AFL Trades 2023: Pick 1 chase hots up as Ben McKay compensation pick confirmed
A compensation pick for losing Ben McKay to Essendon has armed the Kangaroos to make a bumper offer to West Coast for pick 1. Will it be enough?
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West Coast wants to take Tongala prodigy Harley Reid with the first pick in the national draft unless North Melbourne is prepared to swap picks 2 and 3.
The Eagles have settled on Reid as their clear top target and were left impressed by his interview at the draft combine last week, with some likening his presence to Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge.
North Melbourne received pick 3 as free agency compensation for the departure of full-back Ben McKay to Essendon on Tuesday, giving the Roos a huge arsenal of draft picks, including 2, 3, 15 and 21 to strike a deal with West Coast.
But any hopes the Roos had of securing pick 1 have taken a hit as the Eagles look unlikely to cough it up unless North hands over picks 2 and 3 in return, setting a high bar for one of the biggest trades of the post-season.
That asking price could be too steep for the Kangaroos, who are believed to be looking at line-breaking left-footer Colby McKercher at pick 2 and dangerous goalkicking midfielder Zane Duursma at pick 3, according to recruiters.
It means Hawthorn could snare speedy small forward Nick Watson at pick 4, the Western Bulldogs snap up jet midfielder Ryley Sanders at pick 5, and Melbourne could look at forward Nate Caddy or key defender Daniel Curtin at pick 6.
There is a belief Western Australian Curtin could be sliding down clubs’ draft orders, meaning the Giants face the prospect of landing Curtin if he falls as far as pick 7.
Another option is for North Melbourne to acquire pick 11 in a trade with Gold Coast and offer West Coast picks 2, 11 and a future first-round pick for pick 1, but that still may not be enough to satisfy the Eagles.
Recruiting sources on Tuesday said it seemed likely West Coast would keep pick 1 rather than trade it out, unless North parted with picks 2 and 3 in one of the biggest pick swaps in AFL trade history.
The Kangaroos have four picks inside the top 21 selections to help strike a deal with West Coast after the free agency compensation for McKay went through as expected on Tuesday morning.
The Roos also have three future picks (from next year) to deal out as part of the AFL’s draft assistance package.
North did not match Essendon’s offer to McKay, which is believed to be less than $800,000 a year. The compensation selection is a reward for the way the Roos have handled McKay’s situation this year, delaying on offering the defender a new deal.
Pick 3 as free agency compensation is a massive boost for North Melbourne, which could have one of the most talented lists in the competition in a few years following several drafts loading up on high-end talent.
However, clubs are certain North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson would love Reid, who is a powerful goalkicker and dominant forward-half ball-winner in the same mould as Dustin Martin.
The Eagles want to take Reid in the belief he is a generational talent and someone they could not pass up after two years down the bottom of the ladder.
Reid told the Eagles he would have no problems moving interstate to play AFL.
North Melbourne already has a stack of first-round players in the engine room including brilliant ballwinners Harry Sheezel, who won a best and fairest in his first year, hard nut George Wardlaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke, pick three Will Phillips, slick prime mover Tarryn Thomas and goal kicker Jaidyn Stephenson.
Plus there are high hopes for knee victim Brayden George, who the Roos took at pick 26 last year.
Essendon coach Brad Scott and list boss Adrian Dodoro have attacked free agency hard this year as they attempt to pull off a historic free agency triple play including Todd Goldstein, McKay and Saints Jade Gresham.
The Dons and Saints are still working on the Gresham salary and what a move would secure St Kilda in return.
The Saints would prefer compensation in or at the end of the first-round, rather than the second round, which could prompt them to match.
Goldstein is already locked in at the Bombers and could emerge as a candidate to ruck in round 1 of the new season as Sam Draper attempts to overcome a groin injury.
Originally published as AFL Trades 2023: Pick 1 chase hots up as Ben McKay compensation pick confirmed
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