As with the previous game where we are the paying QA testers, I thought it would be best to test out some actual roster management features in career mode just so I know what I’m in for before starting my proper management career.
- 16 All australians selected each year. Unsure how this went backwards from AFL 23.
- Finals fixture is still displayed horribly. 2 qualifying finals displayed then 2 elimination finals, no direction between the games, just a list which only AFL fans in the know can desipher.
- AI trade logic is flawed. Jack Bowes traded from Geelong to Richmond for pick 1. In the same period, Essendon traded pick 2 to Carlton for Lachie Fogarty. Unrealistic trades kill any longevity of management career. (Maybe value needs to be assigned to each pick that can only be traded for when the correct overalls and pick values are traded the other way?)
- Following on from poor logic, in a new sim I did we saw pick 2 traded 6 times despite none of the teams owning that asset. Melbourne finished 17th. We proceeded to see Ryan Burton move from PA to NM for pick 2, then Cal Achee move from BL to NM for pick 2, then Jack Petrucelle from WCE to RIC for pick 2, then Jeremy Sharp from FRE to GWS for pick 2, then Oscar Allen from WCE to STK for pick 2. (Not sure how this issue even occurs but assets need to be limited to one of each pick and player only)
- Contracts CANNOT be offered to restricted free agents. Delisted free agents work as intended which is great. But restricted free agents allow you to negotiate, then you are asked to complete a trade, despite them being a free agent who has not been signed.
- Zero reason to enable state league management for any save going forward. You can’t sign players or re-sign players. When you attempt to sign/re-sign, you aren’t given any options and simply receive an error message saying you can’t offer zero year contracts. You can also select your best 22/23 regardless of whether the player is in the AFL team or not. W9hy can’t the systems run together where the AFL squad is selected first, then all AFL players selected cannot be picked for the state team, not just the default state team squad where everyone is up for selection)
- 2025 draft has kids born in 2007 drafted, good start. 2026 draft has kids born in 2009 drafted, don’t know what is happening here but the computer simply skips a year and we’re drafting ineligible 17 year olds going forward. (On this point, put a restrction that players can only be drafted if they are >= 18 years old).
Side gripe
- Bald state league players? Just fix this. Don’t need my team full of bald 18 year olds after the third season.
@JNT_BA here’s just a few notes of some management features which must be addressed. I’m sure there a more, but it will destroy this game mode incredibly quickly if these basics are not addressed, especially the trading and free agency points. We need this mode to be sustainable, not wreck this improving game. I will also be submitting a support ticket as I did for AFL 23, only for none of the management mode issues to be addressed. I would hope that this mode is looked after this time as there is so much potential now.