Carlton's golden run ending in Friday night's elimination final against Geelong has provided some clarity around the Cody Walker transaction.
The star Carlton father-son prospect is almost certain to net a bid in the top three of this year's AFL National Draft and each finals win for the Blues made matching a bid a touch harder as their natural selection slid down.
Carlton will have pick 11 and at this stage 17, with the 17th selection tied to Sydney. If the Swans fail to reach the grand final, as is widely expected following a quintet of suspensions, that pick could come as high as Pick 14 - pending Fremantle's result next week.
Put simply, Carlton will now be barracking against Sydney for the remainder of the finals so that selection comes as early in the draft as possible.
Picks 11 and 17 net the Blues 1984 points, which would be enough for them to match a bid at Pick 2 or lower. In the worst case scenario Sydney wins the premiership and the second selection slides to Pick 18, Carlton would still be able to match a bid at Pick 2.
Pick 2 is worth 2069 points, but clubs are allowed to go into no more than 412 points of deficit to match a bid. Pick 3 is worth 1766 points.
It is unlikely a bid would come at Pick 1, with the widespread belief being Port Adelaide-tied Dougie Cochrane will receive a bid first.
However, if a bid was to come at Pick 1, the Blues would need to package up one of their first round selections, with one or both of their second round selections to move up to at least Pick 8 to go into allowable deficit.
The Power are well-placed to match a bid at Pick 1, which is worth 3000 points.
The club's top two selections amount to 2648 points and they get a 10 per cent discount to match a bid given they finished 15th on the table and would be allowed to go into deficit.
That is before considering a return for Zak Butters. With first round talents Louis Salopek and Zemes Pilot tied to them next year, the Power may look to get proactive in attaining draft capital given clubs' reluctance to get into next year's compromised draft
Walker has moved to Melbourne from his native Echuca this year, having graduated last year and spent plenty of time ensconced in the Carlton program, including getting VFL exposure in between Vic Country and AFL Academy representation.
Cochrane, too, has played senior footy at Port Adelaide's SANFL side since returning from injury late in the year rather than for his pathway club, Central District.
