AFL Draft selections a mystery as clubs go cloak and dagger ahead of big night
AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan cannot remember a national draft with a deeper pool of young guns or more cloak and dagger tactics.
AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan cannot remember a national draft with a deeper pool of young guns or more cloak and dagger tactics.
But he expects a few stone, cold certainties at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
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Sheehan, the AFL’s national and international talent manager, says St Kilda will score a ready-made star at pick No.1, while both Queensland clubs should come away with value for their selections.
The Gold Coast have picks 8, 15 and 29 and have been linked to blistering NT product Nakia Cockatoo, towering ruckman/key forward Peter Wright and silky medium-sized defender Liam Duggan.
Sheehan expects the Suns to add some serious talent to an already stacked playing list.
“History tell us that in the first round (first 19 picks this year), a third of the players will play 200 games and be stars,’’ Sheehan said.
“Right up to picks 30 to 35 this year, there are boys who have all the tools to have long AFL careers.
“With the extended under-18 programs in place these days, the kids have developed more and we’ve seen a lot more of them.
“That’s why we consider it such a deep draft. A player that one club could take at No.12 might be considered the 30th best player in the draft by another club.
“It is the most secretive draft we’ve had ... every club will have two or three options for every pick. Everyone is playing their cards close to their chest.’’
Brisbane’s first pick is at No.67 but Sheehan said the Lions were still “certain’’ to draft someone capable of playing AFL football.
“The Lions will be optimistic. They should be too,’’ he said.
“They’ll get a fair player, no doubt in the world, because I think there’s probably 100 kids pushing for those last 30 spots.’’
St Kilda is expected to take key forward Patrick McCartin with the No.1 selection ahead of midfielder Christian Petracca, who is set to join Melbourne via pick No.2. The Demons are expected to select midfielder Angus Brayshaw with pick No.3.
Petracca was expected to go No.1 but Saints great Nick Riewoldt is at the end of his stellar career and McCartin, a 194cm product of the esteemed Geelong Falcons program, looms as a logical successor.
Sheehan said the Saints could not go wrong either way.
“Both of those boys would be worthy of being No.1,’’ he said.
“They are both All-Australians this year, both dominant players in their positions and both capable of having an immediate impact on the AFL.
“St Kilda have had the No.1 pick twice before and chose Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard, so they have a record of getting it right.’’
Originally published as AFL Draft selections a mystery as clubs go cloak and dagger ahead of big night