'How is this fair': Hird slams draft changes
James Hird has criticized recent AFL draft changes, questioning their fairness and impact on team competitiveness. He expressed concerns that the revised system could disadvantage clubs with poorer records. The debate comes as the league aims to improve parity and transparency in player recruitment. Analyst Cal Twomey joined Hird in discussing the potential consequences of the new rules.
- ▪James Hird strongly criticized the AFL's latest draft changes, calling them unfair.
- ▪The revised draft system is intended to promote competitive balance across clubs.
- ▪Hird argued the changes could penalize teams with weaker performances.
- ▪Cal Twomey discussed the implications of the draft changes alongside Hird.
- ▪The updated rules were officially announced in late April 2026.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.