Hawks move exposes AFL ‘farce’

The loophole that allows AFL clubs to list established players as rookies has descended into total “farce” after Hawthorn delisted triple-premiership winner Jack Gunston with a commitment to add him back on their list in the AFL rookie draft.

Gunston, 33, is the second premiership player this week to cop the chop from the main list in a move designed to help clubs get in the strongest position possible for the draft period.

Collingwood premiership winner Oleg Markov, who was part of the flag-winning Magpies side in 2023, was delisted alongside key forward Ash Johnson, with a club commitment to re-sign them in the rookie draft.

North Melbourne also announced it would do the same thing with mid-season recruit Toby Pink, as will Sydney with Aaron Francis among a long list of rookie draft picks already sealed.

Hawthorn said the move to shift Gunston off the list temporarily allowed it to “operate within AFL rules in the utilisation of picks in the upcoming draft period”.

Hawthorn national recruiting and list manager Mark McKenzie said the list manoeuvre was made with Gunston’s full support.

“Ultimately, this list move ensures the club is in the strongest position possible heading into the draft, which Jack was very supportive of,” McKenzie said.

“Jack’s approach to this list manoeuvre speaks to his selflessness and commitment to Hawthorn in wanting to put the club in the best position moving forward.”

An outspoken critic of the rule, former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes labelled the misuse of the rookie list, initially designed to allow clubs to draft players who needed to be developed, as a “disgrace”.

“What a disgrace the AFL’s rookie rules are,” Cornes said on SEN radio on Wednesday.

”I feel like I do this every year, you can go back and listen to my thoughts on this for the last 10 years. Oleg Markov is 28 and the club is allowed to re-rookie him.

“Make the rookie list for rookies and give those players the opportunities, not players that have been at multiple clubs, are 28 years of age and have been delisted from their club and will be re-rookied.

“The rookie list rules continue to be the biggest farce in football and this is another example.”