AFL Draft 2024: Richmond expected to select Sam Lalor with No. 1 pick

The talent at the top end of this year’s draft is so evenly spread, but a No. 1 contender has emerged from the pack. Plus the Roos and Crows weigh up big moves ahead of Wednesday night.

Sam Lalor (R) celebrates a goal. Picture: Getty Images

Rival clubs expect Richmond to select powerhouse midfielder and fend-off machine Sam Lalor to help kick-start the club’s rebuild with the prized first pick in Wednesday night’s national draft.

The man who has been likened to Richmond champion Dustin Martin for his strength and goal kicking is tipped to head to Punt Rd amid a draft crop lauded for its evenness.

Recruiters on Sunday said Richmond talent boss Blair Hartley had given away few hints about his intentions, keeping clubs in the dark about the likely order on Wednesday night.

But the Bacchus Marsh bull, who has also shone playing as a dangerous marking forward, remains favoured to head to Punt Rd with the club’s first top-three pick in 16 years.

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Sam Lalor takes a speccy. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

It leaves North Melbourne considering the safety of well-rounded midfielder Finn O’Sullivan or the upside of fast-rising intercepting backman Alix Tauru.

Tauru, whose game has been likened to Hawthorn captain James Sicily, is the bolter of this year’s draft for his brilliant athleticism and matchwinning aerial ability in the back half.

It is a quandary for the Kangaroos who are already flush with gun midfielders and are weighing up the reliability and consistency of O’Sullivan against Tauru’s rebound game.

The Kangaroos could shuffle back from pick two in a swap with Adelaide where Tauru could still be available if North elects to take the backman over another jet midfielder.

Carlton has pick three and are strongly considering O’Sullivan – who is Sam Walsh’s cousin, as well as South Australian midfielder Sid Draper, and Oakleigh ball magnet Jagga Smith.

Adelaide at pick four could overlook the local talent Draper if he was still available for big-bodied 190cm onballer Harvey Langford to help give the Crows some midfield size and strength.

The Crows overlooked local talent Brad Ebert for champion midfielder Patrick Dangerfield amid significant backlash from fans in 2007 and a similar situation could unfold this week with the 180cm Draper from South Adelaide.

Sid Draper is South Australia’s top prospect. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne has been linked to whichever top-line midfielder slides to the Demons at pick five to add another young first-class ballwinner or a Jake Lever replacement in Tauru if he slides past North.

Richmond, at pick six, has been keeping close tabs on tall midfielder Josh Smillie who at 194cm offers rare versatility to impact in the midfield and as a forward.

It leaves St Kilda weighing up potential slider Draper and Bendigo running machine Tobie Travaglia amid potential bids on Essendon’s academy prospect Isaac Kako and Gold Coast’s Leo Lombard.

The Saints are also in talks to trade one of the picks for two later selections in the first round, with Greater Western Sydney able to consider a deal with picks 15, 16 and 21.

Brisbane will take the best player in this year’s draft, gun academy prospect Levi Ashcroft, in the first few picks after taking out last year’s flag.