AFL Draft 2023: Explosion of live trade talks shows draft night has forever changed

Thank goodness Optus did not have another meltdown on night one of this year’s draft, as the phones blared all across the AFL, causing a marathon evening, writes Sam Landsberger.

The explosion of live trade talks has transformed the AFL draft into a series of mini auctions.

But when the phones were put down after Monday’s marathon draft meeting you wonder whether two clubs might’ve been left feeling a little disconnected.

West Coast, after a Fitzroy-like season, walked away from round one with Harley Reid and nobody else.

Was Reid really all they could extract from this year’s diamond first dozen players?

“Disappointed for sure, we felt there was a good opportunity to get a really good player but that’s the way it goes,” Eagles list boss Rohan O’Brien said last night.

And Greater Western Sydney held the golden ticket to next year’s talent pool.

The Giants sat back on Monday and watched the offers roll in for their No. 8 pick, and rights to sliding stopper Daniel Curtin.

The Eagles offered up their future first-round pick.

That could’ve seen the Giants turn Jacob Hopper into the 2024 No. 1 pick.

But they instead sold Curtin to the Crows, accepting No. 11, No. 15 and a future second-rounder for No. 8 and No. 17.

You could understand why.

The Eagles got Reid, but could not make any more inroads into the top crop of talent. Pic: Michael Klein

The Giants are in premiership mode and after an inactive trade period they wanted to retain an early pick to help strengthen them next year, as well as adding to their 2024 collateral.

But when the Giants used that No. 11 pick (pushed to No. 12) on bolter Phoenix Gothard eyebrows were raised.

It was a heck of a shock.

The AFL had not invited Gothard to the draft, but he was there anyway as a guest of teammate Connor O’Sullivan.

Most clubs thought he would go in the second or perhaps even the third round.

So wouldn’t the Giants have got Gothard at their next selection anyway?

Clubs canvassed during the draft suspected they would have, but you suspect the Giants had contrasting intelligence.

But the Giants had secured that bonus pick in next year’s draft and so it still made sense.

Well, momentarily. When “Mr Fix It” James Leake was on the board at No. 17 they get on the phone again.

The Giants held No. 18 and so they asked St Kilda if it would flip selections if they threw in Adelaide’s second-rounder.

The Saints said yes, and the Giants selected Leake.

Suddenly that bonus pick belonged to the Saints, who were not going to take Leake.

Phoenix Gothard (L) and James Leake landed at GWS. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Saints still got their man in Darcy Wilson, and now it was them with a bonus pick in 2024.

Essendon (Nate Caddy), Adelaide (Daniel Curtin) and Greater Western Sydney (James Leake) all rose up the order to secure their dream targets who had started to slip.

AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan likened Wilson to Carlton superstar Sam Walsh, and new St Kilda list boss Stephen Silvagni has now drafted both of them.

Leigh Montagna questioned whether the Giants had drafted in the wrong order.

Would they have got Leake at No. 12 and Gothard at No. 18 without having to sacrifice that bonus second-rounder?

Don’t be fooled by the fact that only three live trades were executed at Monday night’s marathon first round.

It seemed every selection there were high-powered talks taking place between the corporate boxes filled with club heavyweights.

Thank goodness Optus did not have another meltdown on night one of this year’s draft.

Essendon, too, moved up the order by one to ensure it would not miss out.

The Bombers traded with Geelong to move up to grab Nate Caddy. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Bombers sent No. 11 and 31 to Geelong for No. 10.

That guaranteed them power forward Nate Caddy and if they did not do that deal then the Cats could’ve sent the pick elsewhere to a rival Caddy fan.

There were hundreds of phone calls placed for three trades struck.

But Melbourne offered a future first-rounder and No. 7 for Hawthorn’s No. 5 and was rebuffed.

That might’ve seen the Demons hand over two first-round picks for Nick Watson, a potent goalkicker who would’ve strengthened their premiership chances next year.

Sydney, Hawthorn and North Melbourne all picked up the phone but hung up on potential deals to move up and down the order.