James Hird slams 'totally unfair' AFL draft change set to smash Blues, Bombers and Power

Essendon great James Hird has slammed the AFL's decision to change the father-son and academy draft bidding rules halfway through the 2026 season.

In the wake of the likes of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Collingwood and Western Bulldogs benefiting heavily across the 2020s, the league has moved to make it harder for teams to match bids on their father-son and academy prospects.

The move has come at a horrible time for Carlton and Port Adelaide, who were set to benefit this year, and Essendon who have a top prospect in 2027.

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Under the old system, Brisbane was able to draft father-son prospect Will Ashcroft at pick two by giving up picks 34, 35, 38, 40 and 41. He has gone on two win two Norm Smith Medals and swing the last two premierships.

The Lions also had top-line father-son pick-ups with Levi Ashcroft and Jasper Fletcher, and then a top academy prospect in Daniel Annable in the 2025 draft.

Gold Coast, meanwhile, has selected nine first round picks in the last three drafts via their academy system, all at the same heavily discounted price.

Now, if Carlton is to match a bid on father-son prospect Cody Walker, who is a projected top five pick, they must do so with only two picks, and the bidding cost has risen significantly since the Ashcroft drafts.

If the Blues finish in the bottom five this season, they will likely have to use that pick and Sydney's first rounder from the Charlie Curnow trade in order to match the bid on the son of club great Andrew Walker.

And given how great of a run the Queensland teams have had, plus the likes of Collingwood with Nick Daicos and the Western Bulldogs with Sam Darcy, Hird feels the change is especially "unfair" on Carlton.

"How is this fair?" Hird asked on Nine's Footy Classified.

"The fact that Brisbane picked up Will Ashcroft for junk, picks in the 30s and 40s, and Carlton's going to give up a top five pick and another at a minimum (for Cody Walker).

"How is that fair for Carlton? That's only four years ago.

"Brisbane has just built two premierships on this rule, possible three, and Carlton ... I just think it is totally unfair."

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AFL reporter Cal Twomey, who broke the story, believes the league has made the call because the price for the Ashcroft brothers was so disproportionately cheap.

"The argument is that it is (now) a fairer value. That that was not a fair value for Will Ashcroft," Twomey responded to Hird.

"Clubs were told about this in July of last year. They were given some warning. They've made them fairer price value now, it's just unfortunate for Port Adelaide and Carlton."

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes the AFL should have waited for Tasmania's entry into the competition in 2028 before making these rules changes, in part to throw the struggling Carlton and Essendon a bone.

"I reckon they should have left it until Tasmania comes in, and then you go with it," McGuire said.

"It's really hard. Carlton has had its head kicked in for long enough. I don't reckon it's the right call."

Port Adelaide also has a prospective No.1 pick in this year's draft tied to their academy in Dougie Cochrane, while Essendon has a similarly rated player in 2027's draft with father-son player Koby Bewick.

They will all still likely land at their linked clubs, but at a significantly higher cost compared to what Gold Coast and Brisbane have paid across the 2020s.