With Ben McKay's departure from Arden Street to Essendon, the Kangaroos received Pick 3 as compensation to currently holding selections 2, 3, 15, and 21 early into this year's National Draft.
While the Roos have a draft hand like no other, The Age has revealed that North Melbourne aren't willing to give up Picks 2 and 3 to receive Pick 1 from th Eagles, who are keen on a deal surrounding those selections.
Pick 1 has been a hot piece of real estate this season after the hype generated around the prospect of Harley Reid, who has been dominating throughout the year in the Coates Talent League and National Championships following a strong bottom-age campaign.
However, Reid hasn't been the only player on the Eagles' radar to take with the first pick. Dan Curtin, a Western Australian, has also been hinted as someone that West Coast might want with the first pick, especially to ensure homesickness isn't an issue and the near-certainty the Claremont junior will be someone to play long term at the club.
Jason Horne-Francis is an example that will be in mind for early draft selection, given he was taken with the first pick in 2021 and declared a desire to move back to his home state after just 12 months with the Roos. The question remains if Reid would do something similar if he went to the West Coast.
Curtin is seen to be a likely top-five pick this coming draft and may well be in North Melbourne's sights also, along with Zane Duursma, Colby McKercher and Nick Watson, who are all potential draft prospects who could land at North Melbourne if they hold Picks 2 and 3.
West Coast recruiting and list manager Rohan O'Brien spoke with reporters earlier in the week clearing the club's stance on what they will do with their prized pick.
"If we had a decision today, I would say we are probably leaning towards keeping the pick and using it at the draft," he said on Monday.
"If it's Harley, that's fine. Harley's a player we are comfortable with. In amid of a lot of boys, there are some exceptional lads in this draft so whether it is Harley or anyone else, we think there's a great opportunity for us."
He was also questioned if he would take Curtin as the number one pick, but responded with uncertainty about whether the club would select him
"I don't know at this stage, there's a lot of water to go under the bridge, there's medicals and things like that. We still kind of have to go through those things before we get to that," he said.
With West Coast seeming sold on keeping their top pick, O'Brien has also remained open throughout the off-season to ideas of a trade in the hopes of speeding up the rebuild process.
If the Eagles were to not draft Curtin and instead trade for him at a later date, it may come at a larger cost in the future.
