The AFL has reportedly closed a loophole used by Sydney and West Coast in last year’s National Draft.
Fox Footy’s Matt Balmer is reporting that teams attempting live pick swaps this year will not be allowed to make two separate deals with the same team, as these sides did in 2018.
The Swans sent pick 26 to the Eagles for a future third-round pick, allowing them to use selections 34, 39 and 40 to match a bid at pick 10 for Nick Blakey.
They then immediately traded back into the draft with West Coast, picking up selection 22 in exchange for a future second round pick.
Sydney used that pick to take talented midfielder James Rowbottom.
This allowed them to keep a pick in the 20s, stopping it from getting absorbed into the Blakey compensation.
The closing of this loophole will stop teams from essentially hiding their picks elsewhere when making Academy or father-son selections.
GWS, Hawthorn and Fremantle are among the teams this year who face this situation, with Academy or father-son prospects.