The first year of free agency saw clubs awarded compensation picks that were tied with the club's respective finishing ladder position. This meant St Kilda was awarded pick 13 for losing restricted free agent Brendon Goddard because the Saints already held pick 12.
But under the revised system discussed by some clubs, picks would only be allocated to the end of each round of the draft, meaning the Saints would have still received a first-round pick for Goddard but it would have been used at the end of the round (pick 24 overall in 2012.)
The idea, which has attracted support, would mean a club that loses a star restricted free agent this year, such as Hawthorn's Lance Franklin, would likely be compensated with one draft pick in the 20s.
Like Goddard last year, as a restricted free agent Franklin can field offers from other clubs but Hawthorn will have the option of matching any deal thrown at the dual Coleman medallist.
Franklin has told the club he wants to hold off on contract talks until the end of the season, fuelling fears he could leave the Hawks.
What now for Hawks and Buddy?
Football managers met in December and discussed last year's free agency period, contributing thoughts ahead of the AFL's review.
There have been calls to scrap compensation picks entirely, but clubs think that is unlikely to happen in 2013.
A number of clubs feel picks handed to clubs who lose restricted agents will remain, but compensation for unrestricted agents could be reassessed.
There was frustration from some clubs last year whose draft position was weakened by other clubs being compensated for losing free agents.
"The concern is allocating compensation picks based on where a club finishes on the ladder," one club official said.
"The draft is probably the key plank to equalisation and providing an opportunity for clubs to help rebuild their list so to [be pushed down the order] … it's a fairly significant shift."
The AFL's review into free agency is likely to gather speed when it appoints a new football operations boss to replace Adrian Anderson, who left the role in December.
Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
