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Find your Sport Nation frequency“Potluck”: Why club CEO is against father-son concept
Andrew Slevison • July 17th, 2025 10:25 am
Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick firmly believes the father-son rule has no place in the modern game.
Generational talent such as Nick Daicos at Collingwood, Sam Darcy at the Western Bulldogs, and Will and Levi Ashcroft at the Brisbane Lions have all been drafted as father-sons in recent years.
The Dockers chief is adamant that the romance of the rule should be overpowered by pragmatism in the ongoing bid for equalisation.
“I’ve more been thinking about the father-son rule, to be frank, and whether that has a place in the contemporary game,” Garlick said on SEN’s Sportsday.
Kane Cornes swiftly asked: “You don’t think the father-son does (have a place in the game)?”
Garlick continued: “No, I don’t.
“I think the draft is the most critical equalisation measure in the game. I understand that we’re going to have some concessions that are provided with it.
“We want to encourage the game in the northern markets and we’re supportive of that. We want to make sure we reach this people who might not necessarily play the game at a regular level.”
That briefly led the conversation to the Next Generation Academies.
Gerard Healy labelled it a “rort” with Garlick indicating that the AFL intends to tighten that concept.
Gerard Healy said: “We haven’t done that with the NGAs. Let’s be honest, that is a total rort.”
Garlick continued: “I’m glad you raised it because the AFL are intending to make sure that if we are going to have the NGA, it’s done in a way that is reflective of what the purpose of concept is.
“They need to tighten that up considerably which I believe they’re going to do.
“Both of those have a purpose to grow, you’ve got to invest and you’ve got to make sure you do the work, and you should be held to account with that.”
He then described the father-son concept as pure luck.
“The father-son is just potluck,” he added.
“So from my perspective I just think when you’ve got players the like of the Ashcrofts, Sam Darcy - they’re generational players and we’re all working towards trying to win flags by building great cultures, attracting and retaining talent, and doing things on an even playing field.
“It’s one that I don’t see as having a place in the contemporary game, albeit understanding it’s lovely from a historical perspective and the culture of the game. I get that.
“But it just doesn’t feel right to me.”
Healy added: “An NGA player should never be capable of going in the first two rounds, ever.”
Garlick: “Maybe that can apply to father-son as well.”
At present, the Dockers have one father-son player on their list - Jaren Carr - who just so happens to be Freo’s second ever father-son player after Brett Peake.
