Melbourne are weighing up avenues that could see them enter this year's AFL Draft with multiple first-round selections, with the Demons reportedly placing their earliest 2025 selection on the table.
The Demons currently hold Picks 5, 28, 40, 48, 53 and 64 for November's count, with their second-best selection arriving in a trade deal with Adelaide on Monday that saw premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen become a Crow.
Melbourne had multiple first-round draft selections last year and took Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup at Picks 7 and 13 on night one of the 2023 intake, which would be their only additions via the National Draft.
The club is said to be keen on adding to its prized asset of Pick 5 for the first round of this year's draft, with Melbourne eyeing one of Fremantle's three 2024 first-round selections, per AFL.com.au.
The Dockers hold Picks 10, 11 and 18 after netting top picks from Collingwood and Port Adelaide via last year's trade window, with the Demons looking to attain one of those three selections in a deal that would see them part with their 2025 first-round pick.
Fremantle are in negotiations with Richmond over a potential play for Tiger Shai Bolton, who could cost the Dockers two of their three top selections in a move that could dampen the Demons' hopes.
Given the strength of the draft, the WA club may want to remain in the first round of this year's count should they part with their other two first-round selections, while Melbourne's future selection could sway them into a trade should they think otherwise.
The Dockers aren't the only club that could part with first-round picks this trade period, as North Melbourne (Pick 2), West Coast (Pick 3) and GWS (Picks 15, 16 and 21) place their first-round selections on the trade table.
Brisbane's selection of Pick 20 will also be up for grabs as they look to split that selection into multiple later picks to acquire the needed draft points for priority-tied prospects Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall, who could land bids in the opening round of the draft.
Gold Coast are in a similar position with Picks 6, 13 and 23 as they look to land Academy talent Leonardo Lombard. Pick 6 is likely to be packaged into a deal for Richmond's Daniel Rioli, with the Tigers hoping Pick 13 is also involved.
The Demons have an interest in Pick 13 too and have tabled their 2025 first-round selection to the Suns, who have garnered interest from the likes of Collingwood and Carlton for the same selection.
The Blues and Magpies are in a battle to appease Port Adelaide for access to wantaway defender Dan Houston, with Pick 13 the potential selection that unlocks a trade deal with the Power.
Collingwood are the favoured side to attain Pick 13 as they also work with Gold Coast on a deal that sees Magpies flanker John Noble land his desired move to the Suns.
