Carlton has made a submission to the AFL to leave the current father-son system alone as the club prepares to welcome top 10 prospect Harry Dean to IKON Park.
The league is considering a major shake-up of the draft, which involves discussions around potential 'lockouts' of matching Academy and father-son bids early in the draft, especially given the amount of prospect-linked players in the 2025 intake.
The Blues are hoping for a "two or three-year runway" before changes are introduced, although the AFL is open to making the wholesale alterations for 2026.
"We've put in a submission to the AFL around not wanting to see any change," Carlton CEO Graham Wright said.
"Change muted in August last year, which will come into effect for 2025, we have actually not been through that iteration of those rule changes yet, which will see clubs pay a far greater price for matching bids.
"So we know that that'll happen, basically from 2025 onwards, and we feel that there needs to be a two or three-year runway and consultation through that period to see if it requires any further change.
"And there might be that, but we're hopeful that it will be one that happens further down the track."
It comes as Port Adelaide submitted its own request last week, which was similar to the Blues', according to AFL Media.
The Power are hopeful of a 'grandfather period' which will give clubs time to adjust their draft and trade strategies.
"AFL clubs operate sophisticated list management strategies that extend three, four and sometimes five years into the future," Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson said.
"Any proposal that includes immediate implementation of rule changes fundamentally undermines this planning process and creates an environment of regulatory uncertainty that is detrimental to the competition's integrity.
"When clubs invest in F/S prospects or NGA talent, we do so based on the rules framework that exists at the time of that investment."
Port Adelaide has already begun investing time in prospects, including Louis Salopek (2027), Tevita Rodan (2027) and Zemes Pilot (2027).
The Power are also hopeful that top-five 2026 contender Dougie Cochrane will be allowed to be added to the club's Next Generation Academy - but is awaiting the AFL to make a final decision.
Similarly, the Blues are heavily into Pick 1 fancy Cody Walker for next year, while Essendon is all in on 2027 draft-eligible father-son prospect Koby Bewick.
"We are objecting in the strongest possible way to any potential removal of the Father Son rule," Essendon president Dave Barham said.
"In our view, removing this rule goes against the spirit of this game.
"We understand the need for a review of the DVI system that sits behind the AFL Draft and each of the Northern and NGA Academies, and Father Son Rule, so as to better achieve fair value payment under each mechanism."
