The AFL is considering a major change to the pathway into the game that would impact heavily on teenage Victorian footballers, their studies and the passage into the AFL.

The AFL is contemplating changing the elite junior competition that provides about half their players – the NAB League – from an under-18 to an under-19 competition, but still favours keeping the minimum draft age at 18.

In a potential reform that is gaining some momentum within the AFL and which also would please Victorian private schools with strong football programs, the elite NAB League, long known as the TAC Cup, would become an under-19 competition next year.

Carlton's Sam Walsh. Credit:Morgan Hancock

But regardless of whether the feeder competition is under-19 or under-18, the AFL would almost certainly keep the draft age at 18, allowing clubs to draft stand-out youngsters of that age such as Carlton’s Sam Walsh and Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell. There would be significantly fewer 18-year-olds drafted, though, when clubs have smaller lists.