Carlton hoping draft running machine Dylan Stephens slips past Fremantle’s pick 7 and 8

Carlton hopes to secure a junior star who has been likened to Josh Kelly and Andrew Gaff with its top 10 draft pick, but Fremantle could ruin the Blues’ plans.

Carlton is closing in on the player being billed as the next Josh Kelly although is wary that new Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s desperation for outside run could see the Dockers pounce first.

The Blues have Dylan Stephens high on their talent board and his outside class would complement captain Patrick Cripps beautifully.

But the Dockers hold picks No. 7 and 8 – the two picks directly before Carlton’s No. 9 – and are a chance to swoop on Stephens, if he is still available.

Fremantle has lost runners Ed Langdon (Melbourne) and Brad Hill (St Kilda) and, with some recruiters rating Stephens as the third or fourth best player in the draft, might find it hard to overlook the South Australian.

Longmuir has told his recruiters to prioritise outside run and they are expected to draft halfback Hayden Young with their first selection and then pair him with either Stephens or Caleb Serong.

While West Australian captain Deven Robertson has been strongly linked to Dockers, there were suggestions yesterday that Fremantle would overlook the local boy because of his shaky disposal.

The Dockers took an inside midfielder in Luke Valente at No. 32 last year, which could count against them also selecting Robertson.

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Carlton is targeting Dylan Stephens with its first pick in the national draft.

Stephens’ under-18 season has reminded talent spotters of Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee, who went at No. 5 last year before finishing runner-up in this year’s Rising Star.

Like Rozee, Stephens didn’t set the national carnival on fire but then returned to the SANFL and powered home with a brilliant patch of senior football.

The 183cm Stephens boasts amazing aerobic capacity and has run a 2km time trial in less than six minutes, albeit not at last month’s national combine where he placed third in 6min 01 sec.

Dylan Stephens has been likened to Andrew Gaff and Josh Kelly.

That running strength has earned comparisons to West Coast’s Andrew Gaff although experts yesterday said the left-footer played more in the mould of Giants superstar Kelly.

Stephens grew up in Mildura but relocated to Adelaide to board at St Peter’s College.

Clubs believe Greater Western Sydney is likely to select speed machine Lachie Ash at No. 4, hoping he can help replace Heath Shaw, who turns 34 this week.

Taking Ash, an Adam Saad-like jet, would allow the Giants to release Zac Williams into the midfield permanently.

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Sydney and Adelaide are both likely to consider Stephens before Fremantle’s pair of picks.

But the Swans are desperate for an inside midfielder to replace Josh Kennedy while the Crows are considering Fischer McAsey as they plan for life after Daniel Talia, 28.

McAsey is also regarded as an elite character, which would appeal to the Crows as they set about rebuilding their culture.

Clubs outside the top 10 – including Hawthorn (No. 11) and Port Adelaide (12) – are, like the Blues, praying that Stephens somehow slips to them.

Originally published as Carlton hoping draft running machine Dylan Stephens slips past Fremantle’s pick 7 and 8