DRAFT night is set for an overhaul, with clubs keen to introduce live bidding on father-son and academy prospects.

Clubs have passed on feedback to the AFL on the initial draft plan sent to clubs in late January. 

Holding the bidding process during the draft would give clubs the chance to compare which players might be available at the same pick as their prospective father-son or academy graduate.

However, clubs are expected to vary widely on the discount – if any – that should be applied to father-son and academy prospects.

Under the proposed system, each draft selection has been allocated a points value.

Clubs nominating players as their academy or father-son selections will have to use their existing picks to match the value of the pick used by the club bidding for an academy or father-son selection if they want to acquire the player.

The AFL proposal suggested a discount of 25 per cent be given for academy graduates and 15 per cent for father-son prospects, to ensure incentives remained for clubs to invest in and select such players.

However, views remain split on what is the most appropriate discount and some clubs even argue that the points-discount system should only apply to academy graduates.

More than one club has suggested the AFL retain its current father-son bidding system, but change the bidding date to ensure they are made during the draft rather than weeks before, as has happened up until now.

AFL.com.au understands other clubs will support a points system include father-son bids but argue any discount awarded for making father-son selections should be the same as proposed for the academy picks at 25 per cent.

It is believed it will also be proposed for the academy points discount to be removed, as that dividends yielded to clubs running academies will make the significant investment worthwhile.

In the developing states of NSW and Queensland the mood is that discounts for academy should exceed 25 per cent, with the success of club-run academies crucial to game development and deepening the talent pool in non-traditional states.

Some industry sources have also questioned whether the points gap between the first and second pick – 483 points – is too large, given the talent gap between those two players is often minor. 

Patrick McCartin-Christian Petracca, Tom Boyd-Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield-Jonathan O'Rourke, Jonathon Patton-Stephen Coniglio and David Swallow and Harley Bennell have been the one and two picks in the past five seasons.

While the general consensus is that the proposal would make the system fairer there is some concern from clubs about the prospect of being locked out of the early rounds of future drafts if they have more than one academy graduate and/or father-son prospect available in the one season.

There is also concern whether fans would accept the seemingly complicated nature of the system.

The divergent views underpin the difficulties in developing a draft and player movement system that supports the competitive balance objective while creating incentives for increasing the talent pool and game development. 

There have also been unrelated calls to give clubs the ability to trade future draft picks or trade picks on draft night.

The AFL will consider club feedback before making a recommendation to the AFL Commission about the changes.

It hopes to introduce a new system for this year's draft and inform clubs as early as possible.