It's a bit idiotic, really. The AFL has a set of guidelines that give you a pretty fair indication of what you're going to get for any particular player. Even Lisa Scaffidi and Rob "Rocket Surgeon" Butler could look at them and say, "Geez, we'd be pretty happy with a second round pick for Runt Selwood ". But no. Not Nizzy.
Mind you, rather than guidelines, why can't the AFL give clubs their determination of a players compensation arrangements BEFORE they make the deal, so they can decide, among other things, to match offers for restricted free agents? Or does that not give them enough wriggle room if Carlton, Richmond, Essendon or Collingwood are involved?
