CARLTON is playing finals. Now, what does that mean for Cody Walker?

Confirmation that the Blues would be playing in a wildcard game, courtesy of Sunday's draw with the Western Bulldogs, also had a crucial subplot related to Walker, their star father-son prospect.

DRAFT ORDER Click here for the full draft order

As part of the sweeping changes to the AFL's father-son and Academy bidding system introduced earlier this year, teams that qualify for the top 10 do not get the 10 per cent discount when matching a bid on tied players.

It means Carlton will now be paying full price for Walker at November's Telstra AFL Draft, with a bid at pick No.1 worth 3000 points, at No.2 worth 2481 points, and at No.3 worth 2178 points.

Carlton holds multiple first-round picks in this year's draft, having secured Sydney's top pick courtesy of the Charlie Curnow trade last October, with those currently slated to fall at No.9 and No.17 on the indicative draft order.

Those picks combined are currently worth 2234 points, ensuring the Blues would be equipped to match a bid at pick No.2 – given you're allowed to fall 412 points into deficit under the AFL's new rules – but not if an opposition side bids for Walker at the No.1 selection.

Carlton can, of course, shuffle those picks around to amass more draft points. The Blues also currently have picks No.23 and No.24 as part of previous trades, while they also have multiple first-round picks in 2027 via the Curnow deal.

However, under the League's new system, clubs can now only use their first two selections to match a bid. It means Carlton can't use the No.23 and No.24 picks as part of the package to match a Walker bid, as things stand.

Their value in terms of trades to move the Blues' first two picks higher up the board, though, is appealing and is part of the reason why the club remains so confident it will be able to eventually secure Walker, no matter where the bid is placed.

But the Walker situation could become more complicated if a suddenly rejuvenated Carlton goes deep into September. As part of the rule changes, top-four teams are now due to pay a 10 per cent loading on tied players, while the two Grand Finalists will be forced to pay a 20 per cent loading.

Another complicating factor could arrive via free agency compensation packages, with the chance Carlton's current picks at No.9 and No.17 shuffle back if additional selections are squeezed into the order.

Restricted free agents like Zak Butters, Ben King and Zac Bailey could all still trigger 'Band One' compensation packages for their current clubs, which would push both Carlton and Sydney's picks deeper into the draft, diluting their value.

Port Adelaide will not qualify for finals, meaning it will receive a 10 per cent discount on a bid for potential Academy-tied No.1 selection Dougie Cochrane, making the Power well equipped to secure the talented youngster.

The Power currently have the No.4 selection on the indicative draft order, while they are also expected to match any rival's restricted free agency offer for Butters and subsequently force a trade that will net the club more early picks.

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER (after round 23)

1) Essendon
2) Richmond
3) West Coast
4) Port Adelaide
5) Melbourne (via Gold Coast)
6) North Melbourne
7) Greater Western Sydney Giants
8) St Kilda
9) Carlton
10) Western Bulldogs
11) Collingwood
12) Adelaide
13) Geelong
14) Melbourne
15) Hawthorn
16) Brisbane
17) Carlton (via Sydney)
18) Fremantle

19) Essendon
20) Richmond
21) West Coast
22) Port Adelaide
23) Carlton (via Gold Coast)
24) Carlton (via North Melbourne)
25) Hawthorn (via Greater Western Sydney)
26) Hawthorn (via St Kilda)
27) Port Adelaide (via Carlton)
28) Western Bulldogs
29) Collingwood
30) Adelaide
31) Geelong
32) Greater Western Sydney (via Melbourne)
33) Hawthorn
34) Brisbane
35) Sydney
36) Fremantle

37) Adelaide (via Essendon)
38) Richmond
39) West Coast
40) Port Adelaide
41) Port Adelaide (via Gold Coast)
42) North Melbourne
43) Melbourne (via Greater Western Sydney)
44) St Kilda)
45) Sydney (via Carlton)
46) Western Bulldogs
47) Sydney (via Collingwood)
48) Adelaide
49) Geelong
50) Brisbane (via Melbourne)
51) Brisbane (via Hawthorn)
52) Carlton (via Brisbane)
53) West Coast (via Sydney)
54) Fremantle

55) Essendon
56) Richmond
57) West Coast
58) Port Adelaide
59) Gold Coast
60) North Melbourne
61) Collingwood (via Greater Western Sydney)
62) St Kilda
63) Carlton
64) West Coast (via Western Bulldogs)
65) Collingwood
66) North Melbourne (Adelaide)
67) Geelong
68) Hawthorn (via Melbourne)
69) Sydney (via Hawthorn)
70) Brisbane
71) Collingwood (via Sydney)
72) Fremantle