Seven clubs are hunting 2024s most crucial AFL draft pick

The key that will unlock this year’s trade period remains up in the air as a multitude of clubs all scrap to put together the best offer.

The key that finally unlocks this year’s trade period is set to be cut in the coming hours.

It’s been well-documented that Gold Coast’s coveted Pick 13 in this year’s national draft has been the centrepiece of many notable trade propositions this off-season.

And a decision on its new owner is anticipated to come imminently, with repercussions to be felt far and wide across the league.

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The race for Pick 13 is said to be down to seven clubs, with Essendon and Melbourne formally exiting discussions off the back of their own mega eight-pick exchange.

And contrarily, a new suitor has emerged with an offer seemingly better than the rest.

North Melbourne have swivelled the Suns’ head with an eye-watering offer of a future first-round pick and more, according to SEN’s Sam Edmund.

Their offer verges on one that’s too good to refuse, which would subsequently send deals that heavily rely on the acquisition of Pick 13 into orbit - for all the wrong reasons.

North Melbourne’s Brady Rawlings has offered Gold Coast an early Christmas present - but will they accept it? (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Kangaroos have - at least in the public eye - entered the race for the selection only recently, in a market where Collingwood previously looked the most favourable.

With wantaway Pies defender John Noble seeking a trade to the Suns, a negotiation looked somewhat simple on the surface between the two clubs.

But negotiations have stalled for a week now, with the Magpies stern on receiving back Pick 23 alongside Pick 13, in exchange for Noble and their future first-round pick.

The Suns have no desire to part ways with Pick 23, putting progress on a deal to a standstill - and in addition, effectively ending their chances of acquiring Power star Dan Houston (in exchange for Joe Richards among other pick swaps), should neither party budge.

It is widely accepted that Collingwood would on-trade pick 13 to the Power as part of a deal that would see Houston land at their club, but without that selection in their hands, it seems improbable that he will end up playing under Craig McRae in season 2025.

The Sydney Swans’ offer of Picks 19 and 22 in this year’s draft is certainly food for thought for Gold Coast, but much now like Collingwood, it’s hard to see them walk out of this chase as ‘the chosen one’, given North’s overly-generous offering.

The Swans won’t have any players attached in the potential trading for the pick, with their sole purpose to move up the draft pecking order.

Both Hawthorn and St Kilda have offered their future first and second-round picks up for Pick 13, with recent history suggesting that the Saints’ offer would be more enticing than the Hawks’.

West Coast are said to be a late chance for a play, but their interest will largely depend on the progression of Tom Barrass to Hawthorn, reported AFL Media’s Callum Twomey on Monday morning.

The Western Bulldogs’ offer of a solitary future first-round pick looks almost certain to be ignored, given it holds notably less weight than any other club in the race.

And while Richmond aren’t in the race for Pick 13, implications from its future home could well impact the Tigers’ dealings with the Suns for Daniel Rioli.

The three-time premiership defender has requested a trade up north, but the finer details are yet to be ironed out with the Tigers asking a very heavy buying price for his services.

EVERY CLUB’S OFFER FOR PICK 13:

COLLINGWOOD - John Noble + Future 1st

HAWTHORN - Future 1st + Future 2nd
NORTH MELBOURNE - Future 1st + ?

ST KILDA - Future 1st + Future 2nd

SYDNEY - Pick 19 + 22

WEST COAST - ?

BULLDOGS - Future 1st

Originally published as Seven clubs are hunting 2024s most crucial AFL draft pick