Michael Voss has thrown his support behind the AFL’s father-son rule amid renewed debate, following Cody Walker’s decision to nominate Carlton a year out from the 2026 draft.
The highly-rated 17-year-old, whose father Andrew played 202 games for the Blues, confirmed he intends to join the club under the father-son provision, despite being eligible to go to Richmond through the Next Generation Academy due to his Indigenous heritage.
Walker is widely considered a potential No.1 draft pick in 2026 and has starred for Vic Country in this year’s national championships.
His nomination, though, has sparked debate over the fairness of the father-son rule, particularly among clubs with less access to generational talent.
MORE: Essendon coach says ‘no excuses’ after seventh straight loss
“It’s a tradition that should continue”
Voss made it clear on Friday that he believes the rule should remain untouched, describing it as a key part of the AFL’s history.
“The father-son rule should stay with how it currently sits,” he said. “There’s some things that we need to continue around the history of the game and the traditions of the game, and this is one of them.”
“I’d understand if there’s probably a further conversation around what academies look like in general. But when it comes to the father and sons, that’s been a tradition that’s stood the test of time, and should continue to do so.”
While the AFL has long used the rule to honour legacy players and club loyalty, clubs like St Kilda and Gold Coast have publicly raised concerns over the imbalance it creates in an expanding competition.
But for Voss, the focus remains on protecting the league’s heritage, even as the league explores ways to modernise its talent pathways.