While there should be some incentive for drafting a father-son prospect, it seems, at times, clubs might instead have to pay “overs” to get the desired player in the draft. When a list manager decides whether to select a father-son prospect, often they must factor in a different type of potential to the average player. Imagine if the next son of a gun is overlooked and becomes a champion wearing another club's jumper. That would be tough for any club to justify to its fans and every recruiter knows it. Potential father-son draft selections Bailey Scott (left) and Nick Blakey representing their home states in 2016. Credit:Bradley Kanaris As such, rival clubs can effectively prey on fear. By taking calculated risks, they can often bump a player a few spots up the draft order, in turn making their intended targets easier to get.

It makes this year’s draft so intriguing because of how many quality father-son prospects are up for grabs.

Nick Blakey, the son of my old North Melbourne teammate John, has been touted as a possible top-five pick, but is likely to land at Sydney as an academy selection. Nick also has a choice of the Roos and the Brisbane Lions, because of John’s Fitzroy links. Robert Scott, who played more than 100 games with both Geelong and North Melbourne, including our 1996 premiership, has son Bailey in this year’s draft. Bailey is also highly regarded after making the under-18 All-Australian team playing with the Allies. There are also several other familiar names. Scott West’s son, Rhylee, is likely to cost the Western Bulldogs a pick inside the top-30.

Then there’s Oscar Brownless, son of who else but Billy Brownless, and Mason Fletcher, who could follow in father Dustin and grandfather Ken’s footsteps at Essendon. The pressure these kids are under for simply having a certain surname is already much greater than most other players, outside the number one pick.

The bigger the name the greater the expectation. Even before they’ve been drafted they’re being compared to someone. As pick 40 under the old system back in 2001, Gary Ablett jnr carried an enormous burden. Now, by ensuring some father-son selections are taken inside the top-10 or at a higher selection than their actual value, the system adds another layer of pressure altogether. In the past few years Collingwood have navigated that tricky path of managing father-son prospects given they’ve drafted the sons of perhaps three of the club’s top 10 players of all-time in Peter Daicos, Peter Moore and Gavin Brown. Who knows if the fishbowl existence of living as a father-son footballer in Melbourne has anything to do with Darcy Moore reportedly entertaining a move to Sydney, but you could understand if it did. As the son of a dual Brownlow medallist, at one of the biggest clubs in the land, he had an instant profile.

So too Josh Daicos, who gets a massive cheer from the Magpie faithful every time he touches the footy.

At Carlton, Jack Silvagni has faced enormous scrutiny despite being taken with the 53rd pick in 2015. No one taken that late is normally subjected to the amount of focus he has endured. That’s come not only because of his pedigree, but also because his dad Steve still has an active role at the club as Carlton's list manager. While SOS says he removes himself from any discussion surrounding Jack, and no one’s suggesting otherwise, it is an incredibly tough situation to be in. Ultimately, blood is thicker than water. It could become even more complicated if the Blues draft his younger son Ben later this year. Even back when the Kangaroos drafted coach Denis Pagan’s son Ryan in 2000, it ended up causing a real strain on several relationships at the club.

That situation might be different to the one facing most clubs at draft time, but questions remain about how they handle the influx of father-son teenagers this year. What is right for the club? What is best for the player? And that leaves perhaps the biggest question of all: shouldn’t we be making it easier for these guys to continue their family’s legacy, rather than making it more difficult?