“Clubs knew”: Fresh twist on potential draft bidding change as Voss speaks out

There’s been a new development to the revelation that the AFL draft system could change as soon as 2024, with the fresh suggestion more clubs were aware of the league’s plan to alter the points system.

AFL executive general manager Laura Kane told SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday that changes to the father-son and academy bidding could eventuate in time for the 2024 National Draft, saying that “clubs have been on notice” of that potential.

The statement that clubs were aware was shot down by multiple reports, while Carlton coach Michael Voss labelled it “confusing” on Monday night on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

But AFL Media’s chief correspondent Damian Barrett says more clubs knew change was coming than is being stipulated.

“I think some clubs have known about that. And it’s interesting the one that claimed to not know about it is the one that’s going to be most affected,” he told The Sounding Board podcast.

“I’m not defensive of the AFL as you know… but I reckon clubs knew. More clubs than are letting on knew.”

Barrett added: “The clubs that are going to be most hit by not having the same access to the father-sons and academies, they’re the ones making the noise.”

Voss and the Blues arguably have the most to lose should the points value change, with Carlton eyeing the Camporeale twins in this year’s draft.

Ben and Lucas, the sons of Blues great Scott Camporeale, are both expected to be taken early in the draft. But that may not be by Carlton if the Blues no longer have the draft capital to match bids on the duo.

“The timing of it though is somewhat confusing because the expediency of it, to be able to get it in this year when the planning has already been done over 12 months - and even two years in many instances - is somewhat confusing,” Voss said in part.

Barrett, however, suggested Voss was conflicted in his views.

“I’ve spoken to clubs who felt this was coming... I love Michael Voss… he’s my favourite person in football, but he and his club have the most to lose if this is to be brought in this year because of the access, potentially, to the Camporeale sons,” he continued.

“I think another advocate against it is the Brisbane Lions… who have access to (Levi) Ashcroft this year.

“So they’re pretty loud about it but others who don’t have a horse in the race don’t care.”

This year’s National Draft is scheduled for November, with the league’s competitive balance review – aimed to identify and fix the imbalances across the competition – expected to be complete before then.

Kane told Crunch Time that change could eventuate “in the next couple of months”.

The Gold Coast Suns matched four bids on academy prospects last year, while Collingwood is among the biggest benefiters of the bidding system.

Clubs frequently plan years in advance for drafts given the talent they expect to be coming through and the picks they will need.

Listen to S9 E20 of The Sounding Board below