With the AFL draft only hours away, we’ve got some draft questions but not all the answers.

Are the first two selections set in concrete?

It appears to be the case, with Carlton expected to use the No 1 pick on key defender Jacob Weitering and then 199cm forward Josh Schache heading to Brisbane, where his late father Laurence played in the early 1990s. 

Who will be the first club to bid for an Academy or father-son player?

The new points-based bidding system will go on show for the first time. But how soon will it be required? For the clubs who have nominated players, the earlier a bid is made by a rival, the more points they need to cough up to match the bid.  The system is designed to force clubs to pay a fairer price for Academy and father-son players but someone still has to make a bid. Melbourne may be the first with pick No 3, for Callum Mills (Sydney Academy) or Jacob Hopper (GWS Academy) – and possibly both – forcing the Swans and Giants to make a call. The risk to the new process is that clubs may not bother to bid with early picks because they know they won’t get the player, preferring instead to name the player they know they can take.  

Will GWS, Sydney and Brisbane have enough points to match bids for Academy players?

These clubs have all planned ahead and will know who they want to secure. Sydney will probably pay a big price for Callum Mills – 1787 points if Melbourne bids at No 3 – but can cover that with picks 33, 36, 37 and, in part, 44.  GWS and Brisbane have collected a pile of points but will be hoping their Academy options do not attract a series of early bids. The Giants will know that Jacob Hopper and Matthew Kennedy are probably early first rounders but if they also want ruckman Matthew Flynn or forward Harrison Himmelberg, more early bids could test their spirit.  Brisbane may also need to use first round level points to keep Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays but has more than 2000 points available through its five consecutive picks, starting with 38.   

What does GWS do with pick 10 if there are no earlier bids for its best Academy players?

It will be a big surprise if there are no early bids for Jacob Hooper or Matthew Kennedy. But if not, the Giants could select someone else on their wish list at their  first pick No 10 and then wait for the bids to come before using their points. There would be some risk, however, as they could still need to find a stack of points if bids are made from 11-18.

Will picks move around during the draft?

Yes they will, there will be an update every time any bid for an Academy or father-son player is matched. For example, if Sydney has to use picks 33, 36 and 37 to claim Mills with pick No 3, all the clubs behind this drop back one in the order and Melbourne has the next pick, now No 4. But clubs holding picks after Sydney’s second rounders would move up the order, with Brisbane’s first pick rising to 36.  With Sydney, Brisbane and GWS entering the draft with 15 of the picks between 33 and 55, it is likely that some of the other clubs with picks in this area are going to jump up the order a number of spots.  

Who will Adelaide pick?

Sorry, can’t answer that one! By draft evening the Club’s recruiting team will have a pretty clear idea as to who will be taken with the first eight picks and where bids for some Academy listed players may be made. Whatever happens with bidding, the Crows will still have the ninth pick from the no-Academy and father-son group. Pick 13 could actually become the 12^th player from outside the Academies, if GWS has to use pick No 10 to match a bid.

Will I need a calculator next to be on the sofa?

No, best to just go with the flow and rely on the TV and online coverage to keep you updated. All the information will be at the fingertips of the club recruiters when bids are made. Touch wood, the new software works under pressure.