The AFL’s decision to hand North Melbourne pick 3 is “unfair” to rival clubs, Dermott Brereton has warned, as the Roos walked away with “massive overs” for losing defender Ben McKay.
On Tuesday North decided not to match Essendon’s six-year deal, worth a reported $800,000 a season, for McKay and received pick 3 as a result – their fourth first-round selection for the 2023 draft after already holding pick 2.
“Nothing against the kid (McKay) but if you actually look at the fairness of the competition, even in his own draft year, I’ve listed five key position backs who were miles ahead of him,” Brereton lamented on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“He’s entering the sweet spot now as a 25-year-old … But do you see enough to suggest he should be earning this much money?
“He ain’t worth a pick 3.
“This is all done on faith.
“North Melbourne are getting overs for what they’re letting walk out the door – massive overs.
“You say, did they deserve that (pick 3) if they are letting somebody not worth this walk out the door … and they receive pick 3 for it, that is unfair to all the other teams that precede after (in the draft order).
“This is glaring (as a flaw).”
Trading Day host Anthony Hudson said Essendon “played the system” to ensure they offered McKay a big enough deal to see the AFL’s compensation system award North pick 3 – and therefore not match the bid.
Fox Footy’s Brad Johnson said the size of the deal was now placing a massive target on McKay heading into next season.
“We talk about the deal and the clubs here, but the player – the player himself hasn’t won too many games of footy, hasn’t achieved too much in the game so far – all of a sudden six-year deal, prized recruit at Essendon,” he said.
“He’d want to turn heads day one now that he’s walking through those doors.
“That’s what the Essendon faithful are looking for.
“This player they’ve given a fair contract to, to turn them around to become a finals contender.
“It turns onto McKay.
“It’s on the player to work.”
Statistics show while McKay is rated elite for intercepts as a key defender, he sits in the average ranking for disposals and spoils.
McKay has played 71 AFL games since being snapped up by the Roos with pick 21 in the 2015 Draft.
And of those 71 games, there’s been just eight wins.
