AFL Draft: North pull draft stunner, trade future first-rounder to Richmond for pick 27

On a night where little caused a surprise, North Melbourne waited until the last moment to pull a stunner, paying a significant price and taking an even more significant risk.

North Melbourne’s final hour big swing for tall Matt Whitlock could harm rivals’ hopes of snagging the prized first choice from Richmond before Thursday’s second night of the AFL Draft.

The Roos rated swingman Whitlock as a top-15 talent and waited until the very last moment to get back in to the first round for him, sending out a future first round pick for pick 27 and Richmond’s future second rounder.

No team had traded a future selection on the night until Roos list boss Brady Rawlings got Tigers counterpart Blair Hartley on the phone at 9.45pm to seal the deal.

North Melbourne keen to get back into the first round after using pick two at the start of the night on midfield jet Finn O’Sullivan.

Whitlock’s twin brother Jack went unchosen on the first night and will sit in contention to be taken first, with pick 28, on Thursday night.

“I am sure he will be the first picked tomorrow night hopefully so I will be excited for him,” Matt told Fox Footy after he was chosen.

North Melbourne’s gamble is significant, given the Roos have finished in the bottom two in the last five seasons, giving Richmond hope the future Roos pick will be one of the biggest assets of 2025.

The pick 27 trade could dim the chances hungry rivals can pull away Richmond’s prized pick 28.

Hartley said the Tigers were still open to trading the pick even though “there are some pretty good players on the board”.

“It’s a non-stop business this one, I would like to have a beer but I’m sure the phone will keep ringing,” he said.

Jack Whitlock, Jobe Shanahan, Noah Mraz, Alex Dodson, Christian Moraes and Tom Gross are among the names who weren’t chosen on Wednesday night.

Port Adelaide’s hunger to improve the forward line led the Power to other important trade of the AFL Draft’s first night.

The Power jumped up one spot, swapping pick 16 with West Coast for No. 16, with the Power handing over the 45th selection to get it done.

Matt and Jack Whitlock. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

West Coast then gleefully jumped on top West Australian prospect Bo Allan at No. 17.

Berry, alongside Essendon academy jet Isaac Kako, was seen as the most exciting small forward in the draft pool and bagged 27 goals for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League this year.

The new Power forward said he had no clue his new club was so keen on him, or if the Eagles would have taken him had the trade not happened.

“I spoke to (West Coast) a few times but I didn’t really know what was going to happen. When Port traded up it was good to see,” Berry said.

The Port Adelaide brains trust entered the off-season with a mandate to improve the forward half of the ground after Ken Hinkley’s side was bereft of scoring options at times in September despite making a preliminary final.

Berry could slot into a new-look forward line that includes rangy ex-Sun Jack Lukosius and Collingwood goalsneak Joe Richards.

He will come in with a strong connection to Richards, having both come out of Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta.

Charlie Dixon retired from the Power forward line, while Quinton Narkle and Francis Evans were both delisted despite playing forward during the finals series.

Originally published as AFL Draft: North pull draft stunner, trade future first-rounder to Richmond for pick 27