Bulldogs to pass on two rookies
Rolling in it one day...
Bulldogs to pass on two rookies
Mark Stevens | November 20, 2008 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24677913-19742,00.html

THE Western Bulldogs may play only a cameo role in the rookie draft because of financial restraints. Although the Dogs are poised to announce a profit of more than $600,000 this year, their football budget remains tight.

The Dogs are allowed to take up to seven rookies into next season under new AFL rules, but are set to go in two short.

Three of the Dogs' 2008 rookies will be retained and New South Wales scholarship-holder Chris Ogle will be counted as a rookie next year.

It means the Dogs are likely to take only one player in the rookie draft, to be held after the pre-season draft on December 16.

The rookie draft has become a golden recruiting ground and the Dogs have benefited as much as any club in the past, picking up Dale Morris and Matthew Boyd there.

Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia, who recruited Nathan Bock and Ben Rutten as rookies in his time at Adelaide, said the club had to decide between spending on another player welfare staff member or extra rookies.

Each rookie costs $35,000-$40,000 a season.

"It is a decision based on financials . . . we might go in two short," Fantasia said.

The Dogs can't afford to expand their list and keep up with the richer clubs, who will take advantage of the AFL's offer of two extra rookies.

"It is a good move for the AFL to allow two extra rookies per club, but they are not paying for those extra rookies," Fantasia said.

"It makes it difficult for the less financial clubs. So it's the same old story: the rich benefit and the ones who don't have the money don't.

"We're not crying poor, but the rules support the ones with money. In some ways, it can defeat the very reason for having a salary cap."

The Bulldogs, who at one stage could not afford any rookies, can maintain five, but not push to seven.

"We're being very diligent and we've climbed back to the extent we've got five rookies, but we can't just find another $80,000," Fantasia said.

The Dogs will retain James Mulligan, Henry White and John Shaw as rookies next year.

Cash-strapped Melbourne has the funds to chase a full allotment of rookies.

The Demons raised more than $20,000 at their best-and-fairest night to ensure they would snare a full complement.

Clubs are now allowed a total of eight veterans or rookies. The Dees will have six rookies and two veterans.

Having 5 rookies is a good position to be in, but an extra 2 would be nice.

So we have:

James Mulligan
John Shaw
Henry White
Chris Ogle

one position to fill.................................

With Cordy taken in this years draft, another tall forward who can pitch hit in the ruck, and looking to take another 2 talls with picks 31 & 32, our tall stocks should be very healthy indeed.

I think back to a time when we would truly struggle to afford any rookies, so to have 5 is excellent. Of course it would be an advantage to have another 2 but those are the way things are...

Liam Picken is doing the pre-season stuff, and if picked up as a rookie, Williamstown have agreed to pay 50% of whatever it costs.

That's very interesting.

Was reported on SEN a few days ago that we do now have the funds for the extra rookies!