AFL draft system is open to manipulation, writes Sam Landsberger

THE complicated points system at the draft is open to manipulation and if Brisbane doesn’t bid pick three on academy stars Jack Bowes or Will Setterfield there is something wrong.

IF BRISBANE doesn’t bid pick three on academy stars Jack Bowes or Will Setterfield at Friday night’s draft, there is something wrong with the AFL’s new system.

If the gun midfielders make it to Sydney’s No.9 selection without a bid, there is something seriously wrong.

But that could happen.

Recruiters rate Bowes and Setterfield among the best few prospects and believe there is zero chance bids from the Lions wouldn’t be matched.

But the murky, overcomplicated points system is open to manipulation and Brisbane appears likely to let the price tags on Setterfield and Bowes tumble. The Lions are coming from that far back it makes little sense to hand competitors a free hit.

Carlton should be thinking the same at pick five, although list chief Stephen Silvagni is still crunching the numbers on a Setterfield bid.

The Lions and Blues would hope to be challenging for finals with the Suns in years to come, and the Giants’ list is so strong they could remain a force for a decade.

Jack Bowes is one of the top prospects this year and is a members of Gold Coast’s academy. Picture Glenn Hampson

So why not charge a fair price? Last year, Carlton found it hard to split Jacob Hopper and Jacob Weitering at No.1.

But a bid did not come for Hopper until No.7. This year, Essendon has Setterfield in the mix to go No.1.

Yet there is a chance only the Swans attempt to keep them honest, possibly bidding on both gun midfielders before picking their own player at No.11.

That would enable the Suns and Giants to secure their men at about six picks below market price, plus the AFL’s 20 per cent discount.

It is too much. Last month’s trade period was described as “the dodgiest ever”.

Some might dismiss concerns over secret side deals and wink-wink arrangements as conspiracy theories and accept the AFL’s spin as gospel — but they happen.

Not every club indulges. But the Herald Sun knows of an exchange between two clubs last year.

As a swap of picks was agreed to, one asked the other to not bid on its player at the draft.

Will Setterfield is a talented player and available to GWS as part of their academy. Picture: Mark Stewart

This was just one example.

After a couple of one-sided deals were signed off on last month, rivals wondered “gee, I wonder what’s coming back their way next year?”

Some clubs believe a connection between trade talk and draft bids exists.

Would the Lions hope their generosity is remembered when their own academy star, 200cm prospect Connor Ballenden, enters next year’s draft?

Possibly.

Could the Lions, Blues and Fremantle all opt against bids because Bowes and Setterfield are both ranked beneath the players they draft on their talent orders?

Highly unlikely.

Is an AFL audit on trades, talent orders and bids required?

Or do we just roll on and accept that the AFL’s No.1 tool for equalisation — the draft — is open to manipulation and unlikely to produce a pure first round on Friday night?