Multiple clubs have already reached out to West Coast in the hope of snaring its prized second-round pick, although the Eagles appear more likely to hold onto it.
The rest of the AFL draft will take place on Tuesday night after a whopping 29-pick first round on Monday.
SCROLL DOWN TO JOIN OUR LIVE DRAFT CHAT FROM 2PM (AEDT) …
Watch India v Australia on Kayo Sports. Every T20 Live with no ad breaks during play. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
The Eagles selected Bendigo Pioneers sensation Harley Reid with the first selection, but missed out on Daniel Curtin in the top 10 after Adelaide won the trade race for the Giants’ first pick and pounced on the Claremont key defender.
St Kilda then took exciting Subiaco goalkicker – and Eagles NGA graduate – Lance Collard with Pick 28 before Carlton drafted Glenelg forward Ashton Moir with Pick 29, which was the last selection of the night. Both Collard and Moir had been linked to West Coast’s second-round selection (Pick 30).
The Eagles will be the first club on the clock on Tuesday night. Their selection is viewed as one of the most valuable in the draft, as the club holding the first second-round pick will, over a 24-hour period, receive ample juicy offers from rival clubs, who are keen to get ahead in the draft so they can have first rights to a prospect they’re keen on.
It’s official! Reid joins West Coast | 03:55
Foxfooty.com.au understands the Eagles have already received offers from other clubs for Pick 30. But whether they part with the selection remains doubtful after missing out on Curtin, Collard and, to a lesser extent, Moir on night one.
West Coast at that opening pick has been linked to Peel Thunder ruck Mitch Edwards, who was overlooked by the likes of North Melbourne, Collingwood, St Kildaand Carlton. The latter two clubs, though, would consider Edwards if he slipped through on Tuesday night as they hold Picks 33 and 34 respectively.
But both the Saints and Blues, as well as West Coast, are also considering 194cm rebounding defender Arie Schoenmaker, who’s regarded as one of the best kickers in the draft class. Schoenmaker, like Edwards, had late first-round interest, but was still on the board on Monday night.
Key back Schoenmaker on Tuesday morning was strongly linked to St Kilda, which took hard running wing-midfielder Darcy Wilson and exciting small forward Collard with their two first-rounders the night before. Sandringham Dragons defender Ollie Murphy could also be in the Saints’ mix if they’re keen on a tall at Pick 33, although the Saints have closely looked at medium defender Tew Jiath and North Adelaide midfielder Kane McAuliffe in recent weeks. Both Jiath and McAuliffe have also been linked to Richmond.
Edwards (Fremantle), Jiath (Hawthorn) and Lual (Western Bulldogs) all have NGA ties. But their respective clubs don’t have bidding rights on them inside the top 40 — and as it stands, rival clubs expect all three players to be picked up within the first 10 picks on Tuesday night.
Schoenmaker is also an outside chance at Brisbane, which was one of several clubs to strike a night one trade with Gold Coast, packaging up multiple selections to help the Suns bank more points to match academy bids while acquiring the second pick of the second round, which is now Pick 31.
But multiple sources believe the Lions are looking to select a tall with that pick, with 203cm Gippsland Power forward-ruck Archer Reid strongly linked, especially after the Kangaroos took Wil Dawson with one of their three late first-round picks on Monday night.
Reid had also been linked to Collingwood at Pick 37. But Richmond, which is expected to look at a key-position player with one of its picks, will strongly consider Reid if he’s still available at Pick 35. Both the Pies and Tigers also have an interest in Western Jets goalkicker Logan Morris.
Geelong is being tipped to target outside run with its first second-round selection, which is Pick 32. Medium defenders Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons), Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels) and Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) are all in the Cats’ mix, while Rebels winger Joel Freijah will also come under consideration.
Freijah, who slid down draft boards throughout the year but has appealing size and explosive power for clubs, has also been linked to Richmond and Essendon. Yet those two clubs also like Lual – a speedy and balanced mid-sized defender who initially had first-round interest from the Giants.
Carlton (Pick 34) has also been linked to outside runners. Roberts will be strongly considered if he’s still on the board, while speedy yet composed Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Cooper Simpson also has interest from the Blues. Matt Carroll (Sandringham Dragons) and Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays) have also been linked to Carlton.
Big-bodied GWV Rebels midfielder George Stevens remains an intriguing talking point among scouts. While there are question marks on Stevens’ athletic profile and whether he has AFL-level speed and agility, he’s a natural ball-winner, plays with great presence and is hard to push over in the contest.
Stevens could slide to Geelong’s second – or even third – pick, with Richmond and Essendon to also consider him.
Fremantle will consider taking Werribee star Shaun Mannagh, who’s widely regarded as the best mature-age prospect after a mighty VFL campaign full of eye-catching performances. The Dockers, who’ve been strongly linked to Mannagh for weeks, are renowned for taking mature-age players during the November drafts, picking up the likes of Luke Ryan (Pick 66, 2016), Sam Switkowski (Pick 73, 2017), Lachie Schultz (Pick 57, 2018) and Brett Bewley (Pick 59, 2018) during the Ross Lyon era before drafting Tom Emmett, Corey Wagner and Liam Reidy last year.
‘He is a steal’ Adelaide trade up | 02:40
Both the Dockers and Eagles are also set to target local WA talent with their later picks. Athletic Claremont utility Zane Zakostelsky, East Fremantle forward-midfielder Koen Sanchez, Perth winger Aiden O’Driscoll, Peel Thunder midfielder Clay Hall and Claremont defender Joe Fonti are all chances to begin their AFL careers in WA, but the likes of Sanchez (Tigers and Lions), Zakostelsky (Lions) and Fonti (Bulldogs and Giants) all have interest from outside WA too.
After seven bids on academy and father-son prospects were placed on Monday night, few are expected on Tuesday night. Giants academy prospect Harvey Thomas has attracted interest from Fremantle and Essendon in the 40s, while the Giants and Bulldogs have been linked to Hawthorn father-son Calsher Dear – although there’s a good chance Hawthorn will be able to take Dear with their last pick of the night.
As for Port Adelaide, it’ll be hoping for a slider with its two picks towards the end of the draft.
Chaos erupts as Giants stun Gothard | 00:55
The Power have been strongly linked to GWV Rebels small forward Lachie Charleson and Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Will Lorenz. But whether they get through to Port remains unclear, as Charleson has interest from West Coast and Lorenz has been linked to the Western Bulldogs.
Other players in the Power’s mix include Harvey Johnston (Sandringham Dragons) and local product Loch Rawlinson (Sturt).
Overall, expect more trades to be struck throughout the night as clubs make moves up the order to target specific prospects. Other teams could trade out of this year’s draft and into next year’s.
Join our live draft chat from 2pm (AEDT) below …
If you can’t see the blog, tap here.
