Which club will get the No.1 pick and the young stars vying for the honour
INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER: With two games left the battle to snare this year’s No.1 draft pick is a three-club race. Plus, the young guns in line to be called out on draft night.
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THE AFL’s silly season is fast approaching.
In a little over eight weeks the 2017 free agency and trade period will kick off and the AFL Draft follows close behind.
The next fortnight has huge ramifications for draft positions with three clubs battling to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon and — perhaps counterintuitively — the No.1 draft pick that comes with it.
LIST CHANGES: EVERY CLUB’S RETIREMENTS AND DELISTINGS
SILLY SEASON: WHICH FREE AGENTS COULD YOUR CLUB TARGET?
PAID UP: HOW MANY MEMBERS AT YOUR CLUB
Brisbane, Carlton and North Melbourne are all locked on five wins this year, separated only by percentage.
We look at who could “win” the wooden spoon and who is in line to be this year’s No.1 pick.
Who will follow in Andrew McGrath’s footsteps? Have your say in the comments below.
THE RUN HOME
NORTH MELBOURNE
R22 St Kilda (ES) L
R23 Brisbane Lions (ES) L
BEN HIGGINS SAYS: This was always going to be a rebuilding year for Brad Scott and the Kangaroos, so the ladder position isn’t an issue. In fact, the first No.1 draft pick in club history could help see the club rise quicker than expected. We’re predicting a loss to a fired-up Lions in Round 23 and the wooden spoon battle will then come down to percentage.
CARLTON
R22 Hawthorn (ES) L
R23 Sydney (SCG) L
BEN HIGGINS SAYS: The Blues have lost seven matches on the trot and we can expect that to be nine straight by season’s end. Brendon Bolton’s “green shoots” are starting to tire after a long season and, given their percentage, the Blues are on the edge of a fifth wooden spoon in the past 16 years.
BRISBANE LIONS
R22 Melbourne (MCG) L
R23 North Melbourne (G) W
BEN HIGGINS SAYS: Demolished arch-rivals Gold Coast last week and since the bye have picked up four wins — a better record than Collingwood, Fremantle, Carlton and North. Coach Chris Fagan has said the Lions don’t want the No.1 pick and the Round 23 home clash against the Kangaroos looms as the best chance to move out of the AFL cellar.
** GWS Giants have been docked 1000 draft points over the Lachie Whitfield drugs suspension and will lose their first-round draft pick as a result.
POTENTIAL NO.1 PICKS
CAMERON RAYNER (Vic Metro, Western Jets)
Comparisons to Dustin Martin can’t help but boost his draft value. At 187cm he’s the same height as Dusty, plays the same role as the Tigers superstar and has the haircut to match as well. Rayner kicked off his under-18 carnival for Vic Metro with 23 disposals against WA and destroyed SA with 16 possessions, seven marks and five goals.
LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
Seen as the outstanding midfielder in the 2017 draft class, the 187cm inside midfielder also has similar traits to Martin or Christian Petracca. While injuries have been an issue in the past, his draft season has been excellent with his stoppage work a highlight.
JARROD BRANDER (NSW/ACT, Bendigo Pioneers)
After losing his GWS Academy eligibility, Brander has been in the sights of every team. However, don’t expect him to last long on draft night as the top key forward prospect. At 195cm, the NSW product has the size but also the athleticism to make a mark in the AFL.
DARCY FOGARTY (South Australia, Glenelg)
Fogarty’s under-18 championships campaign was ruined by a knee injury and surgery in July brought his draft season is an early end. However, the South Australian started the year as a No.1 contender due to his versatility. At 192cm, Fogarty can play forward, across half-back and in the midfield.
JAIDYN STEPHENSON (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
The X-factor option in the 2017 draft, Stephenson has developed into a midfielder with Eastern Ranges this season. His 39-disposal performance against Sandringham certainly caught the eye. At 189cm, the youngster has plenty of upside and could be a surprise selection depending on the club.
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