Preview AFL Draft thread 2026

[Christou2Kouta]

Struggling clubs set for major boost in proposed draft shake-up

Clubs could lose a spot but gain a pick under proposed changes to the draft

www.afl.com.au

They are making the draft so complicated. How does the average fan know whats going on.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
I propose a major reform of the system to provide greater fairness and eliminate the ad hoc makey up nature of the AFL. The only reason my proposal looks complicated on first viewing is that it takes so much to undo all the bandaid conventions the AFL has created over the years.
Obviously they would never do it because of who they are but I would love to see the change.

 

[SurreyBlue]

So, a club that has finished mid road, say 11th has their second round pick 26 pushed back again by one because of more picks given out. Smart, very smart. This admin is very clever and fair…..

 

[SurreyBlue]

Tanking now, can get you extra R1 picks through FS and academy pick selections in the top 5.
How to help the system get better…….

 

[Bluechip66]

I don’t even understand how it effects them…as they were never going to get said player anyway, yet they probably still get the player they were going to get anyway.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
I propose a major reform of the system to provide greater fairness and eliminate the ad hoc makey up nature of the AFL.
Obviously they would never do it because of who they are but I would love to see the change.

I like the thrust of the proposal, although my preference is that the Senior List be reduced to 32 players.

A Reserve list be introduced of 20 players. Every AFL team has a reserve team. Reserves players can be upgraded for a player listed as injured for 6 weeks or more.

Remove mid-season draft.

A Reserve listed player who is not drafted in the National Draft can be listed as a Free Agent by any club.

Means that players are incentivized to get onto a Reserves list of they miss out on draft. Makes Seniors spots even more valuable and Draft picks even more valuable.

Speculative prospects will be more likely to be signed to Reserves lists then drafted.

Mature age talents who otherwise might be overlooked may be reserve listed as injury cover and to provide solidity for developing prospects.

Absolutely believe all uncontracted players should be free agents.



Anyway. Interesting stuff

 

[Christou2Kouta]

I like the thrust of the proposal, although my preference is that the Senior List be reduced to 32 players.

A Reserve list be introduced of 20 players. Every AFL team has a reserve team. Reserves players can be upgraded for a player listed as injured for 6 weeks or more.

Remove mid-season draft.

A Reserve listed player who is not drafted in the National Draft can be listed as a Free Agent by any club.

Means that players are incentivized to get onto a Reserves list of they miss out on draft. Makes Seniors spots even more valuable and Draft picks even more valuable.

Speculative prospects will be more likely to be signed to Reserves lists then drafted.

Mature age talents who otherwise might be overlooked may be reserve listed as injury cover and to provide solidity for developing prospects.

Absolutely believe all uncontracted players should be free agents.



Anyway. Interesting stuff

Always good to discuss these points. I can imagine a couple of pro's and con's to that suggestion.
The benefit of not being listed to a particular club is that if there is another club that could use you, you can get selected and start playing seniors rather than being stuck in a queue behind established players you can't get past. Like Liam Reidy couldn't get a game ahead of Darcy and Jackson, but could've been given a chance elsewhere.

Alternatively, you might think about Wade Derksen being signed by us. I think him being given the chance to train for months in our systems with our players sets him up to play his best footy if he does get a chance to play seniors, rather than suddenly being conscripted to North Melbourne and being told to do his best. You might play a couple of poor games, get dropped and suddenly find yourself labelled as not good enough at the level.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

 

[HereComesJuddy]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

He should ask himself if that’s the case as I doubt anyone else would know…

 

[shewho]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

It’s just you- he takes his socks off for me.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

Actually you can see him being the type that was bullied at school and never recovered....

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

Definitely, reckon he’s got a pair of those knitted elephant shaped g banger jocks he surprises his tinder dates with

 

[Blue__Balls]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

Like this?

 

[BlueTongue]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

Is it 'Making Love' if you leave them on?
... or is it simply 'Having Sox'?

 

[Wickzki]

I like the thrust of the proposal, although my preference is that the Senior List be reduced to 32 players.

A Reserve list be introduced of 20 players. Every AFL team has a reserve team. Reserves players can be upgraded for a player listed as injured for 6 weeks or more.

32 is really pushing it.

Brisbane have 7 players out with short term injuries. GWS and West Coast, should they be forced to specify their situations potentially 8.

That means three clubs are a couple of unfortunate short term injuries away from being unable to field a side with that rule.

I like the idea but perhaps 35 is a more realistic number.

The increased rate of soft tissue injuries entering the season and continuing into the early rounds is really worrying. Not necessarily long-term but enough to cause stress to clubs.

 

[Moon]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

Let's cut the poor Guy some slack here. He can't take his socks off if he's still wearing his shoes

 

[Jimmae]

32 is really pushing it.

Brisbane have 7 players out with short term injuries. GWS and West Coast, should they be forced to specify their situations potentially 8.

That means three clubs are a couple of unfortunate short term injuries away from being unable to field a side with that rule.

I like the idea but perhaps 35 is a more realistic number.

The increased rate of soft tissue injuries entering the season and continuing into the early rounds is really worrying. Not necessarily long-term but enough to cause stress to clubs.

To even have a chance of functioning, it would mean the supp list would have to be paid a lot better than what the VFL players are currently paid.

AFL and AFLM salaries are just bloated all round right now, from AFL House right through to pretty much everyone bar senior minimum.

 

[Red_man2008]

In the event that tas bid on a player in their draft at 1 do they then gain three picks at the end of the round due to having three picks inside 5.

What about if they (or any other team for that matter) trade their pick. Does that pick grant them another pick at the end of the draft due to a bid.

If a traded pick loses this opportunity does it change its value. Is it worth more to the host team. Does that mean they won’t trade it EVER.

If it keeps its value after a bid does that mean they’ll be highly sought after and thus very difficult to get a top 5 pick in a trade. It makes our jagga pick worth worth so much more as no top team will be able to do similar.

 

[Stamos]

In the event that tas bid on a player in their draft at 1 do they then gain three picks at the end of the round due to having three picks inside 5.

What about if they (or any other team for that matter) trade their pick. Does that pick grant them another pick at the end of the draft due to a bid.

If a traded pick loses this opportunity does it change its value. Is it worth more to the host team. Does that mean they won’t trade it EVER.

If it keeps its value after a bid does that mean they’ll be highly sought after and thus very difficult to get a top 5 pick in a trade. It makes our jagga pick worth worth so much more as no top team will be able to do similar.

As if the AFL gives a shit about unintended consequences.

 

[agro]

As if the AFL gives a shit about unintended consequences.

Only if any of those unintended consequences result in a benefit to Carlton.

 

[bluebaggerjuls]

Glad to hear Prasad isn’t academy tied. Like the look of him

 

[ferrisb]

In the event that tas bid on a player in their draft at 1 do they then gain three picks at the end of the round due to having three picks inside 5.

What about if they (or any other team for that matter) trade their pick. Does that pick grant them another pick at the end of the draft due to a bid.

If a traded pick loses this opportunity does it change its value. Is it worth more to the host team. Does that mean they won’t trade it EVER.

If it keeps its value after a bid does that mean they’ll be highly sought after and thus very difficult to get a top 5 pick in a trade. It makes our jagga pick worth worth so much more as no top team will be able to do similar.

Article the other day stated that you'd only get one compo pick even if you had multiple picks in the top 5.

Guaranteed the AFL has not thought of/through your other scenarios...

 

[Red_man2008]

Article the other day stated that you'd only get one compo pick even if you had multiple picks in the top 5.

Guaranteed the AFL has not thought of/through your other scenarios...

Seems unfair on Tasmania. As each pick allocated to different clubs gets an extra first but multiple doesn’t. Another stupid afl decision if it eventuates.

 

[BlueJet]

Is it just me, or does Cal Twomey seem like the type that would keep his socks on the whole time while making love.

40yo virgin vibes, IMO..

 

[juzza316]

So hypothetically if we finish bottom 4 and eagles finish bottom.

Eagles get pick 1 (bid on walker) and additional end of first round pick

Carlton give up two first round picks for walker.

That is absolutely nuts if that is right.

The rule should be if you finish bottom 5 then you just need to match a bid on your academy or F/S with your top 5 pick only.