Australian Football League Considering Introducing Future Pick Trading For This Year

The Australian Football League "may allow clubs to use future draft picks in trade deals as soon as this year," according to Emma Quayle of THE AGE. The league has written to clubs this week "seeking feedback on two proposed future trading formats." The simplest proposal would see clubs able to "trade their first-round pick in the next year's draft, or to trade their second- and/or third-round picks while holding onto their first selection." A number of clubs have been "pushing strongly for the immediate introduction of future trading, to tie in with the new points-based bidding system for father-son and northern academy players." The league is conscious of "protecting clubs from selling too large a part of their future, and having to step in to clean up any mess." But it also recognizes the "potential advantage given to clubs with father-son and academy players, given they can go into deficit" (THE AGE, 7/8).