The AFL has confirmed changes to the AFL Draft system coming into effect in 2026.

It includes tightening the National Draft Bidding System and introducing a new Compensation Mechanism within the National Draft, which follows a competitive balance review led by the AFL's high-performance team.

“These changes follow an extensive consultation with clubs, and form part of a broader review aimed at driving competitive balance, ensuring the competition continues to be as even as possible year in, year out,” AFL Executive General Manager of Football Greg Swann said.  

“For the betterment of the members and fans of our game, we want every game to matter and a competition where on any day, any team can win.  

“We believe the tightening of the National Draft Bidding System and the introduction of the new Compensation Mechanism will strengthen fairness across the draft process, particularly when it comes to concessional players, and ensure lower-finishing teams have the opportunity to improve their lists without being disadvantaged by the matching process.” 

Port Adelaide and Carlton will be heavily affected by the change, with each side having a consensus top-three pick tied to their club in the 2026 intake.

The rule changes will force them to cough up two first round picks to match a bid.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 19: First round picks (Top Row L-R) Cameron Nairn of the Hawks, Sullivan Robey of the Bombers, Cooper Duff-Tytler of the Eagles, Xavier Taylor of the Demons, Jacob Farrow of the Bombers, Dylan Patterson of the Suns, Willem Duursma of the Eagles (C) (Bottom Row L-R) Sam Grlj of the Tigers, Daniel Annable of the Lions, Lachy Dovaston of the Kangaroos, Zeke Uwland of the Suns, Harry Dean of the Blues, Sam Cumming of the Tigers, Latrelle Pickett of the Demons and Dyson Sharp of the Bombers pose during the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium on November 19th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 19: First round picks (Top Row L-R) Cameron Nairn of the Hawks, Sullivan Robey of the Bombers, Cooper Duff-Tytler of the Eagles, Xavier Taylor of the Demons, Jacob Farrow of the Bombers, Dylan Patterson of the Suns, Willem Duursma of the Eagles (C) (Bottom Row L-R) Sam Grlj of the Tigers, Daniel Annable of the Lions, Lachy Dovaston of the Kangaroos, Zeke Uwland of the Suns, Harry Dean of the Blues, Sam Cumming of the Tigers, Latrelle Pickett of the Demons and Dyson Sharp of the Bombers pose during the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium on November 19th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

National Draft Bidding System   

From the 2026 National Draft, the following changes will be made to the bidding system for concessional players (Father-Son, Northern Academy, or Next Generation Academy):  

  • Clubs can now only use two picks in the current draft to match any bid placed on a concession player up to and including pick No. 36. Bids placed at pick No. 37 or later can still be matched with the club's next pick . 
  • A discount/loading will be applied to applicable Draft Value Index (DVI) values based on ladder finishing position:  
    • First and second placed teams of that season – 20 per cent loading applied to bids placed between picks 1-18   
    • Third and fourth placed teams of that season – 10 per cent loading applied to bids placed between picks 1-18    
    • Fifth to tenth placed teams of that season – no loading or discount 
    • Eleventh to eighteenth placed teams for that season – 10 per cent discount applied to bids placed between picks 1-36 (*From 2027 onwards, eleventh to nineteenth placed teams for that season –10 per cent discount applied) 

     

  • The allowable draft deficit will be reduced to 412 DVI points in 2026. To access this deficit, a club will need to hold a first-round pick in the following year's draft. Any deficit accrued, regardless of where the bid is placed, will be deducted from the club's first-round pick in the following year's draft. 
  • Clubs will only be able to hold as many picks as they have available Primary List spots. 

Compensation Mechanism in the National Draft  

From the 2026 National Draft, clubs whose first-round pick slides due to matched bids on concessional players will receive a second-round compensation pick.   

This will only apply to clubs who meet all three of the following conditions:  

  • Finished in the bottom-five of the ladder in the preceding season.  
  • The club's own natural first-round pick moves back by one spot or more from their position at the start of the draft due to a bid match. 
  • Uses that pick to select a player. 

The provision of compensation picks will be determined at the conclusion of night one of the AFL National Draft. 

The compensation pick will be tied to the club's finishing position, can be traded from the opening of the trade period prior to night two of the draft, and is limited to one per club each draft.  

Where a club has filled their primary list, they will be granted the compensation pick ahead of the trade period window prior to night two of the draft, however, if the club does not trade the pick in the trade period window prior to the draft re-starting, the pick will be forfeited. 

2027 Draft Value Index (DVI) 

Given that the 2027 National Draft will involve the Tasmania Football Club, the league's nineteenth team, a new DVI will be introduced in 2027 which will extend to pick No. 57. 

2027-2029 National Drafts  

The 2027, 2028, 2029 National Drafts will involve concessions for the Tasmania Football Club. The changes to AFL player movement, outlined above, will be in place for all three of these drafts.  

Ahead of the 2027 National Draft, a club's requirement to match a bid with their next pick will move from pick No.37 to pick No.39. This change is to align with the start of the third round in a 19-team competition.   

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