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THERE could be a record low number of players drafted this year, with clubs tipping there will be no more than 60 prospects brought into the system.
Clubs are expecting a total of approximately 58-60 live selections at November's NAB AFL Draft, which would be the lowest in draft history.
The previous lowest was in 2013, when 63 players were picked. Last year there were 76 players taken by clubs at the national draft.
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The thin draft pool this year has seen some clubs peel back their investment in the crop, with many believing the high number of trades and pick swaps in the exchange period was in part due to the shallower draft.
Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Richmond and the Sydney Swans could all use just three picks on draft night.
Brisbane, Geelong, Gold Coast, Melbourne, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are all expected to take four picks to the draft.
With both Essendon and Carlton holding four picks each inside the first 25 selections, the traditional rivals are likely to each take at least five players on draft night as they regenerate their lists after bottom-four finishes.
The total does not include rookie elevations, which are no longer called out as part of draft night.
Clubs will have a better idea of how many picks will be used on Friday, when the first list lodgments are due. Two delisted free agency periods before the draft will also alter the number of free spots on senior lists.
Although clubs such as the Lions, Swans and Greater Western Sydney have stocked up on picks to accrue more points to pay for northern academy prospects in the new bidding system, not every pick will be assigned to a player.
For instance, the Lions hold five straight selections from No.38-42, but they might only enter the draft with four open list spots.
The picks will remain so they can match early bids on academy pair Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood. If that happens and the leftover selections are shifted to the end of the draft, they will disappear if the Lions don't have list spots available.
For the first time, the draft order will change during the night as bids on father-son and academy prospects are matched.
Because the northern clubs are expected to part with multiple picks to pay for their academy picks, other clubs' selections will be brought forward.
For instance, Essendon's pick No.57 may leap forward 10 spots to become pick 47 if early bids are matched and picks are pushed to the end of the draft.
Clubs had a full trial run of the new father-son and academy bidding system last Friday, completing a mock draft using last year's prospects to see permutations of matched bids.
The draft will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 24.
