AFL Draft 2020: Here’s where the top five picks could land

North Melbourne is considering trading its top pick ahead of the 2020 AFL Draft. Here’s what it could mean for some of the hottest prospects.

North Melbourne is open to trading its pick No. 2 for an outstanding package of other selections.

While some recruiters have expressed some reservations about this year’s crop because of the lack of exposure to the Victorian players, the Kangaroos rate this year’s talent pool highly.

The Roos are happy to hold on to the No. 2 pick but have held talks with several clubs in recent weeks about the possibility of swapping it in the lead-up to the draft.

One deal with Gold Coast was a chance to be done on the final day of the trade period before discussions on Jaidyn Stephenson and Adam Treloar went in another direction.

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The Suns have pick No. 5, while Essendon wants to hold on to its selections at No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8.

All the picks will drop by one after a bid is matched by Western Bulldogs for ace forward and next generation academy member Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Adelaide has been linked to key forward Logan McDonald and 200cm ruck-forward Riley Thilthorpe, who is from South Australia, at pick No. 1.

It means North could draft the leftover key forward to partner Nick Larkey in attack for the next decade at Arden St.

Sydney Swans have pick No. 3 and could lean towards gun defender Denver Grainger-Barras. The 195cm backman would help replenish the Swans’ key defensive stocks after losing Aliir Aliir.

The Swans could take a tall there as they will also secure midfielder Braeden Campbell as part of the club’s academy.

Hawthorn has pick No. 4 and could take jet outside midfielder Elijah Hollands to bolster the club’s kicking skills and outside midfield options.

The Hawks have previously loved elite ball users but their efficiency by foot has suffered in recent years.

RECRUITER’S WARNING FOR CROWS ON NO.1 PICK

– Matt Turner

Former Adelaide recruiting manager Matthew Rendell believes the Crows should select Riley Thilthorpe with pick 1 in next month’s national draft because he fills a badly needed spot and the club will not have to worry about the go-home factor.

West Adelaide key forward/ruckman Thilthorpe is expected to be among three candidates to be taken first overall by the Crows, along with West Australian spearhead Logan McDonald and Victorian hybrid midfielder Elijah Hollands.

Hollands – the son of ex-Richmond and Bloods player Ben Hollands – appears to be an outsider because he is coming off an ACL injury sustained in February, which likely leaves a battle between the two tall forwards.

Rendell said both Thilthorpe and McDonald addressed Adelaide’s list void of attacking targets and either would be a good pick.

But he said even if the club thought McDonald was better, it was a marginal call, so the Crows should take the local.

“It’s going to be really hard to get away from Thilthorpe,” Rendell told The Advertiser.

“A lot of clubs would say he’s in the top four – I think most clubs would have Logan McDonald (ahead).

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Riley Thilthorpe is being considered by Adelaide at pick 1 in next month’s national draft. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens

“The issue the Crows have got is: do you leave a 200cm forward/ruck on the table to take someone like Logan McDonald, as quality a person and good a player as he is, who you know is going to have massive pressure to go home?

“What if you lost him after two years … and Thilthorpe goes and plays really well somewhere else?

“(Taking Thilthorpe) is still a good pick, he’s right up there, he’s in your backyard and he fills a badly needed spot.

“It just makes a lot of sense.”

Adelaide has a history of losing players it has drafted in the top 30 back to their home states, such as Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) and Jake Lever (Melbourne).

The Crows have never drafted earlier than the sixth pick, taking Victorian key defender Fischer McAsey at that spot last year.

Rendell said the pressure on a top selection from interstate would be enormous in SA.

“I don’t think I would want to be a No.1 pick going to Adelaide,” he said.

Former Crows national recruiting manager Matthew Rendell.

“One errant kick, one bad game (then it becomes), ‘What the hell were they thinking?’

“When you’ve got one of your own, you’re going to get cut some slack.”

Adelaide is understood to have done plenty of homework on Hollands and his injury, and he is still considered to be in the mix, but less likely than Thilthorpe or McDonald.

Hollands, a Crows supporter, started running last month after being sidelined this season while Victorian competitions were shut down due to coronavirus.

Rendell said the Murray Bushrangers midfielder/half-forward was a very good player but Adelaide was desperate for talls in attack.

He said the fact Thilthorpe could support Reilly O’Brien in the ruck boosted his case.

“The other ruck, (Kieran) Strachan, is unproven, and they’ve got no one else,” he said.

“Guys who can be a key forward and play second ruck are like diamonds.”

Rendell said the Crows could select a midfielder with their next pick, No.9, rather than take Hollands first.

West Australian key forward Logan McDonald (centre) is another top draft contender. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

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“Nothing against Hollands, he’s a class act, but there’s about five of them,” he said.

“And you’ve got (Wayne) Milera who’s a class act, to come in (next season from injury).”

Rendell said 2021 loomed as a super draft but it did not boast many top-end mobile key forwards in Thilthorpe or McDonald’s mould.

“When they’re there, which is this year, you’ve got to take them,” said Rendell, who was axed as a Collingwood recruiter after Round 1 amid the coronavirus soft cap squeeze.

“Because it can be barren for three or four years and then you know what you’re doing in the trade period, you’re chasing them off other clubs.

“And they’re hard to get and you overpay them.”

Rendell did not expect the Crows would bid for Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, saying it did not make sense to ensure the $10,000 from draft sponsor NAB went to a player Adelaide would not get.

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