AFL draft bids: League warns clubs over side-deals to ensure integrity bidding process

The league has warned clubs over side-deals relating to bidding on top prospects like Levi Ashcroft, Leo Lombard and Isaac Kako ahead of November’s national draft.

The league has warned clubs against side deals that would see them declining to bid on father-son and academy players as AFL House steps up its determination to see clubs paying a fair price for elite young talent.

Clubs are still in the dark about where bids will come in for future stars including Brisbane-linked Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall, Gold Coast’s Leo Lombard, Essendon’s Isaac Kako, Adelaide’s Tyler Welsh and Carlton’s Ben and Lucas Camporeale.

St Kilda is a strong chance to bid on Suns mid Lombard given they have picks seven and eight – about where he fits in the draft’s top 10 – and they are keen to bolster their midfield with hard-running players of his ilk.

The Suns would then match a bid for Lombard.

That crackdown saw the league videotaping the lodgement of trades this year and specifically asking club list bosses whether the deals being lodged had any other secondary component.

The league had AFL player movement manager Ned Guy and an integrity department staffer in those meetings, where clubs were reminded about their obligations.

Those clubs were warned that linking deals which saw one club trade players or picks but also guaranteeing it would not bid on a rival club’s players was illegal under AFL rules.

But it remains up to clubs to use their discretion to decide whether they bid on NGA, northern academy and father-son players, which can then be matched by sides with links to those players.

Levi Ashcroft trains with the Brisbane Lions after formally confirming his desire to join the club as a father-son selection at the upcoming AFL national draft.

But in an even draft the Lions would be advantaged if clubs which allowed Nick Daicos to drop to pick 4 overlooked Ashcroft, brother of Norm Smith Medallist Will, in the top handful of selections.

The AFL has introduced a raft of changes including a revamped draft points system next year but still wants to see something approximating fair value paid this year ahead of the 2025 system.

Richmond secured Brisbane’s No. 20 draft pick for picks 32, 42, 43 and 45 in a deal that handed the Tigers an eighth pick within 24 selections.

But Brisbane’s list boss Dom Ambrosio said on the last day of the draft the two clubs had not discussed whether the Tigers would bid on Ashcroft with pick one.

Richmond’s Blair Hartley said the Tigers philosophy was to simply bid on father-son and academy players where they sat in the club’s draft order.

Essendon traded its No. 9 draft selection to Melbourne for an extra future first-rounder and would be thrilled if clubs like the Demons did not bid on academy small forward Isaak Kako in the top 10.

While the Dons would still secure Kako they would have to pay a higher price in points, pushing back later selections.

Richmond holds picks one, North Melbourne pick two and Carlton pick three in the national draft.

The Tigers are open to doing more deals but are not interested in trading picks six and 11 for the Roos’ pick two because it is such an even draft.

If they keep their picks they could secure powerful Victorian midfielder Sam Lalor with pick one in the draft then a midfield slider like 195cm point-of-difference onballer Josh Smillie at pick six.

So unless the Roos give up their future first-rounder as part of a trade deal with this year’s pick two the Tigers are unlikely to trade up to pick two.

Clubs are in the dark about Richmond’s intentions with pick one but many believe Greater Western Victoria mid Lalor is the best player as a mid-forward who has at times shown explosive Dustin Martin-like traits.

The Tigers have long loved Smillie’s gifts but a quieter Under-18 carnival has seen him slide from No. 1 overall pick considerations.

Carlton’s inside mid Ben Camporeale could be bid on in the 30s or 40s but brother Lucas, a left-footed flanker, might go later in the national draft.

The Lions used that No. 20 draft pick worth 912 draft points to secure Richmond’s back-end picks worth 1704 draft points to strengthen their draft hand to secure Ashcroft.

But even after securing a 20 per cent discount in their bid for Ashcroft, it would make a huge difference to the Lions if Ashcroft went at pick one (3000 points) compared to four or five in the national draft.

Originally published as AFL draft bids: League warns clubs over side-deals to ensure integrity bidding process