AFL Draft 2023: Victorian clubs continue to make offers for West Coast’s pick 1

Three clubs say they will continue to “have a crack” pinching the No. 1 pick from West Coast, despite already being knocked back by the Eagles as the race for Harley Reid heats up.

Victorian Harley Reid looks like being a generational talent in this year’s draft class. Picture: Getty Images

North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Melbourne have vowed to aggressively continue their pursuits of pick one in next month’s national draft as they seek to snare the “golden ticket” from West Coast.

The three Victorian clubs have draft hands which could temp the Eagles into trading the prized pick, which is expected to be used on Victorian midfielder-forward Harley Reid.

West Coast stated again this week that it was “happy to listen to anyone” seeking the No. 1 selection and had fielded some calls from clubs who it would talk to more in depth “when the time’s right”.

North Melbourne currently holds picks 2, 3, 15, 17 and 18 in this year’s draft, while Hawthorn (pick 4) and Melbourne (picks 6 and 11) also have high-end selections which the Eagles could consider trading for.

The Kangaroos “had a bit of a go” at putting an offer to West Coast last week, which would have seen them give up three picks late first-round selections this year and an end-of-first-round pick next year.

However, North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings conceded that that offer was “nowhere near getting it done”.

The race for top draft prospect Harley Reid is heating up. Picture: Michael Klein

Despite the trade period closing on Wednesday night, clubs can continue to swap draft picks between October 23 and November 10, while live trades can also be completed during the national draft on November 20.

“We’ve got a bit of time to assess all that,” Rawlings said.

“We’re of interest obviously because we’ve got a hand that could potentially turn their head. We’ve just got to weigh out what price we’d be willing to put on that.

“We’ve got five picks inside 18, if we sit and take those, we’re going to get some good players.

“No bones about it, we’d like pick one. I think everyone would. It’s just a matter of what we have to give up to be able to get it, and that will lay with the Eagles.”

Rawlings did not rule out making another offer to the Eagle which would include North Melbourne’s pick 2 or 3.

“I think any late first-round picks – I don’t want to speak out of school for West Coast – but they’ve knocked that back before,” Rawlings said.

“I think something pretty pointy would need to be in it to be done.”

Hawthorn also confirmed it “had a crack” at securing the No. 1 pick with trade offers over “two or three days” last week but was “knocked back a few times” by West Coast.

“They didn’t say no straight away,” Hawks list manager Mark McKenzie said.

“We thought we put up some pretty strong deals in the end, but you can understand why they might take pick one and ride it out until draft night.

“We’ll keep having a crack, of course.

“The No. 1 pick’s there so we’ll continue to explore it.”

Melbourne has also expressed significant interest in Reid but may struggle to get a deal done.

“West Coast are obviously in the box seat there. They got the golden ticket this year,” Demons list manager Tim Lamb said.

“We’ll all assess our options and see what happens there, but if we can get a little bit higher in the draft, that’d be nice.”