Just over two years before the AFL national draft, another race begins.

A flooded market of more than 100 accredited AFL player agents jostle to sign what has become a shrinking number of next-generation AFL stars.

“Recruiters pick kids at 18, but we’ve got to identify the talent and work out who we think are going to be guns at the age of 16,” one player manager said.

“Because with the top-end kids, if you don’t reach out to them at the end of their 16th year it’s highly likely they’ll align with a different manager.”

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Managers flock to the under-16 national championships on the Gold Coast each July, where the best young prospects in the country do battle.

But the best players at under-16 level aren’t always the best players at under-18 level, which mean projections must be made.

Officially, agents are not allowed to approach players or their parents until October 1 of their 16th year — although some have been caught breaking those rules over the years.

The first approach is expected to be made through the AFLPA Player Agent Portal, in the form of a written letter of introduction.

From there, sit-down meetings with players can be held.

Some mid-tier draft prospects will meet with 10 or more different agents before settling on one in an increasingly competitive market.

One experienced agent described this year as “the worst year I’ve seen”, such has been the level of competition to sign footy’s next crop of stars.

Some Victorian-based agents are increasingly finding new clients interstate, making for many trips to Adelaide, Brisbane or the Gold Coast.

They can only hope those travels will pay off, but there are no guarantees given there is still some fierce local competition for signings.

Firms with large networks of agents continue to lead the way in terms of total draftees, including CDG Sports, TGI Sport and Hemisphere Management Group — which have collectively had 44 first-round draft picks over the past three years.

Such bigger, established firms pitch experience, resources and networking opportunities to try and get draft prospects on-board, while smaller firms may promise more personalised service.

But at the end of the day, vibes and connections with individual agents tend to win out.

Reputation – whether in the public eye or not – is also everything.

“There’s a lot of connections in footy industry so people find out if you are telling a few porky pies or don’t stick to your word,” one manager said.

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Some agents cop rejection better than others.

One parent of a draft prospect said their “blood was boiling” after overhearing how one agent spoke to their son when he told them he had decided to go with a different management firm.

But the same parent said many other agents handled the situation much better and continued to send messages of support even after their son had chosen another manager.

After all, welfare is one of the key roles an agent performs — along with contracts, trade, free agency and helping ensure long-term financial security for players.

Among this year’s top AFL draft prospects, TGI Sport agents Dylan Hodge and Max Hayes continue to be magnets for top picks.

CDG Sports’ duo Nick Gieschen and Julian Petracca again have plenty of big names, while Hemisphere Management Group’s Dan Meddings could have five top-40 selections.

Originally published as Behind the player agent race to sign footy’s next generation of stars — and who’s coming out on top