AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has thrown his support behind AFL club academies in New South Wales and Queensland.
McLachlan was speaking at the GIANTS’ Learning Life Centre in Sydney Olympic Park to launch AFL Multicultural Round.
"We need more talented athletes coming out of NSW and Queensland and the academies are starting to be successful,” he said.
"I've said that publicly and I've also said we're going to review the bidding system that applies to father-son as well.
"We also have to make sure that's not at the expense of on-field equity. The appropriate way to look at that is through the review of the way the bidding system works."
With NSW and Queensland making up 54 per cent of the national population but just 10 per cent of the AFL’s playing list, GIANTS CEO David Matthews reinforced the importance of the academies and the critical role they play in growing the game.
"The overriding objective, which I know that Eddie (McGuire) and everyone agrees with, is we have to build the talent pool," Matthews said.
"The academies are fundamental to the future success of the game in NSW and Queensland.
"The bidding system was the reason the academies were able to be introduced in the first place.
"When it was applied to the father-son (rule), it didn't create complete fair value, but got a lot closer to it.
"Travis Cloke went as a third-round pick to Collingwood. Now you've got Joe Daniher going as a first-round pick to Essendon. That makes more sense.
"What Gil and the guys are looking at is, can it be tightened up a bit further?
"We accept the principle that if we find a really talented player, we should pay fair value.
"The best problem the game is going to have is an enormous amount of talent out of this region."
In 2013 Zac Williams became the first player to graduate from the PM Capital GIANTS Academy and play for the club, while former member Harry Cunningham debuted for the Swans in 2012.
Jake Barrett became the second academy member on the GIANTS list when he joined the club in the last off-season.
