How incoming draft rule changes will make Blues’ four-club trade of Paddy Dow worthless

Carlton believed it had executed a genius move in the 2023 trade period when it orchestrated a four-club trade to gain enough points to access the Camporeale twins. Incoming rule changes may mean the club gave up Paddy Dow for picks now worth nothing.

Carlton’s fury at upcoming changes to the national draft bidding system stem from a 2023 trade for Paddy Dow that the Blues believed had set up their recruitment of Ben and Lucas Camporeale.

Carlton coach Michael Voss and football boss Brad Lloyd have both hit out at potential changes to the bidding system which will make it harder for them to secure the sons of Scot Camporeale.

The recruitment of Ben – a tough inside midfielder likely to be a back-end first-round pick – and late draft or even rookie selection Lucas are not in doubt given the Blues will have the picks to secure them.

But Carlton’s ire at the AFL came after they believed they had orchestrated the perfect future planning to secure additional points for the pair in the 2023 trade period.

Ben Camporeale will likely command a first-round pick come season’s end. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Carlton traded former No. 3 draft pick Dow to St Kilda but instead of asking for a second-round pick asked for a collection of future picks.

In the end, across a complicated four-club trade they secured Essendon’s 2024 third-round pick, the Dogs 2024 fourth-round pick and Fremantle’s future fourth-round pick.

Those picks under potential changes to the system could all have no points attached to them – meaning Carlton cannot use them to match bids for father-sons.

The Blues gave up their 2023 third and fourth-round picks and Dow in the trade.

So if the AFL rules that no draft picks over 40 have any draft collateral, the Blues will have given up two 2023 picks for no reason and have three 2024 picks that have no value.

Lucas Camporeale is likely to be a later pick for Carlton in the draft. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

And they will have missed out on the mid-range 2023 pick they could have secured for Dow. meaning their entire strategy to secure the Camporeale twins will have been bungled.

Some clubs including Gold Coast were given some warning the AFL might make some changes to the points value of those back-end picks before the 2023 national draft.

But the Blues were blindsided.

AFL club recruiters will on Tuesday be given a look at those potential changes which AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and executive football boss Laura Kane have suggested could come in for the 2024 national draft.

Clubs will likely be able to trade future picks two years into the future while the points value of high-end picks might increase and the points value of back-end picks might be eradicated.

It will be in aid of the AFL making the bidding system fairer for father-son and NGA picks after the Suns used pick 4 to secure four picks in the top 30 last year.

Some clubs are pushing for no points value for picks after the first 54 selections, which would at least mean the first three rounds of the draft would have points values attached to picks.

Richmond has stockpiled selections which leading into this weekend were at pick 40, 41, 49, 58, 68 and 72.

Paddy Dow is now in St Kilda colours. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

All of those picks might end up worthless from the point of view of trading them up to secure an early selection with clubs keen to secure them for their points value.

Carlton’s Lloyd told 3AW and SEN on Friday night the club was having regular discussions with the league’s Kane but wanted a 12-month lead-in before any changes.

The Blues have argue they have worked for years to position themselves to secure the Camporeale twins.

The Blues entered the weekend with picks 17 and 37, which have a combined points value of 1508 points, which would be enough to secure both players.

But if they could use their back-end picks to match a bid they would retain a quality selection in a 2024 national draft stacked with talent.

Brisbane has Levi Ashcroft, who could go anywhere from pick 1 to 5, and northern academy midfielder Sam Marshall, who could be selected anywhere from 15-25.

They have traded away their 2024 second-round selection but will still be in good shape to secure both players, even if they have to trade in a second-round selection.

GWS has academy ruckman Logan Smith who could go anywhere in between 20-40 so they will have ample points to secure him as a back-up to Kieren Briggs and 20-year-old ruck Nick Madden.