Geelong the envy of rival clubs after amassing a divine hand in what is shaping as a deep 2021 draft
Has Geelong mastermind Stephen Wells done it again? Here is how the Cats will maximise the Jeremy Cameron trade in next year’s draft.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premiership contender Geelong stands to be one of the AFL draft’s big winners – just not on Wednesday night.
The Cats have assembled a formidable 2021 hand in what recruiters suspect will almost be a double draft, with a record-low amount of teenagers set to find AFL homes this week.
Greater Western Sydney stole headlines after becoming the first club to pocket three first-round picks in a trade when it finally relinquished Jeremy Cameron.
But in the frantic final two minutes of trade period the Cats also received two future draft picks, which are likely to fall in the 20s. If the ladder is repeated then Geelong will hold picks 17, 24, 27 and 35 next year.
Picks 24 and 27 are tied to Essendon and GWS, two clubs tipped to slide further down the ladder after walkouts headlined by Joe Daniher, Adam Saad, Conor McKenna and Orazio Fantasia (Bombers) and Cameron, Zac Williams, Aidan Corr and Jackson Hately (Giants).
Less than 60 prospects are set to be taken in the national draft with Gold Coast (pick five) and West Coast (62) set to use just one live selection each.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The COVID-19 pandemic has left plenty of Victorian players underexposed and set to fatten up next year’s pool as 19-year-olds.
In July the Herald Sun published a team of “late bloomers” – AFL stars who only emerged as draft prospects in their 18th year.
That team included Vics Clayton Oliver, Marcus Bontempelli, Jordan De Goey, Jack Macrae, Zach Merrett, Andy McGrath, Nick Haynes, Toby Greene, Oliver Florent, and Toby McLean.
The 2020 equivalents are every chance to be missed and return to the NAB League next year in what would create an unusually deep draft.
The 2021 crop is already choc-full of gun midfielders, including Jason Horne (South Adelaide), Tyler Sonsie (Eastern), Josh Sinn, Campbell Chesser, Blake Howes (Sandringham), Ben Hobbs (Ballarat) and Cooper Murley (Norwood).
The Cats are the only club already holding four picks inside the first two rounds next year.
Plus, the first-round picks they traded for Cameron – Nos. 13, 15 and 20 – do not represent their real value.
Academy stars including Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs), Braeden Campbell (Sydney), Lachie Jones (Port Adelaide) and Alex Davies (Gold Coast) effectively push those selections into the second round.
Other academy prospects, Reef McInnes (Collingwood), Blake Coleman (Brisbane) Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast) Errol Gulden (Sydney) and Connor Downie (Hawthorn) aren’t far behind and are also set to be off-limits for GWS.
In essence, Geelong shuffled two of its prized draft picks back 12 months and into a deeper draft where recruiters will not be flying partially blind.
One expert said players selected from 11-20 on Wednesday would probably fit in around pick 30-40 next year.
“I would say next year’s group exceeds this year’s group by a whole round,” he said.
Clubs were reluctant to release future first and second-round picks in the recent trade period.
Melbourne was the only club to handover a future first-round pick although it received a future second-round pick back in a deal with Brisbane Lions.
The Demons also parted with their future second-round pick, which went to Adelaide.
More Coverage
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett had been reluctant to discuss many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Injury-hit Demons stun Crows in Norwood thriller
Struck down by a host of injuries across their team, the Dees have managed to keep their AFLW season alive by pulling off a thrilling victory over the Crows.