Delisted Sydney forward Cody Hirst is reportedly set to become a key case study in the mid-season draft going forward.
The 19-year-old took the chance on a six-month contract with Sydney mid-season, rather than waiting for the National Draft, where he would have received a two-year deal.
Now the delisted Swan will have to hope someone takes a punt on him in the draft, where he was expected to be a top 50 pick before being listed by the Swans.
AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge reported on Tuesday that Hirst’s delisting will become a talking point for the AFL, looking at ways to solve the issue.
However, Tim Watson believes Hirst, and other players in his position, should continue to jump at the chance to be on an AFL list.
“If you got that opportunity, you would take it wouldn’t you?” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“You’ve got the opportunity to go to a great club like the Swans and you back yourself as a 19-year-old and say you’re going to make it happen.”
Garry Lyon says that it’s on the player managers to make sure it’s in the best interests of the teenagers, given they will likely jump at it without thinking.
“You’d have to weigh so much up, wouldn’t you? This is not specific to Cody (Hirst). You have to weigh up the club you’re going to and what the opportunity is going to be like to make an impact in the short term as opposed to continuing to stay in the system and being available to 18 other clubs in a couple of months time,” Lyon said.
“As a 19-year-old, of course you’re going to say ‘I’m going’, but it’s up to the management to say hang on, let’s look at all the options.”
Hirst himself backed this up on SEN Breakfast, saying he has no regrets and would do it all over again.
“Of course I would (do it again). I’m not going to say no. Things didn’t work out probably, the cards didn’t fall my way, but that’s just how it goes and it’s just a business,” Hirst said.
“I’ve been dealt these cards and what’s next is next.”
The forward adds that it does weigh on his mind that he could have gotten a two-year contract had he waited for the National Draft.
“It does (sit in the back of my mind), had I stayed at Eastern Ranges would I have gone in the National Draft, I’m not sure, but if you asked any kid if you told them ‘you’ve got a chance mid-year’, I think they’re going to take that opportunity,” he said.
“Things didn’t fall my way and that’s how it goes.”