Stephen Silvagni has explained the intricacies of the points system in the AFL draft and how the Western Bulldogs will be able to secure Sam Darcy in the 2021 draft.
Silvagni has worked as a list manager at both GWS and Carlton and has drafted many players under the current, albeit sometimes confusing rules of the draft.
Darcy, son of Bulldogs legend Luke, is one of the most talented of his draft class, the tall forward rocketing in to pick one calculations with a six-goal haul for the Vic Metro’s under-19’s trial match in June.
As a father-son prospect, the Bulldogs have the option to match any bid for the 18-year old.
Silvagni explained exactly how the Dogs will look to land their prized draftee.
“They can go into points deficit, but they will try and find the picks,” Silvagni told SEN Breakfast.
“Each pick has a value, if he goes at pick two, that pick’s worth 2,500 points, plus a 20% discount for father-son or NGAs (Next Generation Academies).
“So, they’ve got to make up those points within that draft.
“They’ve got to find 2000 points, so all their picks in the draft have to add up to 2000 points, and they all go (if they match the bid).”
However, he says that’s not the be-all and end-all, using Fremantle as a past example.
“If they don’t have enough points with those picks in this year’s draft, the points will come off their first pick in next year’s draft, that’s called going into deficit,” Silvagni said.
“It’s happened to Fremantle. Fremantle, last year or the year before, there was a bid on one of their NGA players, and they were in deficit in their first-round, so their first pick actually slipped back a couple of spots last year.”
The Bulldogs first pick currently sits at number 17 in the 2021 AFL draft, meaning they will likely face bids from rival clubs on Darcy.
The former Carlton list manager says clubs will bid if they think it can benefit them down the track.
“Ultimately, by me bidding, (you have to ask yourself) ‘Is it going to help me out or is it going to help other picks come in for you, do I really value that player and are we a chance to get him?’” Silvagni said.
“If you value the player, sure (bid), within reason.
“I always said that if you value that player and it’s going to help you get that player or it's going to help you get something further down the line, then bid.”
A club whose bid is matched on a player will then collect the draft picks and points the rival club used to match the original bid.
Collingwood father-son prospect Nick Daicos and South Australian Jason Horne-Francis are the other two who appear a possibility to be the number one draft pick in 2021.