We can have three rookies on the list regardless as Solomon has retired, we only have one veteran (in Grover) and Ruffles is on the Long term injury list. No dilemna.

In all honesty I think we can have more (5) with our other LTI's (Thornton?)

Grover is better than Silvagni and Palmer is better than Van Berlo - there's your explanation

We had a spot for a rookie upgrade before the season(given to barlow) and get another midway through the year. Solly is also on the long term injury list and won't be coming back, giving us another spot.

We have plenty of room.

I remember Harvey saying in an interview that we have an eight week window. I guess to try out rookies.(?)The key skills this year are 'play on with precision' and 'quality pressure'. So far Silvagni aint doin too bad and Van Berlo seems to get better with each game. Pearce and deBoer were developing last year but maybe played more than they deserved. They still might get another chance this year.

I'm not sure that Palmer's spot on the list was being replaced by a rookie (at least not for the 2010 season), so when he's right to play there might not be a need for a player to be put back on the rookie list for him.

I think clubs were allowed to elevate a rookie at the start of the season too - kind of an extension on the playing list.

The way I've tallied it is: Barlow got the free spot. Silvagni and Van Berlo could have Thornton & Solomon's places.

Grover was on the veteran's list so I think there was a space available on the main list because of that, or maybe that's status quo?

There's also Ruffles who could be recovering quite fast from long term injury.

Depending on the length of Garrick Ibbotson's injury there might be another temporary spot available for a rookie elevation.

So I reckon there's still currently the option to elevate Deboer and/or Pearce.

Someone to correct me if I've lost track of it, and elevating rookies could be further complicated by how it affects the salary cap payments for the season.

I think Harves said in an FTV interview that we wont upgrade Rookies unless were gonna play em....

I believe that once a player is elevated to the main list there is an AFL players association agreement that the players get a minimum amount for the season plus bonuses for games they play over a certain amount.

Perhaps someone has a link to how it works. We must have room in our Cap...i reckon its around 5 to 8 million per club.

Who can enlighten Dockerland with the figures?

Apologies in advance, this is going to be long.

Barlow was elevated as the Nominated Rookie. Clubs can have either 2 veterans outside the main list, 1 veteran outside the main list + 1 Nominated Rookie (as Freo do with Grover and Barlow) or 2 Nominated Rookies (as Freo did in 2009 with Broughton and De Boer).

Dean Solomon's retirement (I believe he may actually be on the LTI as opposed to officially 'retired' to free up a list spot) opens up a season long rookie elevation spot.

Grover, Thornton and Ruffles were all placed on the LTI prior to the commencement of the season, freeing up an additional 3 rookie elevation spots, giving Freo a total of 5 rookie spots. (Just for clarification, placing a player on the LTI makes them unavailable for a minimum of 8 weeks and they are ineligible to play at any level for this time)

So far, Barlow, Van Berlo and Silvagni have been elevated. I haven't been able to confirm who VB or SNOS have replaced. This is important as when their replacement returns, they must return to the rookie list (obviously with Solomon not returning, whoever took his spot can stay all season)

There is also a mid-season rookie spot available to all 16 clubs. This allows a free elevation without need for a LTI.

Payment to rookies and salary caps get a little more tricky. It depends on why they are elevated to the senior list (nominated rookie or LTI replacement) and whether or not they stay there. If you're really interested, try to get a hold of the AFL player rules/CBA.

Thanks RB for the run down!

Maybe it's just me but I can't see a rookie problem. Just look at the age of the current Rookies.

Elevated Rookies so far this season:
Barlow 22
SCOS 22
VB 21

Still on Rookie List:
DeBoer 20
Mike Pearce 19
Shepheard 19
Sibo 19

Considering the play that these older guys are getting and the strength of the current list, what is the rush to elevate these guys?

Let them play in the WAFL and they'll be as good as sure-thing draft picks in the diluted drafts over the next 2 years, or players to sub straight in if there is an injury.

The blokes already elevated prove that a 21 year old rookie is great for slotting in and making a contribution straight away.

Just for interests sake:

Age of young blokes on current seniors list:

18: Bollenhagen, Chrichton, Fyfe, Houghton, Morabito, Roberton

19: Bucovaz, Hall, Hill, Ruffles, Suban, Walters


IMO we are very well set up to not just survive but thrive in the next two expansion-diluted years.

Is there such a thing as a compromised draft where Freo are concerned? I mean, we're gonna unearth some new diamonds regardless of what other teams are doing, right?

I can see Freo's scouts working hard to find the new rookies.
I can see the scouts of 17 other clubs scouting Freo's scouts.