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Pair of top five draft picks reportedly available to rival clubs: AFL trade news

Two of this year’s best draft selections are on the trade table.

Published by
Mitch Keating

North Melbourne and West Coast are both said to be open to trading their top three draft picks this off-season, with clubs keen to access the top end of this year's draft crop able to make their move.

The Roos will enter the count at Pick 2, falling one spot behind Richmond's draft night opener, while West Coast will immediately follow with Pick 3.

An early bid on Brisbane father-son prospect Will Ashcroft is a strong chance to occur in the opening three selections of November's AFL Draft, likely meaning the Eagles' selection might be pushed back one spot.

VIEW: CURRENT 2024 DRAFT ORDER

The remainder of the top few current selections sees Adelaide come in at fourth overall, with Melbourne in fifth and Gold Coast holding Pick 6 for the draft, which is scheduled for November 20-21.

The Suns' top pick is set to be moved on as the Queensland club looks to package later selections and the needed points to match a bid for Academy talent Leonardo Lombard, who could go in the top 10.

Pick 6 is expected to be part of a deal that sees wantaway Tiger Daniel Rioli join the Suns, with an exchange of other selections also likely included in the deal.

That would see Richmond hold Picks 1 and 6, while Fremantle's trio of selections at 10, 11 and 18 are in the Tigers' sights should Shai Bolton officially seek a switch to the Dockers.

An additional first-round pick for Richmond would see them join St Kilda (Picks 7 and 8), GWS (Picks 15 and 16), Sydney (Picks 19 and 22), the Suns (Picks 6, 13 and 23) and Dockers (Picks 10, 11 and 18) in having multiple selections for the opening night of the draft.

North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings speaking at the 2023 AFL Trade Period launch (Image by Zero Digital Media)

Those clubs could be turning their attention to Picks 2 and 3 and potentially move themselves into the top few spots on the board, with AFL.com.au revealing the Roos and Eagles are open to parting with their earliest selections.

The publication reports North Melbourne would be open to splitting their selection for another top 10 pick for this year's draft as well as a future first-round selection, opening the door for clubs like Essendon and Melbourne who have one pick inside the top 10.

North Melbourne are also open to sending their future first-round pick - which could be a top five selection in 2025 - to Port Adelaide in a deal for Dan Houston.

Fremantle could set their sights on the Roos' top pick for next year and offer a pair of their early selections, likely strengthening their potential play for Sydney's Chad Warner in 12 months while the Roos can appease the Power with picks for this year's strong draft crop.

West Coast are assessing deals that would likely see them end the trade period with a strong position in the draft queue while also managing to attain Tigers gun Liam Baker.

Liam Baker following the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

The Eagles are likely to land Pick 14 from Hawthorn in a trade deal that sees Tom Barrass depart for Waverley, with an additional first-round pick and Baker also a desired outcome.

With Richmond a chance to hold at least five selections in the top 25, they could look to move for Pick 3, offering Baker and another early selection to see them hold two of the first three spots in the queue.

That could place the Tigers in a position to attain two prospects they may be weighing up for Pick 1, with Oakleigh Chargers teammates Jagga Smith and Finn O'Sullivan a chance to land at Punt Road.

Larke Medal winner Harvey Langford, GWV Rebels livewire Sam Lalor and South Australian jet Sid Draper are others in the mix for spots atop the draft board.

Clubs can swap draft selections during the trade period - which opens on Monday and ends on Wednesday, October 16 - as well as on draft night.

Published by
Mitch Keating