Australian Football League clubs will be able to "keep trading draft picks after the trade deadline and right up until the national draft" in a suite of changes proposed for, and "likely to come into effect" in, '18, according to Michael Gleeson of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Clubs will also be able to trade "just-drafted players and draft picks on draft night under the proposals." The AFL is "already in negotiations with broadcasters over how the changes would affect the live broadcast on draft night." The draft working party, comprising various club list managers and AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon, is "looking at the changes for next year." Steve Hocking, "newly arrived in the job" last week, will "also be involved in any changes." Presently, clubs trade for early draft picks in the trade period "because they have designs on trying to secure a certain player." But they always "face the uncertainty" that another club will still get in ahead of them for that player. By being able to trade for just-drafted players, clubs can trade "in the certainty of securing a particular player" (SMH, 10/23).
