Two rule changes are proposed for the ORFFW in 2022. A majority of 7 votes will be required for either rule change to pass. Ideally both would be ruled in or out prior to the 2021 Mid-Season draft to be held from Tuesday 23rd February. So please have your say ASAP by commenting below. A - The number of ORFFW keepers each season is to be increased from 11 to 12 (which reduces the minimum number of players to be drafted in the 2022 PSD from 10 per team to 9 per team). B - The last two rounds of the 2022 PSD (and all PSD’s thereafter) will be combined, with the 2021 wooden spooners taking their 2 consecutive picks through to the 2021 premiers taking their 2 consecutive picks to complete the draft. All other rounds of the draft will be unaffected.
Discussion/Rationale The intention of A is to reduce the strength of the delisted Free Agent pool SLIGHTLY given our experience in 2021 delistings. In practice our weaker teams had 2 or 3 delistees re-drafted while the higher teams had up to 10 players re-drafted. These figures indicate it is working as intended but an increase of 1 keeper is preferred to keep a healthy draft pool to promote equalization while providing marginally more stability from season to season for all 12 teams. The intention of B is to reduce the time taken to draft players given we have (by necessity) a short draft window. We took 6.5 days this year with an increased pace late in the draft stopping this from extending into Wednesday or Thursday prior to Round 1. I think 7 or 8 days for 10 rounds would be the expected time in 2022 without any changes. If rule changes A and B are both are both supported we effectively cut back from 10 rounds of picks to 8 rounds (with rounds 8 and 9 combined) which gives sufficient breathing space that we can certainly finish the draft by the Tuesday night prior to Round 1 (hopefully earlier). It also brings greater risk and strategy into play for the previous year’s finalists knowing that their shortlist will be pummelled in the 20 or so picks between their 3rd last and 2nd last picks.
@Len @Tracey @That KI Guy @anthak @dmandrews @FreoDockers @Tiny_doughnut @marconofrio @ver_redit_optatum @Pearcey47 @Peter W Hey everyone as per the above we want widespread participation to reach a majority view so please post with your views. Mine A – support it B – support it
A - Agreed, would ideally see for me see us stop at 13 the following year B - I'm ambivalent, happy to roll with it, happy to be swayed the other way.