North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson has not held back on his feelings for the current state of the National Draft, believing the compromises made have deteriorated the ability for equalisation to exist in the AFL.
Clarkson highlighted how total rebuilds aren't a viable option for struggling clubs to gain success, as high-end draft picks aren't typically available due to the nature of the points bidding system.
"It's been as challenging a time as ever in the game in how you secure your players," Clarkson told media on Thursday
"Whether that's to do with northern academies, Next Generation Academies, the indigenous academies; it's really, really difficult.
"The total rebuild; any club giving consideration to that just won't go there ever again. Unless there can be some sort of mechanism where you can see opportunity to be able to improve your list."
North Melbourne have been a club impacted by the bidding system in recent years. In 2024, the club, along with Richmond, Carlton and Adelaide, opted not to select top prospect Levi Ashcroft as the Lions father-son prospect was destined to be scooped up by the Brisbane side, with Melbourne ultimately attempting to pick Ashcroft at pick 5 before the Lions matched the bid.
In 2023, the Kangaroos attempted to select Jed Walter with the third pick of the National Draft, but the Suns quickly matched the bid with Walter's ties to the club's Academy. North Melbourne would select Zane Duursma instead at pick 4.
Clarkson highlighted the issues the current system presents for clubs regularly finishing in the bottom half of the ladder.
"Many have thought 'we'll be able to improve our list with really high draft picks and maybe we'll trade a player to get another high draft pick'. But you just can't get into the high-end of the draft because of all of the compromise to the first round in particular," Clarkson said.
"That has made it really difficult for all the clubs in the bottom eight of the ladder; the St Kilda's, the Carlton's, the North Melbourne's, the Richmond's.
"Because they're in that boat of trying to get their list better, they're the sides that are scrambling trying to work out how they can get some talent into their footy club."
Clarkson and the Kangaroos won't have to worry about early bids in the 2025 National Draft, however, having traded their 2025 first-round pick to Richmond during last year's draft, but they aren't the only club to raise concerns.
In June, St Kilda called for a draft overhaul, believing the northern Academies needed to be abolished. Saints senior coach Ross Lyon followed a similar sentiment earlier this month, arguing that father-son, NGA, and northern academy prospects should be reserved for the second round and beyond.
