One of the worst days in the football calendar is happening on the 13th and I'm talking about the rookie draft.
It's alright to fill your spots up with players at the draft but the poor rookie is underpaid and is definitely the underclasss of the competition.
They put their life on hold, train six days a week, play and get a pittance for it.
They are the second-class citizens of league footy.
But they do it because most of these blokes would give their right arm to play in the AFL.
It's just sheer hard work for no return.
They live on the smell of an oily rag and hope to hell that someone of their height or position gets injured so that they can get elevated into the side and try and prove their worth.
It is mentally draining and physically demanding for little reward.
I have known players to go on rookie lists for one year only to be dumped amid lack of opportunities.
They end up in the VFL with their dream intact looking for another crack.
It is whispered that Shane Valenti, who spent time at Melbourne before being punted, will be given a second chance at Essendon.
The problem for him is he has a good well-paying job, he's respected and one of the gun players in the VFL.
He would have to take a fifth of what he's paid now with his job and football money to follow his dream.
That's a big decision for him to make.
We have the AFL telling people how well paid footballers are and if you do get drafted and become a good player that's true.
But for the underclass and the underbelly, that's a different story
The AFL have got to look at money for rookies and the hours they have to work at clubs.
Cam Pedersen at North Melbourne last season was having to work at Bunnings stacking shelves at night to make ends meet and then falling asleep in team meetings.
Please give these rookies a bit of a chance.
It's hard yakka for little reward.
Are they part of the team? Some people say no while others say yes.
All I know is if they're working full-time at football they deserve to be paid a little bit more than what they are getting.
Maybe they should cut down the salaries of a few coaches and administrators and whack it in the player fund, which of course will never happen.
When you're down the deep end of the trough as they are you never go back to the skinny end.