AFL trades 2023: North Melbourne weighing up trading away draft hand to secure number one pick and Harley Reid

North Melbourne have a draft hand that would make most recruiters drool this year but they’re weighing up giving it all away for the no.1 pick. Is that the right call?

Harley Reid. Pic: Michael Klein

As North Melbourne fans rejoice in the success of the club’s free agency lottery it is worth reflecting on how truly awful this club has been these past four seasons.

Not in a bid to kill the rare moment of euphoria but to consider the club’s path forward in the chase for the No. 1 overall pick.

After the Ben McKay compensation selection the Roos now have picks two, three, 15, 21, 44 and next year’s haul — likely a top-three pick as well as two end-of-first-rounders.

The No. 44 pick is likely to be used on Carlton’s Zac Fisher and one of the future end-of-first-rounders on Sydney’s Dylan Stephens.

The temptation will be to use those picks like confetti, raining them on West Coast list boss Rohan O’Brien until he is forced to hand over the No. 1 pick — and access to Harley Reid.

But take a moment to consider how many list holes the Roos truly have after seasons of three wins, two wins, four wins and three wins.

Will North sell the farm for Harley Reid? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When you do, it is apparent that the Roos should just hold onto their suite of picks rather than using a package of four or five excellent selections to secure Tongala freak Reid.

The Roos need a key back to replace McKay, at least another key back, an elite small forward in the Brent Harvey mould, a silky half back as Harry Sheezel steps into the midfield.

They need more key forwards to play alongside Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar given Charlie Comben is injury-prone and Callum Coleman-Jones has kicked nine goals in 19 games at the Roos.

And they need another young ruckman to replace the departing Todd Goldstein, with Jacob Edwards delisted and 202cm ruck Hamish Free the only other pure ruck on the list.

The cupboard is far from bare — the SANFL’s best intercept defender in Toby Pink will join the club as a free agent, while pick 26 Brayden George has huge wraps as an athletic forward after being drafted last year coming off an ACL tear.

And the midfield talent is elite — Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, Bailey Scott and Tarryn Thomas — with high hopes for Will Phillips and Tom Powell.

Consider how many picks the Roos would need to package up to get the No. 1 pick.

They could use picks 15 and the future first-rounder for the Suns’ pick 11, but would need to offer a third selection given Adelaide and Melbourne’s offers are already more significant.

So use three picks to get 11.

Then offer up 2 and 11 for pick 1 and it still wouldn’t be enough — so throw in another high pick.

The Roos’ elite midfield talent includes last year’s draftees Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The Roos would end up giving up four or five elite picks for one player.

Or they could take two of 172cm livewire small forward Nick Watson, 195cm unicorn Daniel Curtin and 190cm mid-forward Zane Duursma.

Then still have picks 15 and 21 to add to their arsenal.

The Roos are very keen on Nick Watson and while Curtin could drop down the draft order he could also emerge as a genuine key defender who could be just as comfortable in the midfield emerging from packs.

But having just given up pick 1 last year — turning it into Wardlaw and Sheezel plus this year’s pick 15 — they know the benefits of drafting multiple top five picks instead of one key player.

The Roos did have 15 players taken within pick 20 on their list this year — but some of them were Aiden Bonar, the retired Ben Cunnington and Jack Ziebell, Coleman-Jones, Jaidyn Stephenson and Aidan Corr.

So taking four more picks within the top 25 this year isn’t a luxury, it might be a necessity.

Port Adelaide gave up the world to secure Jason-Horne Francis to round out their premiership build.

But the Roos are a galaxy away from finals, let alone a premiership surge.

So ask the question and make a deal if the Eagles really are desperate for local boy Daniel Curtin, but don’t sell the farm when the rival options are so enticing.

Originally published as AFL trades 2023: North Melbourne weighing up trading away draft hand to secure number one pick and Harley Reid