Bulldogs Father-Son and NGA Prospects

[Bulldog Joe]

Only the AFL could fumble this situation so badly. To let it be manipulated for so long, and do nothing, and then somehow, we are at a stage of lockouts. Why was there ever a discount, it should have been a tax from the start, the benifit is having first access to talent.

- All F/S, Academies and NGA should be completed outside of the draft
- No bidding system, the AFL has enough paid employees, who can work with the industry to assign a value to the player
- Value of a player is something like 1-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21-35, 36-50 ect (Data will tell you players picked inside the top 8 are much more likely to play 100 games, 200 games B&F or AA
- Yes, you must use round for round likeliness, but pick 18, does not get you a top 5 pick, it will take 2 picks in the teens, and future picks are okay.
- Take the Lions for example, I have no issue with them having 2XAshcroft, Fletcher, Marshall and Annabelle. But, they would have likely needed to trade some talent away, and probably use future picks 1st and some 2nd round, 3 years in advance to do it.

That's the choice and payoff. it really isnt that hard, and the AFL has been asleep for years.

Thanks Rusty
Again you give a logical option.

The other thing it would do is take the discretion of bypassing a player or bidding on 1 tied player instead of another for undisclosed reasons.

There was almost a unanimous view that N Daicos should be top pick but we had to pay more for Darcy.

[Countrydog5]

image.pngEnormous win for us given our linked players next year. West and El Souki in particular

[Axe Man]

No father-son draft lockout, but AFL set to tighten bidding rules

Clubs will still be able to match bids on father-son and Academy talent in 2026 and beyond but the League is make them pay up for the privilege

THE AFL has opted against preventing clubs matching bids at the top of the draft but much tighter restrictions are coming for the 2026 intake.

Club bosses met with the League on Monday ahead of the Brownlow Medal, where they were given an update on the AFL's plans to make changes to its father-son and Academy bidding system.

As flagged on Gettable last week, the AFL has cooled on plans to have a restricted zone at the top of the draft inside the opening five, 10 or first round of picks that would stop clubs from being able to match bids in that area.

It was reiterated on Monday there would be no changes to the system in 2025, but there was set to be a significant tightening of bidding rules in 2026 that would see a grading system in place, whereby teams in different parts of the ladder would need to be in zones to match bids.

Club chief executives were told by the AFL there would be no lockout, meaning clubs like Carlton, which has access to father-son Cody Walker next year, would still be able to match an early bid on the potential top-three pick.

But the League is adamant it will be making adjustments to its bidding system for next year, with clubs set to have varying degrees of access depending on their ladder position.

Such a move would add another complex layer to the draft system, but would still allow access for clubs if they are willing to trade players or give up heavy draft collateral while also making the pool less compromised if clubs are unable to match multiple early bids.

The 10 per cent points discount applied to clubs matching bids is also expected to be further reduced – if not wiped out altogether.

Clubs are expected to be given further details on the next iteration of the bidding system as soon as next week ahead of this year's free agency and trade period.

It comes after Port Adelaide, Essendon, Greater Western Sydney, Carlton and Sydney were all among the clubs to hit out at the League's consideration to add a draft lockout barring father-sons, northern Academy and Next Generation Academy players from having their bids matched in the early stages of the draft.

Clubs were not given any further indication on their rezoned Next Generation Academy regions, while Tasmania's list concessions are also expected to be formalised in the next week.

[hujsh]

Reports indicating that the new rules will require the club to match the bid with just 2 picks (Jon Ralph, Cal Twoomey)

Example given by Cal was picks 2 and 12 to match a bid on 1.

I wonder if points deficits are still available? Otherwise it would seem very difficult to trade up for the necessary picks.

MAYBE a discount for lower placed clubs on the ladder? That one is from a BF poster so less credible than the reports

[GVGjr]

Reports indicating that the new rules will require the club to match the bid with just 2 picks (Jon Ralph, Cal Twoomey)

Example given by Cal was picks 2 and 12 to match a bid on 1.

I wonder if points deficits are still available? Otherwise it would seem very difficult to trade up for the necessary picks.

MAYBE a discount for lower placed clubs on the ladder? That one is from a BF poster so less credible than the reports

That's going to take a bit of getting use to and it's going to limit what clubs can do. Seems to be a big step.
I don't like seeing all these trades for points though.

[hujsh]

That's going to take a bit of getting use to and it's going to limit what clubs can do. Seems to be a big step.
I don't like seeing all these trades for points though.

I imagine there are other combos that work but yeah it'll be really difficult to pay for a Daicos/Darcy/Ashcroft

[Axe Man]

DOGS' DARCY DRAFT PLAN

THE WESTERN Bulldogs could look to shift up the draft board with a bid set to come for father-son prospect Will Darcy.

Darcy is a raw talent but has been invited to test at the national Telstra AFL Draft Combine next month.

The Dogs currently have only picks No.10 and 28, but could target a move up the board using the second-round pick given the bid for Darcy could come around the middle of the second round.

Gold Coast has had interest in its pick No.6 and clubs will push to get that selection if the Suns can shift it out for more points to match for their Academy kids.

The Bulldogs' top choice will have to be on the table if Callum Wilkie pursues a move from St Kilda to take up the Dogs' lucrative four-year offer, however the Saints are not considered likely to budge if their gun defender looked at a move.

Darcy caught the eye of clubs early this season playing at Scotch College in Melbourne's school system, before getting a taste of Coates Talent League action with the Oakleigh Chargers. – Callum Twomey

[Willow18]

Interesting that Darcy might be a mid 2nd rounder. A lot of the mocks/big boards that go 30-40 or even 50 deep nearly never have his name.

[FrediKanoute]

I think he will be a steal. Sam rocketed up the board based on the season prior to him being drafted. Will hasn't had quite the season, but the genes are there and he fits a need.

[Bornadog]

I think he will be a steal. Sam rocketed up the board based on the season prior to him being drafted. Will hasn't had quite the season, but the genes are there and he fits a need.

It will be criminal if we don't pick him up and another club does.

[The_Bont]

Levi West played quite a bit of Calder U/18s this year with a couple of big games as well. I've heard he's likely to be a starting onballer for them next season. Would that be correct?

[GVGjr]

Levi West played quite a bit of Calder U/18s this year with a couple of big games as well. I've heard he's likely to be a starting onballer for them next season. Would that be correct?

That seems to be the general consensus.

[GVGjr]

This from Code Sports
Jaxon Cooney (St Joseph’s)
Forward, 186cm, 14/5/08
Falcons stats: 62 SuperCoach points, 9.3 disposals, 1.0 goals (3 games)

The son of Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney is a late developer who is tipped to take a big step forward next year. The hybrid forward is eligible as a Western Bulldogs father-son prospect in 2026.

[jazzadogs]

This from Code Sports
Jaxon Cooney (St Joseph’s)
Forward, 186cm, 14/5/08
Falcons stats: 62 SuperCoach points, 9.3 disposals, 1.0 goals (3 games)

The son of Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney is a late developer who is tipped to take a big step forward next year. The hybrid forward is eligible as a Western Bulldogs father-son prospect in 2026.

If we have all of Levi West, Jax Cooney and Khaled el Souki performing well and high on draft boards next year, with the new rules around bid matching, we are going to have some challenges.

[FrediKanoute]

If we have all of Levi West, Jax Cooney and Khaled el Souki performing well and high on draft boards next year, with the new rules around bid matching, we are going to have some challenges.

Especially if we want to get Buttered