Prominent AFL player manager lashes “joke” rookie list rules

The AFL’s rookie list rules have once again come under fire after this year’s rookie draft saw just eight undrafted players selected.

The majority of the picks made were delisted AFL players being re-rookied by their existing team or picked up by another.

The rookie list has trended in this direction for a few years now, with the diamonds in the rough being overlooked in favour of keeping existing players.

Former Adelaide key forward Josh Jenkins, who was selected as a rookie initially by Essendon, has consistently expressed his frustration with the way it is now used.

“It’s a circus mate. If I was looking to get a gig now, I wouldn’t have got a start. It’s farcical,” Jenkins told SEN’s Off the Bench on Saturday.

Jenkins expanded on his thoughts on SEN Drive.

Prominent AFL player manager Liam Pickering agreed with Jenkins’ assessment.

“That’s what I mean, there’s no picks and it’s not the clubs’ fault,” Pickering added.

“I’m not happy at all with it.

“It’s become a joke. Let’s make it 44 on a list and make it one list and don’t worry about rookie lists and young players getting opportunities.

“You don’t have to delist players who are contracted.”

Jared Polec, Lochie O’Brien, Bigoa Nyuon, Lewis Taylor, Cam Ellis-Yolman, Isaac Chugg, Jez McLennan, Matthew Cottrell, Mitch Crowden, Jacob Wehr, Sam Mayes and Connor Blakely were players delisted by their respective teams before being re-rookied for 2022.

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