GEELONG won't be able to offer a first-round draft pick from this year or next to potentially secure Shaun Higgins or Jack Steven unless it can trade another one in beforehand.

The Cats are the only club in the competition that must use its 2019 first-round selection, with the AFL's rule on trading first-round picks kicking in this year. 

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They also can't trade their top 2020 choice in this year's NAB AFL Trade Period, because they used just one first-round selection in the past four drafts from 2015 to 2018.

The exception to that is where a club has applied for and received special permission, with the AFL weighing up the age of the players brought in and other draft picks used in that time.

However, Geelong is unlikely to have a strong case in that scenario, because it traded for older players such as Zach Tuohy (who was almost 27), Lachie Henderson (almost 26) and then-25-year-old Patrick Dangerfield. 

Tim Kelly's decision on his future will have a major say on the Cats' situation.

Any Kelly suitor – he met with West Coast and Fremantle in recent weeks – would almost certainly need to shell out at least one first-round selection. 

Tim Kelly made the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team. Picture: AFL Photos

If Kelly is to go, Geelong would need that deal to be completed before acquiring North Melbourne's Higgins or St Kilda's Steven, assuming their current teams demand a first-round pick be part of any transaction.

Both Higgins and Steven have been linked with a move to the Cattery despite each having one more season to run on their contracts.

Every other club has met the four-year requirement of using at least two selections, including Collingwood, Hawthorn, Melbourne and West Coast, which all managed the bare minimum.

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The Hawks and Demons would go into deficit for 2020 if they also trade their first-round picks this year – without adding another – with their two selections from 2015 dropping off for next year's Trade Period.

Neither club has drafted in the first round since. 

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Essendon will be in the same situation next year unless it can trade in an extra one, because it sent its 2018 and 2019 first-round picks to Greater Western Sydney as part of the Dylan Shiel swap.

The Bombers' two first-round selections in 2015 will also drop off the rolling four-year mandate.

They would be the last clubs to ever be in deficit now that the rule starts this year, and would need to keep using their first-round picks until they again reached the minimum requirement.

The rule, outlined in the AFL's Determination for the trading of future draft selections document, is designed to protect teams from trading themselves into long-term trouble.

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Your club's first-round draft picks

* 2019 draft picks can change

^ Carlton used an end-of-first-round compensation pick in 2015, Sydney received Brisbane's end-of-first-round priority pick in 2016, and Gold Coast received Geelong's end-of-first-round free agency compensation pick in 2017 and West Coast's in 2018. None count as a first-round pick for these purposes. 

Indicative draft order after round 23

Club-by-club draft picks

Draft value index