Discussion: Introduction of draft into National Orienteering League

In an attempt to introduce more competition into the SILVA National Orienteering League, it is reported that a draft will be introduced into the competition from next year. In early 2010, each of the teams will choose recruits from amongst those entering the senior ranks for the first time, with the first pick going to the team with the lowest combined score in the men's and women's competitions in 2009. Draft picks will also be able to be traded for competitors.

The Western Nomads, who are widely anticipated to have the number 1 draft pick, are yet to comment on likely recruitment targets, but are expected to pursue the highest-ranked of 2009's 20-year-olds, Bridget Anderson or Aislinn Prendergast. However, there is speculation that the NSW Stingers, who are in need of additional depth in the women's competition, may look to trade Eric Morris or one of the Meyer brothers to the Nomads in exchange for a first-round pick.

Recruiters from all teams are already salivating over the 2012 draft, when numerous talented orienteers will become available, including Lachlan Dow, Joshua Blatchford, Oscar Phillips, Belinda Lawford and Krystal Neumann, and there is concern that some teams may run dead in the later rounds of 2011 to qualify for the priority picks which will be available to teams failing to score 50 points in two successive years. However, potential expansion team the Top End Termites may be given several early picks if they enter the competition in that year.

The only competitors who will be excluded from the draft will be those who have a parent who has competed in at least 50 National League events for a state; they will be able to move directly to that team. However, this rule will not come into operation for some years as the oldest person to whom it might apply, Kerrin Davis, will not be eligible for the draft until 2016.

Asked to comment on the reports, an Orienteering Australia board member advised readers to closely check the date and time of this posting.

as Bridget's coach I think I'll have to rethink her training program post-jwoc. replace running sessions with day-time tv, and limit diet to 'food' available from drive thrus.

Blair, surely you are too busy with real work to have time to implement any April 1st type pranks...I am, however, relieved to see that you are not getting mature and serious just yet :)

what about a state of origin O league.

Nah - if they moved over east we probably don't want them back anyway. :)

The best way of making the NOL closer would be to restrict it to M60 and W55.

nice work. should have left off the last sentence and seen who took the bait.

aww Jenny, you could have let it run a little longer than that!

Lastest news is the Vic Nuggets are looking to invest in youth and are farming out their aging 'stars' to other states.

When a reporter asked as to who would actually be running for the men's when this happened VOA president Ian Dodd was lost for words,' well we have Evan Barr and Toph umm and aahh troy de keely is looking to finish his next race....... shit i better rethink this policy.'

Is Jenny suggesting that mature and responsible people don't play April Fool jokes? If it's good enough for a Victorian Minister to put one out as an official media release (http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-tourism...) then it's good enough for me to post one here.

Simmo would that be the VOL (not far off the VFL which seems to be dominant again)

OFOL.

nice one lazydave.. i reacon it would be an interesting thing to see a draft like that happen.. not saying it would work or anything..

we could have like a orienteering version of the IPL in cricket. All the pro orienteers could earn like 4 million dollars for a month of orienteering.

Zimbabwean dollars?

'Posted 2009-03-31 23:29:00'

:(

Top End termites would get picks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 and access to one uncontracted orienteer from every other state!

It maybe April 1, but it I have to say that it is one of the less stupid 'outside the box' ideas Australian Orienteering could implement.

4 million Zimbabwe dollars are actually worth something (this week) - they did a currency reform and cut something like 10 zeros off everything.

@andrewd: Attackpoint shows post times in your system timezone, so for me with a computer at GMT-5 this shows as 'Posted 2009-03-31 17:29:00'. In Australia (or indeed anywhere at or ahead of GMT+2), people will see it as posted on April 1. Globalization ruins yet another thing, eh?

Is Jenny suggesting that mature and responsible people don't play April Fool jokes?

For the British, one of the most famous April Fool jokes of all time (and now over 50 years old) came from the BBC.

Thanks, John. I've known about that BBC piece for a long time, but I had never had a chance to see the video before.

@feet: yep, damn timezones! should all use GMT ;)

now lets hope people find the 'control in a lake' funny at my training session tonight!