Updated ,first published
Carlton’s father-son gun Cody Walker is placing full faith in the Blues finding a way to match an early bid on him as bitter rivals Essendon prepare to bid on Dougie Cochrane with the No.1 pick in this year’s draft.
Port Adelaide will match the bid on next-generation academy star Cochrane, triggering a compensation pick for Essendon and four other bottom sides that means the Bombers don’t need to bid on Walker.
The Blues, who won a wildcard final after Josh Fraser lifted them to 10th on the ladder, would be able to more easily compile enough “draft value index” points if Walker slips down the order.
Power list boss Jason Cripps explained the situation on AFL Trade Radio on Thursday.
“We’re certainly planning for Dougie to be bid on at [number] one,” Cripps said.
“Clubs do lie, believe it or not, but apparently they’re not lying on this one – Dougie’s a clear [number] one [in the draft order], and, yes, I’m happy to share that Essendon have told us that, as well.”
The AFL announced new draft rules in April that make it harder for clubs to land priority talent, such as Walker and Cochrane, who are widely considered among the best few prospects in this draft class.
The rules were designed to make clubs pay a fairer price and meant they could use only two selections in the draft to match an opposition bid on a father-son or academy prospect, up to and including pick No.36.
In recent drafts, clubs were able to use a collection of lower picks to match bids, even if those bids came in the first 10 selections.
Walker, son of 202-gamer Andrew, revealed his intention to play for Carlton in July last year – long before he had to – and is set to join fellow father-son draftee Harry Dean at the Blues.
Carlton have the No.11 and 16 selections in this draft, which add up to 2396 draft value index points, enough to match any bid from the third selection onwards.
However, the Blues can also go into a draft deficit of up to 412 points for next year, which would cover a bid at No.2, so the Cochrane development effectively ensures Walker will be heading to Ikon Park.
“To hear them come out in the media maybe three weeks ago, and [football boss] Chris Davies saying, ‘We’re in the best position to get Cody, we’ve just got to wait until draft night to see where his bid lands’ [was reassuring],” Walker told this masthead.
“I’m going to fully trust them and not get too harped up on comments or media saying [Carlton] might not get me. I’ve got plenty of trust in the club, and they’ve put out what they want to do with my situation, so I think it’ll be good.”
As this masthead explained in June, the club that finishes on the bottom has an incentive under the rules to bid on a priority-access player, as it will push them down the draft order and trigger a compensation pick at the start of the second round.
The bottom five clubs will all receive a second-round compensation pick if a bid causes their first natural selection to slide backwards.
The Bombers – who finished last – are set to make the bid to trigger that compensation, ensuring they have pick No.2, and either 20 and 21, or 21 and 22, in the draft.
Cochrane told this masthead he doesn’t mind the added pressure that comes with being the expected No.1 pick.
“If you think about it, there are that many players in the draft, so it’s rare that the No.1 pick is the best player in the draft. I’ve still got to work hard and do what I need to do and play good footy,” he said.
“I look at Robbie Gray, who’s the best Port Adelaide player of all-time, and he was pick 55. Just because you’re the No.1 pick, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to be a good player.”
Walker’s sole disappointment about the Cochrane-Essendon bid development was that it as good as ended his ambition of being the dux of this draft class.
“I’ve worked extremely hard up to this point, and I back myself all the time. Everyone wants to be as high as they can get,” he said.
“But I think if you’d have asked me three months ago; I definitely would have liked to have been one, two, or three. I think that ship’s sailed.
“I know how hard it can be in the AFL system. I just want to get to work now, and the hard work starts once you do get drafted, so I’m not too fazed [which pick I am selected with].”
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