PAUL Roos has urged the AFL to address second-tier and elite junior pathways across the competition.
Speaking at AAMI Park on Friday, Roos said with the six-year broadcast deal now done, it was imperative to use a slice of the $2.508 billion on addressing feeder competitions.
Roos said one of the key questions was: how do you develop players before they arrive in the AFL?
“One thing that I’ve been really buoyed by [AFL chief executive] Gill [McLachlan] and hearing is feeder competitions – I think that’s a really, really big issue for the AFL,” he said.
“If you want an even 18-team competition, you really need to be putting resources into your feeder competitions. I think it’s a real priority and where it ranks in terms of one to 10 – I don’t know – but there is no doubt that’s a massive priority.
“The gap between where they come from and where they’ve got to get to is enormous and we have to find a way to close that gap to give bottom teams a greater opportunity to become successful, particularly with free agency and players generally going to the better clubs.”
Meanwhile, Roos has emphatically ruled out being a senior coach after Melbourne.
“I wouldn’t put any money on me,” he said with a laugh.