AFL Trade Period 2024: How Harry Sharp’s trade to Melbourne could unlock Brisbane’s draft puzzle

Two fringe Lions loom as the key to Brisbane pulling off a bumper trade and draft combination. CALLUM DICK looks at why Harry Sharp’s request to join Melbourne will benefit the premiers.

Brisbane winger Harry Sharp has requested a trade to Melbourne opening the door for a move that could help the Lions load up their draft hand to successfully snare two prized midfielders in the upcoming national draft.

It is no secret the reigning premiers are eager to add Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall to their list for 2025 but the major hurdle to this point has been amassing the necessary draft capital to do so.

Harry Sharp has requested a trade to Melbourne after 16 games in four seasons at the Brisbane Lions. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A pair of pick swaps with Richmond and Carlton on Friday bolstered Brisbane’s total draft points to where it could now match a bid on Ashcroft at No.1 should it come.

But it would leave the Lions without any capital to also snare academy jet, Marshall.

The Lions sent their first-round selection – pick 20 – to the Tigers on Friday in exchange for picks 32, 42, 43 and 45. It gave the Tigers another prized first-round selection while the Lions earned an extra 792 points in cumulative draft capital.

How about that for a finish from Harry Sharp!#AFLLionsSunspic.twitter.com/UNsav5mgyu

— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2024

After securing Carlton’s second and fourth-round picks in exchange for a 2024 fourth-rounder and 2025 second-rounder, the Lions ended Friday with picks 32, 34, 42, 43, 45, 60, 66, 96 – or the equivalent of 2472 points.

If Richmond was to bid on Ashcroft at No.1, it would cost the Lions 2400 points to match after the 20 per cent father-son discount.

But that would leave Brisbane with barely anything left to match a bid on Marshall, who is rated as a top-20 prospect.

Of course, part of the Lions’ planning in swapping picks with Richmond could be a quid pro quo with the Tigers to not bid on Ashcroft at No.1.

Could history repeat with North Melbourne bidding on Levi Ashcroft (left) at pick 2 in the upcoming draft, as it did with his brother Will (right) in 2022? Pic:Michael Klein

Some corners of the AFL world believe the Tigers should be ruthless in their approach to the draft and force Brisbane to cough up the 2400 points it would cost to match a bid on Ashcroft at pick one.

But there are some hefty perks that come with being the No.1 draft pick and clubs often prefer to reward the player they will ultimately end up taking – which in this case looms as either Sam Lalor, Finn O’Sullivan or Jagga Smith.

If North Melbourne was to then bid on Ashcroft at No.2 – as it did two years ago with his brother Will Ashcroft – then the Lions would only have to stump up 2014 points to match a bid.

That would leave them, as it stands, with 468 points left – or the equivalent of pick 38. If a bid came at 20 for Marshall, they would need a further 729 points to match.

That is where Sharp’s trade request comes into calculations.

On Friday, Brisbane football boss Danny Daly confirmed both Sharp and midfielder Deven Robertson were exploring trade options after struggling to break into the team this year.

Sharp, 21, is contracted to the end of 2025 and was an emergency for the grand final.

He has played 16 games in four seasons at the Lions since he was taken with the No.43 pick in the 2020 draft.

The young winger still holds the AFL Draft Combine 2km time trial record of 5min28sec, which he set in 2020, and could plug a hole left by the outgoing Alex Neal-Bullen and Lachie Hunter.

The Demons currently hold picks 5, 28, 40, 49, 54 and 65.

Deven Robertson struggled to break into Brisbane’s AFL side this year after signing a two-year contract at the end of 2023. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

West Coast wanted to lure Robertson home to Western Australia last year, however the 23-year-old midfielder instead chose to remain at Brisbane on a two-year deal and hopefully play in a premiership after featuring in a losing grand final in 2023.

But after an untimely injury in pre-season he featured just twice at AFL level this year and with Ashcroft and Marshall poised to arrive next month, he is likely to fall further down the midfield pecking order.

âš¡ HARRY SHARP âš¡

Scintillating ball movement from the Lions!#AFLLionsTigerspic.twitter.com/OX4AqooyO3

— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 18, 2024

The Eagles are reportedly still interested in Robertson, though it has cooled slightly compared to last year.

West Coast holds picks 3, 26, 63, 68 and 81 in the upcoming draft.

By honouring the requests of Sharp and Robertson, the Lions could strike deals that would bring in the requisite draft capital to successfully add Marshall alongside Ashcroft.

Originally published as AFL Trade Period 2024: How Harry Sharp’s trade to Melbourne could unlock Brisbane’s draft puzzle