The AFL Draft is inching closer as a host of young prospects are set to realise their childhood dreams, with the hope their name is called out across the three days.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed ahead of the 2023 season and running to the 2027 campaign - before Tasmania join the competition - the AFL confirmed a total of 44 players allocated across three categories: Primary list (36-38), Category A Rookie (no more than 6) and Category B Rookie (no more than 2).
Richmond's historic draft hand will be a key feature on draft night, currently holding eight selections in the top 24.
The Tigers aren't expected to use every pick, with reports indicating they might package them to get higher up the order or secure a 2025 first-round selection.
Essendon, Carlton, GWS, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda are likely to take up to four players in the 2024 crop, with many already linked to the clubs via NGA or father-son connections.
Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne and North Melbourne could take three players in this year's crop of players, while Brisbane, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Sydney and West Coast are likely to be around the same mark.
Adelaide, which holds pick No.4 and welcomed a trifecta of experienced players during the trade period, is expected to grab only a pair of prospects - similar to Hawthorn - while Gold Coast is also expected to take two or three players at the draft.
As a result, it is expected that over 60 players will be taken across the three draft nights in 2024, with up to 70 potentially finding homes.
There were 64 selections last year, following 59 in 2022, 65 in 2021 and 59 in 2020.
The strong draft crop has clubs open to finding more picks. However, there have been many tight-list spots heading into the off-season.
Clubs will also have the chance to add players to their list - if there are vacancies - via the pre-season supplemental selection (SSP) period that runs over the summer months.
A total of 10 players found themselves at a range of AFL clubs as SSP pick-ups last year.
| Primary List | Category A Rookie | Category B Rookie | Total | |
| Adelaide | 35 | 3 | 3 | 41 |
| Brisbane | 32 | 5 | 0 | 37 |
| Carlton | 32 | 3 | 1 | 36 |
| Collingwood | 33 | 4 | 3 | 40 |
| Essendon | 31 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
| Fremantle | 33 | 4 | 1 | 38 |
| Geelong | 34 | 0 | 2 | 36 |
| Gold Coast | 35 | 2 | 3 | 40 |
| GWS | 32 | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| Hawthorn | 35 | 4 | 2 | 41 |
| Melbourne | 34 | 5 | 2 | 41 |
| North Melbourne | 34 | 5 | 4 | 43 |
| Port Adelaide | 34 | 3 | 3 | 40 |
| Richmond | 28 | 6 | 0 | 34 |
| St Kilda | 32 | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| Sydney | 32 | 3 | 0 | 35 |
| West Coast | 32 | 4 | 3 | 39 |
| Western Bulldogs | 31 | 5 | 1 | 37 |
(According to DraftGuru).
Adelaide - 4, 64, 78
Brisbane - 27, 34, 42, 43, 49, 58
Carlton - 3, 38, 63, 68, 68, 71
Collingwood - 52, 55, 60, 66, 82
Essendon - 28, 31, 40, 46, 53, 54, 65
Fremantle - 14, 30, 67, 81, 89
Geelong - 45, 57, 74, 84
Gold Coast - 39, 41, 51, 61
GWS - 15, 16, 21, 37, 56, 73
Hawthorn - 33, 70, 75
Melbourne - 5, 9, 79
North Melbourne - 2, 62, 76, 86
Port Adelaide - 13, 29, 36, 50
Richmond - 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24
St Kilda - 7, 8, 32, 47, 80, 88
Sydney - 19, 22, 44, 59, 85, 91
West Coast - 12, 26, 72, 77, 87, 92
Western Bulldogs - 17, 25, 35, 48, 83, 90