AFL Draft 2024 Day 2: Every pick from the national draft

The AFL national draft is over – and night two delivered every more surprises across the country. Recap all the colour, reaction and every pick as more childhood dreams were realised.

Richmond believes it has secured the key position spine for its next premiership as St Kilda finally traded up to secure some line-breaking midfield talent on the final night of the 2024 national draft.

Carlton matched a Geelong bid for father-son Ben Camporeale at pick 43 then secured his brother Lucas with draft selection 54 as Lucas made clear Ben had first claims to father Scott’s vacant No.16 jumper.

And the Blues secured 197cm key position defender Harry O’Farrell, with his father Peter the barrister who helped clear Patrick Cripps in the 2022 hearing that allowed him to win the Brownlow Medal.

But the expected fireworks as clubs clamoured for Richmond’s No.28 draft pick – the first pick of night two – instead came to nothing as the Tigers took another key position player in 199cm ruck forward Thomas Sims.

SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP ALL THE ACTION AND SEE EVERY PICK

St Kilda again overlooked midfield talent at pick 32 to secure 194cm key defender James Barrat as a pacy potential swingman, who won the Bendigo Pioneers best-and-fairest and averaged 12 intercept possessions across the season.

But after taking running defender Tobie Travaglia and excitement machine Alix Tauru with picks 8 and 10 on Wednesday, they traded a future second-rounder to Essendon to secure 187cm Claremont line-breaker Hugh Boxshall with pick 45.

Then they took draft slider Alex Dodson at pick 53 after the 203cm Sturt tall was rated by many as the draft’s best ruckman, before grabbing 180cm Calder Cannons forward Patrick Said at pick 60.

Jack Whitlock’s night one tears were replaced by Graduation Night euphoria as the draft’s high-profile slider was eventually taken as Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon replacement plan.

Whitlock was mobbed by teammates at the Shepparton Football Netball club after waiting across two days and seven picks to eventually be taken at pick 33.

“(It was) extremely stressful. But I am super stoked to be at Port Adelaide,” Whitlock said.

“Obviously I was a bit upset. I thought I was a good chance of going in round 1. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I wasn’t too upset last night but I knew the moment was going to come.”

IN A NIGHT OF BIG DRAFT CALLS:

RICHMOND waited for a full five minutes waiting for draft offers with the first pick of night two but instead of shuffling back a few picks and securing a future first-rounder they secured 199cm Northern Knights forward-ruckman Sims.

It was the second time within 30 picks the Tigers had surprised by taking the left-field key position player on offer after securing GWS Rebels forward Jonty Faull at pick 14 instead of either of the Whitlock twins or Harry Armstrong, who they eventually took at pick 23.

The Tigers’ final draft haul includes 195cm key forwards Faull and Armstrong, 195cm key back Luke Trainer and 199cm key forward Sims. The Tigers traded into pick 58 to secure 183cm Oakleigh Chargers small forward – and Tigers fan – Jasper Alger.

NORTH MELBOURNE secured River Stevens, the son of club champion Anthony, at pick 67 in an emotional selection, given the club’s affinity for the former club captain.

SYDNEY secured the first real bolter of the draft in 24-year-old former Albury Tigers defender Riley Bice with pick 41. Bice won 23 possessions at 91 per cent efficiency after an outstanding season with the Werribee Tigers in the VFL Grand Final.

Richmond VFL star Sam Davidson also found his way to the Bulldogs, continuing the string of Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medallists drafted to the AFL.

ESSENDON failed to get back into the draft early, despite being keen to secure Richmond’s pick 28 for a key tall like Jobe Shanahan, but eventually secured West Perth’s Kayle Gerreyn.

The 200cm West Perth ruckman is a smooth mover who moves like a midfielder and, while the club already has rucks Sam Draper and Nick Bryan, the Dons believe he can play key forward in coming years.

Then at pick 39, Essendon secured general defender Angus Clarke as a quality intercept defender from Glenelg as the club attempts to replace Jake Kelly and Dyson Heppell.

The Dons also traded out pick 45 to St Kilda for the Saints’ future second-rounder to enhance an already elite 2025 draft haul that has two first-round picks.

PORT ADELAIDE will believe it has maximised its draft hand after being roundly criticised for its meagre haul in the Dan Houston mega-trade.

The Power used those picks to trade up for livewire small forward Joe Berry on the first night, before choosing draft sliders Whitlock (pick 33) and Eastern Ranges midfielder Christian Moraes (pick 38).

Originally published as AFL Draft 2024 Day 2: Every pick from the national draft