West Coast have been urged to trade their early draft selection for November's talent intake in a deal that would see the Eagles net multiple first-round selections instead.
The Perth club is set to open its draft haul with Pick 3 after amassing a 16th-place finish in 2024, giving them access to a top-three selection for the third time in as many years.
West Coast famously knocked back extraordinary offers for last year's opening selection, taking Pick 1 to the draft to select top-rated teenager Harley Reid.
The year prior, the Eagles took Pick 2 into the off-season and would eventually part with that selection in favour of Picks 8 and 1 in a historic trade deal that also included Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and GWS and the assets of Jason Horne-Francis, Willie Rioli, Pick 1, the Power's opening round selection for 2023 and more later selections.
The double shot on the opening night of the 2022 AFL Draft saw the Eagles secure local young guns Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett, while their original selection fell to the Kangaroos, who swooped on sensational Harry Sheezel out of the Sandringham Dragons.
Having just the two spots in the opening 58 picks for this year's count, a deal that sees Pick 3 split into multiple top selections could help speed up the Eagles' rebuild, with premiership player Will Schofield telling Zero Hanger's 2024 Season Reviewย series the club must consider trading its top pick.
"They need more picks. They need to be trading away and getting a big, young, high-quality group of players into the footy club. They need high-end talent, and they need a lot of them,"ย Schofield said.
"They don't have a good enough or deep enough list. They didn't really start [their rebuild] until the year before Harley's draft. They traded back to get Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett. At this stage, Harry Sheezel seems like a generational talent, so it'll be interesting to see that (play out).
"But I liked that move. It gets more players of the same age who are high quality into the club. They need to do the same here. I'd like to see them trade Pick 3 for 7 and 12 (for example) or move back further in the draft and take three first-rounders instead of one really good one.
"They did that last year with Harley Reid. They could've moved back. I don't think there's a Harley Reid at Pick 3, so they need to move back if possible."
Fremantle (Pick 9, 10 and 17), Gold Coast (Pick 6, 12 and 20) and Sydney (Pick 18 and 19) are the only clubs that currently hold multiple first-round selections for this year's AFL Draft.
Richmond, who are set to open the draft at Pick 1, could be involved in trade deals with the Dockers and Suns that sees them accrue some of their top 20 picks, while St Kilda could secure band one compensation for the loss of free agent Josh Battle, which would fall at Pick 8 and add to their current selection of Pick 7.
The Eagles will need to tally the required draft points to match a bid for NGA prospect Malakai Champion prior to draft night, with the AFL Academy member likely to still be on offer after West Coast's second selection at Pick 23.
Their third and final selection falls at Pick 59, which could be too late for a bid on the Subiaco talent, who played five seniors games for the Lions this year for a return of seven goals.
West Coast are likely to look into entertaining a trade that strengthens the back end of their draft hand to stockpile late selections and match the points on a bid for Champion.
The Eagles are expected to bolster their range of selections with the departures of premiership veterans Tom Barrass and Jack Darling, who are both seeking trades to Victoria.
If no bid comes through the National Draft, Champion can join West Coast as an automatic draft selection and be added to the club's rookie list.
The 2024 AFL Draft is scheduled for November 20-21, with only first-round selections made on the opening night.
