AFL Phantom draft 2024: Chris Cavanagh maps out the top 35 picks on the AFL Draft

There’s so much talent at the top of this year’s draft crop, which means some absolute stars are set to slide down the order. See the clubs that could land a steal on draft night.

Carlton could swing an early draft surprise as the Blues weigh up selecting South Australian midfielder Sid Draper with their No. 3 pick.

It is understood that Draper met with the Blues on Friday, with any potential play for him set to have ramifications down the order.

Carlton has long been linked to Victorian midfielder Finn O’Sullivan with its first selection, who is a second cousin of Sam Walsh.

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However, rival clubs believe that O’Sullivan is no certainty for that selection as Draper firmly comes into calculations.

Draper is rated by some as the most explosive midfielder in the draft pool, drawing comparisons to Sydney star Chad Warner.

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After missing the start of the season with a stress fracture in his shin, Draper captained South Australia at the under-18 national championships and went on to impress in six games of senior footy for South Adelaide in the SANFL.

The 18-year-old is the younger brother of ex-Collingwood player Arlo, who was selected in the 2021 national draft.

The Blues’ pick has been described by rival clubs as a “turning point” in the draft, which could start a “chain reaction”.

Will Carlton take Sid Draper? Picture: Corey Sutton/SANFL

Adelaide (pick 4) has had a close eye on Draper and is still considered the favourite to secure him.

However, if the local talent is taken off the board by Carlton, the Crows are expected to instead look to big-bodied Victorian midfielder Harvey Langford.

Melbourne — which has been strongly linked to Langford — may then have Finn O’Sullivan and Jagga Smith as options at pick 5.

St Kilda is a good chance to further shake up the top 10, with expectations that the Saints will try and split one of their first two picks for selections further back in the first round.

Greater Western Sydney – which holds three later first-round selections – is one club that would be capable of doing a deal with St Kilda, but the Giants say they have not yet been approached.

Any pick swaps must wait for live trading during the draft, after the pick trading window closed last Friday.

Only one deal was done during that window, with Collingwood bizarrely sending pick 58 to the Brisbane Lions in exchange for picks 60 and 66.

The deal leaves the Magpies with four picks in the national draft, but they are only expected to select three players.

Originally published as AFL Phantom draft 2024: Chris Cavanagh maps out the top 35 picks on the AFL Draft