Carlton and Port Adelaide are furious after the AFL announced major changes to father-son and academy draft rules, with both clubs believing they have been unfairly disadvantaged by the timing of the reforms.
New Rules Increase Costs for Matching Bids
The new rules will significantly increase the cost for clubs to match bids on father-son and academy players. AFL footy boss Greg Swann revealed on Wednesday that a club winning the premiership would need to use Pick 4 and Pick 6 to match a bid at Pick 1.
While unveiling the changes, which mean clubs can no longer stockpile later picks to match bids on top draftees, Swann — the former CEO of Brisbane — dropped one line that particularly irritated Carlton.
“And the key person in all of this is Greg Swann, who has been quizzed by clubs, he admitted today, on his role while he was at the Brisbane Lions, and now he is at the AFL,” said 7SPORT expert Tom Morris on The Agenda Setters.
“And the specific frustration from clubs today, specifically Carlton, is around this comment that he made this afternoon when he was speaking to journalists at the AFL. He said that Carlton has already had its lick of the ice cream. Carlton has already had its lick of the ice cream.”
Swann was referring to Harry Dean, the son of Carlton great Peter Dean, who was snapped up by the Blues as a father-son prospect last year.
Carlton president Rob Priestley issued a furious statement after Swann’s announcement, saying: “Today’s discretionary decision by the AFL has gone against this (our wishes) with full knowledge that it will disadvantage certain clubs more than others, which no AFL rule change should.”
Brisbane’s Advantage Under Scrutiny
The issue is that Swann was the boss of Brisbane as that club pulled together a mighty list that is now shooting for its third consecutive premiership and fourth consecutive grand final. Included in the list are three father-son guns, academy stars, and top-line recruits.
AFL great Nick Riewoldt said if this rule had been introduced four years ago, the Lions would not have been able to secure two father-son players — Will Ashcroft (now a two-time Norm Smith medallist) and Jaspa Fletcher — and former Bulldog Josh Dunkley (who is now a co-captain of the Lions). Those players all walked in the door at the end of the 2022 season after the Lions lost a semi-final.
“Will Ashcroft ... would have gone No.1 in the draft ... so they would have had to find a couple of first-round picks to be able to get him, which means they wouldn’t also have been able to get Jaspa Fletcher ... and Josh Dunkley. So they wouldn’t have got all three of those guys. They would have gotten one,” Riewoldt said.
“And then they win the flag, and then they go and get Levi Ashcroft, which would have cost them Pick 4 and Pick 6, we’re now learning. They could only have gotten (Levi) if they, what, traded out a Zac Bailey or a Cam Rayner and got two first-rounders?
“You can understand why Carlton and Port Adelaide are filthy. Because if this is four years ago, Brisbane don’t end up with Dunkley, Fletcher, and (academy player) Daniel Annable, and potentially they lose a Bailey or a Rayner or one of those types to get the capital to be able to get Will and Levi Ashcroft.”
Clubs May Have to Trade Stars
Morris said the AFL were forcing clubs to go to market and trade out some of their stars if they are desperate to get the top draft picks. “They don’t mind the fact that clubs, good clubs, will have to trade out good players to bring these draft picks in. So that’s how it’s going to look,” Morris said.
Morris also noted if the rules were in place last year, Gold Coast would not have been able to acquire Christian Petracca from Melbourne as well as their four academy players. “It just wouldn’t be possible.”
Reaction to Swann’s ‘Ice Cream’ Comment
But back to that “lick of the ice cream” comment from Swann. “So if that’s a lick of the ice cream (for Carlton), what did Brisbane get?” Seven’s chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary asked Riewoldt.
Riewoldt: “Brisbane got a Drumstick, a Paddle Pop and a Golden Gaytime, I reckon. They got the whole lot.”
Carlton President’s Letter to Members
Carlton president Rob Priestley’s letter to members about draft bidding: “The AFL has today finally announced bidding changes relating to father son and Next Generation Academy players for this year’s 2026 National Draft.
“Our CEO Graham Wright and I have spent significant time lobbying the AFL and members of the AFL Commission in relation to this.
“While our club has agreed that working towards adjusting access to father son and NGA talent was necessary over the long term to ensure a more equitable system, our club’s position has been absolutely clear that for any proposed rule changes, they had to come with an appropriate runway so as not to disadvantage specific clubs.
“Part of the clear case we put forward was that the AFL had to allow all clubs to properly plan and prepare for any changes to draft rules, in order to provide the same runway that previous clubs have been afforded, and as a result, have significantly benefited from.
“This was the only appropriate and truly equitable way to implement such changes however today’s discretionary decision by the AFL has gone against this, with full knowledge that it will disadvantage certain clubs more than others, which no AFL rule change should.
“Despite the lack of an appropriate runway for such rule changes, through discussion and consultation we have seen the 10% discount retained for all clubs that do not make the top 10.
“Irrespective, our club has put itself in a strong position as it relates to our upcoming father son and NGA talent considerations. We are currently the only club in the competition to hold multiple first-round selections in each of the next two drafts and we will continue to plan accordingly our approach to this year’s national draft.”
