A PROGRAM is being developed by the AFL and Champion Data to help simplify the complex new father-son and academy bidding system for clubs and fans.

The League will work closely with its statistics partner to build the application to be prepared if the bidding is implemented as a live element of this year's NAB AFL Draft.

It would allow recruiters to log in their draft picks and where a bid has been placed, and know instantly what it would cost to match a rival's bid to select the father-son or northern academy player.

Supporters would also likely be able to access a version of the system, with the League conscious of bringing in a bidding process that is understandable for all despite the major overhaul.

The proposed bidding system - which is expected to be soon confirmed after support from the AFL Commission and club chief executives - has been structured to ensure clubs pay a fairer price for top talents tied to them.

It does so through a sliding scale, whereby selections can move up and down the draft board depending on where the bid comes.

For instance, if a club bids a top-five pick on Sydney Swans academy player Callum Mills, then it would cost the Swans their first pick and see other selections move to later in the draft.

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After being developed throughout 2014 and presented to clubs in January this year, the final stages of introducing the bidding system has been drawn out.

Clubs were given a window to offer their feedback, before the AFL executive put it forward to the Commission at the end of April. It attracted support but required a few minor tweaks before being unveiled.

Mills is one of a handful of academy players to be rated highly, alongside prospective Greater Western Sydney pair Jacob Hopper and Matthew Kennedy.

Both Hopper and Kennedy could also finish the year as top-10 picks, creating a dilemma for the Giants if they want to secure both.

Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood have also shown their talent and are tied to the Brisbane Lions.

Josh Dunkley is a leading father-son candidate, and is eligible to join the Sydney Swans where his father Andrew played more than 200 games.

But Dunkley is yet to play this season due to a stress fracture in his back, which has seen him recently move from Gippsland to Melbourne to be closer to treatment.

The AFL has given Dunkley permission to train with Richmond's VFL team, which is close to where the 18-year-old is living with his sister.

He will train with the Tigers' VFL team to avoid travelling back and forth to the Gippsland region between his recovery.