size and the players’ age when determining what compensation to award.
It has also emerged that the Demons were now likely to take picks 2 and 3 to the draft with their hopes of potentially packaging them for a big-fish midfielder such as Patrick Dangerfield dwindling.
Melbourne is also expected to seize key defender Sam Frost from GWS to help replace Frawley, but is less likely to secure expensive Lions veteran Daniel Merrett.
The Demons are tipped to snare midfield beast Angus Brayshaw with pick No. 2 and could use No. 3 on a key forward, such as Paddy McCartin.
Collingwood is set to ask for Melbourne’s second-round pick (currently No. 23) for premiership defender Heritier Lumumba.
Any recommendations made by the AFL committee are then ratified by AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon.
James Frawley says the prospect of challenging for an AFL flag was a major factor in his decision to move to Hawthorn after he was unveiled by the premiers on Monday.
Frawley, 26, said the success of dual premiership Hawk Brian Lake was key to his decision to defect to Waverley.
“Every player plays footy to try and win a premiership and be in a successful side and that’s what I see here at Hawthorn,” the All-Australian defender said.
“Lakey has had some good luck coming here from the Bulldogs two years running for two flags, that’s a pretty good strike rate.”
Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright said Frawley told the Hawks of his intentions on Wednesday.
James Frawley is changing colours and will wear the Hawthorn strip in 2015. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia
“It was between us and Geelong is my understanding,” Wright said.
“Having recently turned 26, James is a quality defender in the prime of his career.
“We’re rapt to get him in but we wanted to make sure it was the right terms.”
Wright said no offers had been made to fringe players Ryan Schoenmakers, Mitch Hallahan or Luke Lowden by rival clubs.
The Hawks are eyeing Giants midfielder Jono O’Rourke.
The former No. 2 pick — who is also on St Kilda’s radar — is holidaying in Mexico but could be swapped for Hawthorn’s first draft pick, currently No. 19.
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