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Rival clubs turn attention to Pick 2

A number of sides are reportedly looking to advance their place in the queue.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Several sides are understood to be keeping a close eye on Greater Western Sydney's top draft selection, Pick 2.

The Giants acquired Collingwood's 2021 first-round selection last year, with the Magpies enduring a difficult campaign this season to land a 17th-placed finish.

Their fall was the Giants' gain, with Leon Cameron's side now sitting pretty with the second overall selection for this year's draft.

Their place toward the top of the draft order has ignited interest from elsewhere, with rival clubs looking to advance their place in the queue given this year's strong class of prospects.

The best three names in this year's pool are all set to be taken, with Jason Horne-Francis set to land at Arden Street at Pick 1, while Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy will join the Magpies and Bulldogs respectively as father-son selections.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Will Bravo of the Dandenong Stingrays, Josh Sinn of the Sandringham Dragons, Nick Daicos of the Oakleigh Chargers and Zavier Maher of the Murray Bushrangers pose at Ikon Park on March 23, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

This has seen Pick 2 as a 'best for the rest' option, with AFL Media's Callum Twomey reporting the Suns, Crows, Hawks and Tigers have all shown interest in the Giants' first pick.

Gold Coast have been open in the past to moving on their first selection, Pick 3, and according to Twomey, they may look to part with that pick in order to move up a spot in the order.

Hawthorn, Richmond and Adelaide also hold high selections in the first-round and could look to package their top picks in order to acquire the Giants' Pick 2.

Giants football boss Jason McCartney told Trade Radio last month that it would take a "very, very appealing" offer for his party to move on Pick 2.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Jason McCartney, List Manager of the Giants is seen during the Telstra AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“At this point in time, we’re really comfortable with that pick. A couple of clubs that are not too far away in picks from us that are inside that top five that haven’t really asked a question but have sort of sounded out a little bit," McCartney said.

“We’d be loathed to be moving back too far when essentially the genesis of that Pick 2 is basically the last first-round pick we got for Jeremy Cameron last year. At this point in time, it’d need to something very, very appealing to move back from Pick 2.”

The touted teenager likely to fall in line behind the aforementioned Horne-Francis, Daicos and Darcy is Sandringham best and fairest winner Finn Callaghan.

The flashy onballer has proved to be a promising midfielder in his time with the Dragons, warranting a likely top-five selection.

The Giants already boast a strong midfield core however, and could look to fill key position roles with their first selection.

Greater Western Sydney could look to add depth in defence and acquire premium key-backman Josh Gibcus, or could look toward Demons NGA prospect Mac Andrew as a versatile tall recruit.

Both Gibcus and Andrew could remain on the board several selections later, meaning the Giants could open up trade discussion to move Pick 2 and gain further selections and still land one of the pair with a slightly later selection.

Clubs are able to trade draft picks up until the end of draft night, which is scheduled to start on November 24.

The Giants and Lions exchanged late selections on Friday, with Brisbane acquiring a future third-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide), with Greater Western Sydney landing Pick 54 in this year's draft.

Published by
Mitch Keating