Early phantom draft: Adelaide set to spoil Collingwood’s draft plans
Collingwood’s plan to draft running machine Isaac Quaynor and father-son gem Will Kelly with late picks could be spoiled while the Bulldogs are considering the first live draft day trade. TOP 21 PICKS PREDICTED
Draft news
Don't miss out on the headlines from Draft news. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COLLINGWOOD could be cornered into using picks from next year’s draft to secure running machine Isaac Quaynor and father-son gem Will Kelly.
Adelaide is set to spoil the Pies’ party by placing early bids and sending Collingwood into draft points deficit for the first time under the AFL’s new bidding system.
Collingwood has picks 41, 44, 57, 59 and 60 in this year’s draft but will faces a points shortfall if Adelaide bids as early as No.8 or 13 for Quaynor.
REVEALED: BUCKY’S TOP 50 DRAFT PROSPECTS
NATIONAL DRAFT: SEE THE 2018 DRAFT ORDER
TOP PICK: WHO WILL BLUES TAKE AT NO.1?
To make up the deficit, the Magpies would have to take a hit in next year’s draft and shuffle its second-round pick down the order.
They have already traded away their first-round pick in next year’s draft as part of the Dayne Beams deal.
Adelaide could then double-up by bidding its No.21 pick on Kelly, whose older brother, Jake, has played 53 games for the Crows.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE EARLY PHANTOM DRAFT
The Crows are also expected to bid their No.8 pick on Sydney’s Nick Blakey and a later pick on GWS academy ruckman Kieren Briggs.
They have a history of playing the villain by bidding early draft picks to keep clubs honest.
Geelong (No.12) could make a similar move and bid on North Melbourne academy star Tarryn Thomas.
The Cats also like big-bodied onballer Jackson Hately as they start to plan for life after Joel Selwood.
Western Bulldogs are considering making the first live trade under the AFL’s new rules and swapping their No.7 selection for a pair of first-round picks.
The Dogs are confident they can secure Vic Metro midfield star Bailey Smith with a pick in between No.7-11 and want to then draft a second player before matching a bid for father-son onballer Rhylee West.
Non-Victorian clubs are set to pass on Smith but the Bulldogs must snap him up before Geelong enters the draft at No.12.
Smith and 202cm swingman Ben King toured the Dogs’ Whitten Oval facilities on Tuesday.
Barring a last-minute backflip, St Kilda is expected to take the plunge on 202cm spearhead Max King at No.4, leaving twin brother Ben available for Gold Coast at No. 6 as a Steven May replacement.
St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean said King was “an unbelievable athlete for his size”.
The Saints will draft six players and are set to use a late pick on Collingwood VFL key defender Tom Jok.
Hawthorn is circling Liam Stocker and Jack Gunston-clone Noah Gown late in the draft order.
The Hawks are slated to enter the draft at No.53 and would have to trade their way up the order to land Stocker, who is tipped to go in the top 25.
AFL discards Mav Weller, Corey Wagner and Keegan Brooksby withdrew from the draft to sign as rookies under a new league ruling.
Former Roo Wagner will join Melbourne, ex-Saint Weller is headed to Richmond and SANFL ruckman Brooksby, who played 14 games for Gold Coast, is off to West Coast.
EARLY MAIL PHANTOM
1. Sam Walsh (Carl) 184cm midfielder
2. Izak Rankine (GC) 180cm half-forward
3. Jack Lukosius (GC) 194cm key forward
4. Max King (St K) 202cm key forward
5. Connor Rozee (Port) 185cm midfielder
6. Ben King (GC) 202cm swingman
7. Bailey Smith (WB) 186cm midfielder
8. Nick Blakey (Syd)* 195cm utility
9. Jye Caldwell (Ade) 184cm midfielder
10. Jordan Clark (GWS) 182cm defender
11. Chayce Jones (Port) 180cm midfielder
12. Zak Butters (GWS) 181cm midfielder
13. Tarryn Thomas (NM)* 189cm utility
14. Jackson Hately (Gee) 190cm midfielder
15. Isaac Quaynor (Coll)*182cm defender
16. Riley Collier-Dawkins (Ade) 193cm midfielder
17. Ian Hill (Freo) 175cm forward
18. Xavier Duursma (Port) 185cm midfielder
19. Ned McHenry (Ade) 178cm midfielder
20. Liam Stocker (Rich) 183cm midfielder
21. Curtis Taylor (BL) 186cm half-forward
*father-son/academy bids matched
Originally published as Early phantom draft: Adelaide set to spoil Collingwood’s draft plans
‘Absolute blunder’: Essendon’s ‘staggering’ draft move smashed
The Bombers had a relatively quiet trade period by their standards, with their focus on Isaac Kako. Now after securing the small forward, their method has been whacked by a draft expert.
Tiger delight as North pays heavy price for final draft night pick
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.