David Koch slams AFL’s decision to hold secret trials with only two clubs

PORT Adelaide president David Koch is sick of the AFL experimenting its secret trials with a small sample of clubs rather than opening it up for the entire competition.

Both Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions have taken part in ‘scratch matches’ over the last fortnight, with AFL officials watching on monitoring the multiple trial rules implemented.

The AFL’s secret trials are being undertaken to help deal with congestion issues in the competition, and Koch says that every club should be given the opportunity, rather than it giving some clubs a four month advantage.

“I do think there’s an issue, Kenny (Hinkley) thinks there’s an issue,” Koch told 3AW Football.

“Why did selected clubs get to try it out?

“The rule changes may come out in October but “Alastair Clarkson, after all his coffees with the AFL big wigs, and Jeff Kennett are able to think about it for an extra four months.”

Koch says it isn’t fair for two of the 18 AFL clubs to have an advantage over the others during the AFL’s trials, believing every club should have access to the trials.

“I think the tapes of those games should be given to every club,” Koch said.

“Because other coaches may have suggestions, other players may have suggestions. What’s to hide from it?”

Former Collingwood great Tony Shaw believes “you either do it with the whole 18 (clubs) or you don’t do it at all.”

The Lions were the latest club to take part in the AFL trials, with midfielder Dayne Zorko telling AFL Tonight on Tuesday that the new rules were “interesting.”
However, the often outspoken Koch was full of praise for the AFL’s decision to trial new rules, ahead of the AFL Competition Committee providing recommendations to the AFL Commission for their final decision in October — but was adamant that nothing should be hidden from the clubs that haven’t taken part in the trials.

“Just make it open,” Koch said.

“There’s nothing wrong with saying, hey we’re just trying this out and trying that out, but that’s really innovative thinking and the AFL should be applauded for that.

“Don’t hide it and don’t keep it to a select. There’s no V in AFL anymore, so you don’t need to just have Victorian clubs get the extra hand.”