Carlton and Port Adelaide are reportedly facing a record outlay of draft capital to secure top father-son and academy prospects this year, as the AFL moves to implement refined measures aimed at ensuring higher-rated draft selections remain accessible to clubs languishing at the bottom of the ladder.
Following a recent AFL Commission meeting, the league is fine-tuning a system where the cost of matching bids for these sought-after players will be weighted according to a club’s final ladder position. This means teams finishing higher up the ladder will likely face a significantly steeper price to acquire these talents.
Draft Reform: Balancing the Playing Field
The proposed changes are designed to safeguard the integrity of the Australian Football League (AFL) draft. Historically, the system has been intended to provide a pathway for the most talented young players to join clubs that have struggled during the season, offering them a chance to rebuild and compete. However, recent seasons have seen a departure from this principle, with several top-tier draftees ending up at clubs that qualified for the finals.
Under the revised framework, clubs will reportedly be limited to using just two draft picks to accumulate the necessary points to match a bid. This restriction, coupled with the ladder-based weighting, is expected to create substantial hurdles for teams at the top of the ladder. To secure a highly-bid player, these clubs may need to sacrifice existing talent or significant future draft assets.
Historical Precedents and Future Implications
The Brisbane Lions have been a notable example of clubs successfully leveraging the draft access rules in recent years. They secured father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft and academy product Daniel Annable by matching bids at picks five and six respectively.
If the proposed weighting system had been in effect in 2025, the Lions might have faced a substantial increase – potentially around 25% – in the points required to secure Annable. This would have likely necessitated trading out established players to acquire additional high draft picks, thereby building the necessary draft capital to match the bid.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has confirmed the core objective: ensuring that top 10 draft selections remain available to teams finishing in the bottom 10 positions on the ladder. Last year, a significant proportion of the top six draft prospects were secured by clubs that made the finals.
“Our primary focus is to ensure that when access is granted outside the standard draft operations, a fair price is paid,” Dillon stated.
However, some club officials, speaking anonymously due to their roles in recruiting, expressed concern that the talent has already been secured by clubs like the Lions and Gold Coast Suns before these rule changes come into effect.
Immediate Impact on Clubs
The new rules are understood to be applicable from this current season. This means Carlton will likely need to pay a premium for Cody Walker, the son of former Blues great Andrew. Similarly, Port Adelaide will face a substantial cost to secure Doug Cochrane, who is eligible for their Next Generation Academy. Essendon could also find themselves needing to make a significant investment to draft Koby Bewick in 2027, should his current strong form continue.
While disappointed that the rule is not being grandfathered in, Carlton has reportedly been preparing for such a scenario. They proactively acquired Sydney’s first-round selections for the next two seasons, along with several players, in exchange for star forward Charlie Curnow. This strategic move positions them well to potentially match an early bid on Walker, should one fall within the top three selections.
Port Adelaide, meanwhile, possesses an additional second-round pick in 2026, alongside their own first and second-round selections. They have previously indicated a reduced activity in the 2025 national draft and trade period, with the intention of accumulating points to meet anticipated bids for emerging academy talent. However, the new weighting system may force them to seek early selections to match an early bid for Cochrane. This could make a trade for free agent Zak Butters, should the star midfielder decide to depart, a critical consideration.
One club official remarked that the proposed changes seemed almost designed to discourage teams from acquiring top-tier players available through academies or the father-son rule.
Regional Academy Debates
Clubs based in Queensland and New South Wales have argued that their academies have been instrumental in fostering interest in Australian rules football in their respective regions. They contend that many players who have come through these academies might otherwise have pursued different sports if not for the opportunities provided.
Brisbane Lions President Andrew Wellington has been vocal about the need to continue supporting the growth of the game in non-traditional states, rather than implementing policies that might stifle academy programs. He has downplayed suggestions of a Lions dynasty, highlighting that the club finished third and fifth on the ladder before their recent premiership successes.
Carlton recently experienced a defeat against Sydney, a team whose captain Callum Mills and vice-captain Isaac Heeney are both academy graduates. The Swans also boast academy products Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey among their star players. In that match, Carlton featured father-son player Harry Dean in his debut and three players who had previously been at the Swans: George Hewett (who joined Carlton as a free agent), Will Hayward, and Ollie Florent.
The Gold Coast Suns secured a decisive victory over Geelong, with several academy graduates featuring in their lineup. Coach Damien Hardwick acknowledged that the team’s depth of talent would present selection challenges throughout the season.
Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants CEO Dave Matthews has argued for a differentiated approach for his club, suggesting their academy has not been as productive as those in other northern-based clubs. Giants Chairman Tim Reed has presented to the commission, emphasising the need for strategic AFL investment in the region to boost participation and support, particularly in NRL heartlands.
Key Takeaways from the Draft Reforms:
- Draft Integrity: The AFL’s primary objective is to restore the integrity of the draft, ensuring that top 10 selections are predominantly available to the teams that finish in the lower echelons of the ladder.
- Ladder-Weighted Bidding: Clubs matching bids on draft prospects will likely face a loading on the points required, with this loading being directly influenced by their final ladder position.
- Limited Pick Usage: A key change restricts clubs to using only two draft picks to match a bid. This means higher-finishing teams will almost certainly need to trade existing talent to secure the necessary draft points.
- Carlton’s Strategic Moves: Carlton’s acquisition of Sydney’s first-round picks for the next two seasons, along with players, in exchange for Charlie Curnow, demonstrates proactive preparation for the potential high cost of securing father-son prospect Cody Walker.
- Hypothetical Impact: The example of Brisbane’s academy prospect Daniel Annable highlights how a 25% point increase, had it been in place for the 2025 draft, could have significantly complicated matching a bid at pick six, potentially forcing the club to trade established players.
