'Points' and future picks have changed the trading landscape according to Essendon's General Manager of Football Operations Rob Kerr.

In recent seasons a point vlaue has been attached to each draft pick.  

Under the old system, if a club wanted to secure a player under the father-son rule they'd have to use their next selection, after a rival club has bid on the particular player.

But now, to land a father-son or an Academy player, clubs need to 'pay' a certain amount of points and, depending on how high the bid is, that may involve clubs giving up several picks.

The Bombers benefitted from the advent of the ‘academy points’ in last year’s trade period.

After a long stalemate with St.Kilda surrounding the Jake Carlisle deal, the Bombers were finally able to get a deal done thanks to Sydney’s desire for academy points to be used on their homegrown talent. 

“We were probably the beneficiary of that with the Jake Carlisle trade, had Sydney not been after points, the trade in the form it took wouldn’t have happened,” Kerr told Bomber Radio.

“We got, what we feel, was a pretty good deal over the line in the end."

The trading of points and picks has opened plenty of different avenues for team’s to get deals done according to Kerr.

It has also required recruiters to pay a higher level of attention to what the opposition may be after.

“They’re happy to bank points, so sometimes they’ll give a 2-for-1 deal because at the end of the day that gives them a higher points rating,” Kerr said.

“You have to be really alive to what their needs are and how they’re sitting in terms of how much talent they want to bid on and what that’s going to mean in terms of points.

“If you can find an opportunity in there then you’ve got good grounds to start a discussion with them.”

Essendon is set to enter the off-season with another strong hand.

The Bombers are likely to land at least a top three National Draft pick depending on results in the final four games.