AFL clubs were reportedly ‘unaware’ of the timeline of shake-up to the AFL draft system, with changes now understood to possibly be made for this year’s intake despite minimal official notice.
Amid the league’s competitive balance review, AFL football operations boss Laura Kane confirmed at the weekend calls on the father-son and academy points bidding system would be made in the next couple of months.
However, she added any potential changes “might” come into effect for this November’s national draft — prompting ‘bewilderment’ from the wider AFL landscape.
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It is expected changes are coming to the rules for bidding on academy and father-son players, as well as the Draft Value Index — with a likely rise in draft cost clubs will have to pay in order to secure high-end academy or father-son prospects.
However, the furore comes as clubs have already decided on trading future picks with the current system in mind, not anticipating changes to come into effect so soon.
“We’ll make sure we get through the player movement outcomes, including father-son, in the next couple of months,” Kane told SEN over the weekend.
“It might (impact this year’s draft) … The clubs have been on notice; we’ve been talking about this for 12 months.
“(The draft points system) could (change).”
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Despite Kane claiming clubs were “on notice”, Nine reporter Tom Morris said on Sunday night the teams he has communicated with weren’t aware such changes would be introduced ahead of the 2024 intake.
“If clubs are aware and clubs are on notice then I’m shocked, because the clubs I’ve spoken to are absolutely not aware that this change in points, and how much clubs will have to pay for academy players and father-sons, would be coming in for this year,” he said on Footy Furnace.
“It simply wasn’t on their radar in 2024. I’m talking Carlton, who, specifically last year, went out and got three fourth-round picks to be ready for this year, they traded out a third-round pick, and they pushed picks from last year into this year.
“I’m talking about Richmond, who were preparing to stock late picks in 2024 so they could then bundle them up and get players in.
“These clubs weren’t aware, so I don’t know whether it’s a breakdown in communication, or whether it’s simply the AFL doing whatever it sees is right for the moment, but Laura Kane and the AFL have got this wrong, because clubs weren’t aware this might be happening this year, and now it might happen this year.
“I can tell you those clubs and others are absolutely seething.”
Ben and Lucas Camporeale (Carlton), Tyler Welsh (Adelaide) and Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane) headline this year’s popular father-son prospects, while Sam Marshall and Ryan Gilder (Brisbane), Leo Lombard (Gold Coast) and Logan Smith (GWS) are a few of this year’s highly touted academy-linked names.
The football operations boss also said the prospect of a mid-season trade period was becoming less likely amid a lack of support from clubs.
“We didn’t get that much support from that to be honest,” Kane said.
“I think there was interest in trading of picks, but not as much trading of players.
“It seems to be the sentiment at the moment, particularly if other things — like DVI (Draft Value Index) or the access to academy or father sons — was to change or become fairer in the clubs’ eyes.”