The state of play for this year's AFL National Draft, as well as the well-documented race for top prospect Harley Reid, underwent a sizeable shift last weekend when West Coast moved ahead of North Melbourne at the bottom of the ladder thanks to a shock upset win over the Western Bulldogs.
The seven-point victory saw the Eagles claim their third win of the year and move off the 18th rung for the first time since Round 9. In doing so, the Kangaroos - currently on a 20-game losing streak - returned to last place and, therefore, became the current holders of the opening draft pick for this year's intake.
With one round remaining, North Melbourne is now favoured to claim a third-straight wooden spoon and the first spot in the queue for Reid. A loss to the Gold Coast Suns this weekend is sure to have a fragment of key figures at Arden Street jumping for joy despite the 18th-placed result.
But the Kangaroos aren't the only 'winners' from the ladder change that has them in the box seat to acquire the tantalising Tongala talent that is Harley Reid, with Adelaide and Fremantle also emerging as victors from West Coast's win over the Dogs.
A trade between the Crows and Roos last October saw North Melbourne secure Pick 23 (which would eventually move to 26th overall and the selection of Murray Busharngers prospect Brayden George) while the South Australians would land the Kangaroos' 2023 second-round selection as well as Pick 59 at last year's draft.
VIEW: 2023 AFL DRAFT ORDER
That future piece now has Adelaide front and centre for the second round of this year's National Draft, and with that, they'll open night two of the count should they carry the selection through to the draft.
After the AFL split the draft across two nights - the first being the opening round of the selections and the second the remaining picks - the league has given the club holding the first pick of the second round great power. Able to revisit their draft plans for a whole 24 hours while also opening the floor to rivals looking to get first dibs on a prospect that went unselected during the first round, the Crows have come away from last year's handshake as the big winners if the Roos hold onto last spot.
The trade value of the opening second-round pick is seen to be much higher than its position, with clubs viewing it as a selection equal to some first-round selections when put up for offer.
Richmond was able to secure the services of Tim Taranto with Pick 19 (eventually Pick 22) at their disposal in a deal that also included Pick 12 in 2022, while the year prior Fremantle reportedly swatted away enticing trade packages to secure local midfielder Matthew Johnson with the opening selection of the second round.
Hawthorn was believed to have put forward a deal that would've seen Pick 23 and the club's future first-round selection land with the Dockers and have the Hawks advance their place in the queue to secure Johnson.
And while Adelaide could be on the end of similar trade packages between the two draft nights, they won't be the only club smiling after the results of Round 23 last weekend.
Funnily enough, Fremantle has also gained from West Coast's win on Sunday, with the Dockers carrying the two draft selections North Melbourne were required to trade on from their assistance package last year.
Those two picks - which fall directly one spot after the Kangaroos' second and third-round selections this year - currently sit at 20th and 39th overall and are currently the Dockers' first two selections at the 2023 draft.
Fremantle parted ways with Victorian-bound duo Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker in exchange for the two assist package picks, while a pair of other selections also swapping hands.
With North Melbourne moving into 18th spot, the Dockers now have a selection in the top 20 and another in the top 40 for this year's draft. Those pair of picks were required to be traded for players, meaning the Roos and Dockers have each gained from the AFL's helping hand.
It'll hardly be a focus for the Kangaroos come the count this year, but both Adelaide and Fremantle will have their draft hands supported by North Melbourne's 2023 woes.
The Roos themselves will also be looking forward to draft night if they are first on the clock, with free agency compensation for Ben McKay and potential priority access to Tasmanian prospect Riley Sanders likely to see North Melbourne select three of this year's best draft prospects - with Harley Reid among them.
