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AFL Draft: Sydney, North Melbourne in trade talks surrounding trio of first-round picks

“There’s potentially an option to trade back.”

Published by
Mitch Keating

Sydney and North Melbourne are in ongoing discussions surrounding a trade that could see the Roos part with a pair of first-round selections for the Swans' opening pick at next week's National Draft.

The Swans are set to enter the count at Pick 12 and will assess the situation once they're on the clock, with a number of names list manager Kinnear Beatson has in mind needing to align for Sydney to use that selection.

The club could instead trade back if no name from their list of wanted prospects is available, with the Kangaroos potentially open to parting with 2023 first-round selections Picks 17 and 18 to snare the Swans' first selection.

A move up the draft order is "really unlikely" for Beatson and his team, with the Swans to tread water and assess the available talent pool before potentially entering further trade talks with North Melbourne.

Speaking on Gettable, Beatson revealed discussions with the Roos are ongoing days out from the draft's opening night.

"We're pretty much right on 12 names, to be honest," Beatson said of his list of targets for the first round.

"At that point in time now, if none of them are there, there's potentially an option to trade back with North Melbourne.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 16: Head of Recruitment and List Strategy Kinnear Beatson of the Swans speaks to the media during the Telstra AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 16, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"They've got some interested in 17 and 18, I think it is, for 12. That might be something that we'll consider. It's not on the table yet, but we'll see how that pans out on the night.

"... the top 12 to 14 I think across all 18 clubs should find very similar names. So we're expecting that most of them will be gone."

The Swans have often looked to draft the best available talent with their top picks over recent counts, with their busy trade window this off-season set to help them place less of a focus on list needs.

Beatson said the club's quartet of trade and free agency inclusions has assisted their thinking ahead of the draft.

"This year for the first time in a while we were able to solve a few needs on our list with [the addition of] a ruckman (Brodie Grundy), an experienced mid (Taylor Adams), another younger mid in James Jordon and then some support in defence with Joel Hamling.

"At 12 it will be more about the best player possible. That may change on the night depending on who's there but I think it will be the best player available and then that will rely on (National recruiting manager) Simon Dalrymple's rankings of the players."

One name the Swans might show an interest in is Northern Knights ruckman Will Green, who was selected in the U18 All-Australian side after a promising carnival with Vic Metro.

The mobile 204cm prospect is in Beatson's sights, with the Swans list manager noting this year's crop of ruckmen will need time to develop.

"Yep, he's one that you'd look at," Beatson confirmed when asked if Green was in the club's draft mix. "But might not be there, we don't know yet.

"I think he had a really good year, like all the young ruckmen. Whether you're talking about Ethan Read, Mitch Edwards or Taylor Goad, they're the main four.

"They're all young bodies that are probably going to need to put on in excess of 10 kilograms before they're gonna be able to compete at AFL level, but I think when you're taking a young ruckman in the draft, the expectations are that it's gonna take a little while."

The Swans will also need to consider a selection for Academy prospect Caiden Cleary, who could earn a bid in the opening round of the draft. Beatson is expected a potential bid to come in the 20s or 30s at the draft.

Sydney currently hold Picks 12, 45, 55 and 76 for next week's National Draft.

Published by
Mitch Keating