This year’s AFL National Draft will be held over two days, with the first round occurring on the evening of Thursday, November 22 and the remainder on Friday, November 23.
Live pick trading will also be available to clubs for the first time, which AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan described as a ‘very exciting’ addition to the event.
“The whole of the first round only will take place on the first night and clubs will be allowed up to five minutes for their picks,” Sheehan told AFC Media.
“That brings in live trading throughout the night, which is going to be super exciting allowing clubs to put a package together to potentially creep up the draft order.
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For example, it has been speculated Adelaide is keen on South Australian young guns Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine.
If either player is still on the board when Brisbane has its first pick (currently No. 4), the Crows could bundle multiple picks (eg. No. 7 & No. 15) and make an offer to the Lions in a bid to jump up the order.
The Crows could also offer the same bundle to Carlton, Gold Coast or St Kilda in a bid for one of the top three picks.
“So, if a player’s still on the board at a certain point, a club might decide to package something up and try and win that pick from the club that currently holds it. That along with bidding (for academy and father-son players).”
Clubs will be based out of individual corporate suites at Marvel Stadium, with all in-draft trades to only occur at the draft itself, which is certain to add to the theatre of the event.
“They’ll be in contact, no doubt, in the lead-up to see if there is an interest from clubs ahead of them in the draft to do a deal,” Sheehan said.
“But the deals will be done on the night, can’t be confirmed until on the night and then would need to be screened by the AFL before the box is ticked and they’re able to then creep up the draft order.
“It will be fascinating to see how it unfolds from every club’s point of view. It is new, but it allows so many other elements to come into the draft that should maintain the interest of the fans.”
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Sheehan predicts there will be multiple offers made but remains unsure as to how many deals will actually be done.
"I think clubs will be prepared to put something out there to see if they can get a result," he said.
"The clubs will be private in their own super boxes here at the stadium, so they’ll have their own group together in their war room making up their mind as to how far they might go to try and make a bid to get up the order to try and get the player they’re after."
This year’s rookie draft will also take place on the Friday afternoon, eliminating what was previously a nervous wait for the 1,500-plus players in the mix to be drafted.
