The current qualification threshold of 100 games could be slashed to 50 or as low as one as the game's governing body concedes the revamped bidding system will make it even tougher for clubs to invest in generational talent.

While changes are unlikely to be passed in time for the 2015 draft, AFL legal boss Andrew Dillon said the league had not ruled out reducing the 100-game rule in time for the 2016 national draft.

"We're not ruling it in either," said Dillon. "But there's certainly a case for consideration with the new system coming in."

With the game set to implement a new points-based bidding system that will rate every father-son player along with draftable players from the northern academies, there has been a push from clubs to retain the romantic family rule which has been significantly diluted over decades as the rule has changed 12 times.

Last week's meeting of the 18 clubs saw the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood CEOs, Greg Swann and Gary Pert, push for a reduction in the qualifying father-son period. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is understood to have said he would consider it.

Dillon said the father-son rule would be examined at the next review of the game's working party into the draft and list management which includes senior recruiters Scott Clayton, Graham Wright and Stephen Silvagni.

Silvagni, whose eldest son Jack could be drafted by Carlton this year and who himself came to the Blues as a father-son, is understood to share the view of several club football bosses that the AFL's decision to place the father-son bidding selections in line with the northern academy players will make it too tough on the family rule.

Currently 2.5 players on average are selected under the father-son rule each year with roughly four times that number expected to be taken out of the Sydney, GWS, Brisbane and Gold Coast academies this year. The bidding system in its simpler form was originally introduced after the Cats took Tom Hawkins – one in a line of champion Geelong sons – in the third round of the 2006 national draft.

The move to further toughen the father-son bidding gained momentum after Essendon drafted Joe Daniher in the 2012 draft with pick No.10.

Should the game's threshold be reduced to 50 games, the AFL would likely also halve the current 200-game minimum placed on sons of SANFL and WAFL players drafted to the AFL clubs in those states. The AFL will almost certainly not bow to pressure to introduce a grandfather-son rule.

In the unlikely event that a change to the rules came into effect this year, it would pave the way for Collingwood to secure one of the top fancies in this year's draft.

Sam Weideman is the son of former player Mark Weideman and the grandson of club legend Murray Weideman.

Murray Weideman was captain of the 1958 premiership side (on the day; Frank Tuck was captain during the season but was injured for the grand final), centre half-forward in the team of the century, three time best and fairest winner and former coach Murray Weideman.

Mark Weideman played 28 games for the club in the 1980s before two knee injuries cut his career short.

Sam Weideman is a key position prospect regarded, at this stage, as a probable top 10 draftee. He is a 196cm key forward who at more than 90kg is a powerfully built marking target for Eastern Ranges in the TAC.

While Collingwood has been leading the push for a change, several clubs have expressed support for cutting the number of games. The Victorian clubs believe that relaxing the qualifying threshold would in some ways compensate for the northern states clubs' exclusive access to elite talent through the academies.