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Find your frequency hereWhat Hodge would change about the father-son rule
Luke Mathews • August 12th, 2025 2:12 pm
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge has called for the AFL to keep the father-son rule despite clubs pleading for it to be scrapped.
In recent years, superstars Sam Darcy, Nick Daicos, Will Ashcroft and Levi Ashcroft have walked into the clubs their fathers have played for in exchange for late picks in the draft.
The apparent injustice has led to clubs like St Kilda asking for the rule to be abolished especially considering the saints have only had one father son play a game this century.
Hodge’s son Cooper is looking like one of the top prospects in next year’s draft with the young gun set to make a call between playing for Hawthorn or joining Brisbane through their Academy.
The two-time Norm Smith medallist said that he liked how the rule had become a part of the game, however he felt that a higher price should be paid for top end superstars.
“I like the idea of it,” Hodge told SEN Whateley on Tuesday morning.
“I guess that is something that we have grown up with, Gary Ablett Jr. who I played junior football with was able to go and play for his old man’s side.
“I can understand where other teams are arguing especially if you’ve got a player who is going to change the culture or is going to change the future of your football club.
“Nick Daicos or a Sam Darcy for instance, if they’re going to be a top 10 pick, I think more needs to be put on their prices rather than just go through and put you standard one on.
“I still like the idea of the father-son and the father-daughter that they have been able to bring in because that’s a part of our game that we have liked for so long.
“If they want to bring someone into the club that their father played for, there’s got to be a few higher prices paid than just a few extra points.
“I can understand why these clubs are cracking it with that.
“I can understand teams that go, 'How good is it that the Ashcroft brothers are making a real
impact for a team that their father made a name for and played 300 games for'.
impact for a team that their father made a name for and played 300 games for'.
“You can also understand them saying, 'Why does a club get more players coming through for free?'. Especially ones that can have that kind of an impact.”
Carlton, Collingwood and Melbourne could be amongst the teams set to benefit from the rule this season with Harry Dean, Thomas McGuane and Kalani White all tied to those respective clubs as father-son prospects.
