Clubs set to demand answers from AFL over draft at CEO summit in Perth

Clubs are set to demand the AFL give them clarification around father-son and academy bids this week in Perth, but JON RALPH reports clubs will come in with their own agendas.

Swans CEO Tom Harley speaks at a press conference at Swans HQ on March 27, 2024. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - Phil Hillyard **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )

AFL clubs will demand answers from the league on its contentious changes to the draft bidding system as they gather in Perth for a three-day chief executives meeting this week.

The clubs have been summoned by AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon after a successful meeting last year in Werribee that helped shape the competition’s direction.

Clubs have been sparring with each other and the AFL over the academy system, travel inequities, the potential for three Grand Finals, and overall competitive balance.

The league is also reviewing the season structure so is open to adding a 24th game to the season, more blockbusters in Perth around the WA Day public holiday and tweaks to the new-look Opening Round.

Swans CEO Tom Harley has said clubs want clarity on changes to the draft. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said on Saturday the No. 1 priority for clubs is to gain clarity on whether the league’s certain changes to the draft will come in this year or in 2025.

The AFL has no July AFL commission meeting so any changes would only be put forward to the league’s governing body in August.

It means clubs might have less than two months to frantically plan to match points totals for father-son and academy picks or even trade out contracted players to secure those points.

Heartland clubs have been scaremongering over the depth of talent in Gold Coast’s academy on a weekend when their academy star Leo Lombard, a likely top 10 pick, was jointly named the Larke Medallist as the Under-18 championship’s best player.

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Leonardo Lombard is widely tipped to attract a bid in the top end of the draft. Picture: Jenny Evans/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Harley said on Saturday the clubs backed the AFL’s depth of talent under Dillon but wanted answers on the bidding system.

“The most important part from a timeliness is around the competitive balance and what the end of the season looks like with the drafting and the rules attached to that,” he said.

So there has been a long and wide consultative process starting early in the year so the resolution of that would be the prime consideration we are looking at.

“The first time ‘Dills’ facilitated a CEO’s conference in Werribee this time last year it was fantastic.

“I am really looking forward to heading over to Perth to have those conversations.

“Collectively we have enough clout and experience and enough collaborative thought leaders to make sure the game is in great stead,” he told SEN.