The AFL has confirmed a wave of changes that will affect drafting, trade, free agency, Academy access and mid-season trading, among other areas of the competition, from 2024 and beyond.
The league has been weighing up a number of changes to recruitment and list strategies over the course of the year, with a total of seven changes to be implemented across the next three years.
From 2024, clubs with Next Generation Academy prospects will have access to those players from Pick 1 onwards at the National Draft, with the league having previously restricted matched bids for NGA talent until after Pick 40.
The league has stated it will review NGA zones and eligibility criteria over the next 12 months ahead of the 2025 draft.
Another change from this year will see clubs permitted to have players on their rookie list for a maximum of five years, up from the previous limit of three years.
From this year's free agency period onwards, the AFL will amend its free agency compensation model with the formula to now include contract length as an additional key determinant.
The following additional points will come into effect:
- 1 year term = 0 points;
- 2 years = 0 points;
- 3 years = 6 points;
- 4 years = 9 points;
- 5+ years = 12 points (noting no additional points for contracts longer than 5 years).
The AFL has also revealed that AFL Rules will be amended to reflect that a club wanting to include a Father-Son player on its Primary or Rookie List must submit a Form 39A, consistent with the Northern Academy and NGA process. If there is no bid on the player in the AFL National Draft and they are otherwise not selected by the aligned club, that club may pre-list the player to their rookie list.
From 2025 onwards, the AFL will implement a new framework for the draft value index (DVI) and bidding system. The following has been provided on the planned changes:
- The new DVI will see points allocated up until the end of the natural third round.
- A 10% discount will be applied on all bids from selection 1 to 18 followed by an 84-point deduction (being 10% of selection 18) for all bids from selection 19 to 36.
- Matching a bid - first round: Matched using equivalent DVI points.
- Matching a bid - after first-round:
- Matched using equivalent DVI points up to selection 36.
- Match with next selection from selection 37.
- Restriction on Northern Academies: There will be no restrictions based on ladder finishing position for Northern Academy clubs.
From next year clubs will also be able to trade draft selections two years ahead of National Drafts. However, clubs must use two first-round selections every four years, must have board approval to trade any first-round selections, and must hold the full suite of draft selections (2nd and 3rd round selections) to trade their first-round selections and vice versa for second-year drafts.
The AFL has also stated from 2026 clubs will be able to trade in and out of the Mid-Season Draft by using selections for the National Draft
A draft pick trade period will open 30 minutes prior to the Mid-Season Draft, while live trading during the Mid-Season Draft will also be permitted.
โThese changes form part of the broader competitive balance review and are aimed at driving competitive balance and adapting to the developing player movement and list management landscape,โ AFL Executive General Manager of Football Laura Kane said in a league statement.
โAfter an extensive consultation process with our Clubs, it was clear that Clubs wanted more flexibility and levers in this space and a fairer price to be paid for talent concessions.
โThese changes are interconnected and important as they set the framework for list management and player movement.
โA strong theme following our consultation period was ensuring a fairer price was paid for access to talent concessions.
โWe believe that by amending the DVI to have less picks with points attached and fewer points overall, it will see Clubs paying fairer value for talent at the draft.
โWe consider that the Northern Academies and NGA talent concessions are important strategic objectives for the AFL, whilst also acknowledging that father/son players are a key part of the history of our game. ย ย We will however continue to review the application of the 10 per cent discount following the 2025 National Draft.
โWhilst the number of Indigenous players on AFL lists have remained consistent over the past four years, with a reduction in 2024, we are focused on growing this number for future years.
โWe believe removing restrictions on access to NGA talent will incentivise our clubs to invest and develop in their Indigenous and multicultural talent programs and felt strongly that this change should occur as soon as possible.
โOur game is better when we have people from diverse backgrounds bringing their unique talent and perspective. We want our game to reflect all those who love it, on and off the field.
โWe would like to thank our clubs and stakeholders for their input. ย We received thoughtful and considered responses on a range of topics and all Clubs had the best interests of the game at the heart of their feedback.โ
