AFL draft 2015: Callum Mills, Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy, Eric Hipwood discuss bidding system

THEY’RE the prospects unintentionally causing mathematical headaches for footy followers — and they’re struggling to explain how and why.

GWS academy prospect Jacob Hopper is likely to attract a first-round bid.

THEY’RE the aspiring AFL players unintentionally causing mathematical headaches for footy followers.

But even this year’s top academy prospects aren’t exactly sure themselves of the specifics behind why they have fans reaching for calculators and Panadol.

The league’s new academy and father-son bidding process debuts this Tuesday night when the AFL national draft is held in Adelaide.

In previous years, when a rival club laid a bid on an academy or father-son prospect, the player’s nominated club only had to match the bid with a pick from the same round to secure their draftee’s services. That’s what Sydney did last year, matching Melbourne’s bid of pick No. 2 for Isaac Heeney with pick No. 18. Bargain.

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But on Tuesday night, clubs will be forced to pay a higher price for academy or father-son selections, as each club is now allowed to nominate any player for drafting.

Those clubs with academy or father-son prospects will have the right to use points — which means sacrificing other draft picks — to match any bid to move up the selection order to secure their man, provided they have accrued enough bidding points.

Also, bids — and matching bids — will ensure the draft order will change throughout the evening.

It’s a fair, yet confusing system — even for its participants.

“To be honest, I don’t fully understand it, so I’m going in a bit blind,” GWS prospect Jacob Hopper told Fox Footy.

Top AFL draft prospect Matthew Kennedy faced the media on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Brake

“I’m just going in as any other prospect, heading in with an open mind and just seeing what happens.”

Hopper’s Giants academy teammate Matthew Kennedy half gets it: “As far as I’m aware, wherever a club puts a bid on me then the Giants can either match it or let me go to the club. But I don’t really get it.”

Sydney’s Callum Mills is a tad more confident than his cross-town rivals: “It took me a while, but I understand it now. It’s a bit complicated — I haven’t looked too much into the specifics. But I just know in my certain case how it will work.”

Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood, however, is all over it. Well, kind of.

“I just go where I’m told on the night,” he said.

“I have a fair idea on how it goes. I don’t really understand what points go to which pick, but that’s not for me to worry about.”

“It just puts us in the draft like any other kid, I guess. There’s no real difference between me and any other kid now.”

Academy prospects Hopper, Kennedy, Mills and Hipwood are set to attract bids from rival clubs during the first round of Tuesday night’s draft, such is the high regard they’re held in.

Mills, considered the best midfielder in the draft, is likely to be the first prospect to cop a bid, with Melbourne tipped to bid on him at pick No. 3.

“It’s exciting, as I have no idea where I’m going to go,” Mills said.

Callum Mills is likely to be the first draftee to attract a bid. Picture: Sarah Matray

“It’ll keep me on the edge of my seat on draft night, which is a good thing.”

The Swans could realistically opt to let Mills slide to the Dees.

But they won’t, as they know they have a future star — and a lifelong Swans supporter — in the palm of their hand.

GWS will approach Tuesday’s draft with a similar attitude to the Swans, as they know their two academy prospects — Hopper and Kennedy — are too talented to let go.

Yet Kennedy is preparing himself for all situations.

“There’s a bit of that excitement factor to it, not knowing where you’re going to be for the next two years of your life. I might be in Perth or I might be in Melbourne or Sydney,” he said.

“It’s sort of nerve-racking but exciting at the same time because you just want to play footy.”

Kennedy and Hopper are similar players. They’re tough, inside midfielders who win contested possessions for breakfast yet also push forward and impact the scoreboard.

And they’d love to pull on a Giants jumper together next season.

“Matty’s a great story,” Hopper said. “He’s started to string some really good footy together and I’m really proud of the way he’s shown a lot of people how to play the game.

“He’s a great inside mid who can win the pill, but his overhead marking is something that’s been highlighted throughout the year anyway.”

Lions Academy stars Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood should be taken in the first round of the

Kennedy described Hopper as the “complete package”.

“The best thing about Hop is that while he’s a great player, he’s an even better bloke,” Kennedy said.

“He’s easy to get along with. His attitude and the way he goes about his footy, you can see why he could be a future leader of a club.”

Hipwood, an athletic 200cm utility, is expected to be the first Lions academy player to attract a bid, most likely midway through the first round.

Fellow academy teammate, good friend and star ball magnet Ben Keays is expected to go a few picks later.

“Keaysy is a really competitive sort of person,” Hipwood said.

“If you’re in the gym with him, he’s always that person that puts a little bit extra on the bench press. Through the pre-season he pushes you.

“He’s got great leadership qualities and he’s going to be a great player of the future.”