News 2020 AFL Draft likely to be a one day event on December 9th

[Lore]

One night only: Draft set to revert to shorter format

This year's NAB AFL Draft is set to be held on December 9

www.afl.com.au

THE AFL is expected to revert to a one-night NAB AFL Draft event this year with a likely decline in selections due to the COVID-19 ravaged season.

The League briefed clubs on Wednesday about its plans for the draft, saying it was working towards taking it back to a one-night event on December 9, which would likely fall before the start of the Big Bash cricket competition in Melbourne.

The draft expanded into a two-night extravaganza for the first time in 2018, when that year's stellar first round of selections was picked at Marvel Stadium.

The following picks were then taken the next day, with last year's draft also following a similar model.

However the impact of COVID-19 on draft seasons around the country, including Victoria whereby the NAB League was abandoned without a round of games being played, plus the likely shortening of lists, has clubs viewing it as unlikely they will take as many selections to this year's draft.

The change would decrease the impact of picks at the start of the second round becoming highly tradeable commodities which has been the case between days one and two of the previous two drafts.

The AFL is still hopeful of holding a COVID safe draft event in line with the government restrictions by December, mindful that many borders will have reopened to allows prospects to travel to the draft and that Victorian draftees have missed out on many of the norms in their under-18 season.

The likely change in draft structure comes as there is also a view among recruiters that clubs may keep positions on lists open for undrafted players to be selected under the AFL's proposed 'waiver' system that appears likely to be introduced next season.

One night only: Draft set to revert to shorter format

This year's NAB AFL Draft is set to be held on December 9

www.afl.com.au

 

[Lore]

Probably a good thing no one got end of 1st round compensation, as they may have decided not to match purely to have the first picks on Day 2...

 

[2006_Eagles]

Damn, I was hoping for a 3 month affair with 1 pick a day

 

[briztoon]

For me, of greater interest will be to see how many clubs don’t use their full allocation of draft picks, but instead bring in a few 18 year old undrafted free agents during the preseason, with a view of signing one or two during the SSP.

 

[Davo-27]

good, i like it, i think the AFL have no idea to handle a 2 day event, so keep it simple and make it 1 big event.

 

[Bastyy]

The draft being a 2 day event felt like a waste of time, very happy that it's gone back to one day

 

[RUNVS]

Genuine question. Is there any reason the draft can't be a week after the trade period finishes? I mean what could clubs really learn in those extra 3 weeks that they do not know already and having the draft earlier means young players can get to their new clubs a bit earlier as well.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Genuine question. Is there any reason the draft can't be a week after the trade period finishes? I mean what could clubs really learn in those extra 3 weeks that they do not know already and having the draft earlier means young players can get to their new clubs a bit earlier as well.

Year 12 exams - so a shorter gap would mean pushing trade period back rather than bringing the draft forward.

 

[kickthething]

Year 12 exams - so a shorter gap would mean pushing trade period back rather than bringing the draft forward.

This, and the fact these exams are not in synch around the country doesn't help either.

 

[RUNVS]

Year 12 exams - so a shorter gap would mean pushing trade period back rather than bringing the draft forward.

When are year 12 exams on in Victoria as year 12 exams finish in NSW on the 11th this month from memory?

 

[Lore]

There are a couple of list lodgement dates between the trade period and the draft as well.

The first one on the 20th of November (8 days after the trade period ends) forces clubs to be under the maximum list numbers, so you can't hoard 55 players on your list through that period. There will be a bunch more delistings announced before that date as clubs shed any players they don't want and couldn't trade.

You then have the delisted free agency period and pick trading still available to figure out if there's anyone else you want and get yourself in a position where you have the picks you want to take into the draft, figure out your draft board, etc.

A second list lodgement date is a week later on the 27th of November. That one is the one that defines how many open list spots you have, and therefore how many picks you can take into the draft.


After the draft is the final list lodgement date (mid-December, date tbc), they have to be within the maximum list sizes and also provide estimates of their total player payments to the AFL.


So basically the time between the trade period and the draft gives them time to get their s**t together.

 

[WWSD]

When is the Pre-Season and Rookie draft?

 

[Smythe]

When is the Pre-Season and Rookie draft?

Will be following day