AFL Draft 2024: Every club’s picks and the young stars they could land in November
With the trade period over, all eyes turn to November’s draft. Experts CHRIS CAVANAGH and DAN BATTEN run through the options for every clubs with the picks they have.
There is less than a month to go until the 2024 AFL national draft.
With the trade period over, some things are beginning to look a little clearer.
However, there is still a bit to play out, with clubs having the ability to trade picks up to and during the draft.
Here is the latest on where your club sits and the players it is — or should be — eyeing.
FULL DRAFT DOSSIER: TOP 60 TALENTS RANKED
ADELAIDE
Current Draft Picks: 4, 64
The Crows want to bolster their midfield and this is a good draft to do that.
Adelaide’s midfield was labelled “pedestrian” at times this year, but there is a player in the frame for pick four who could change that.
South Australian Sid Draper has been strongly linked to the Crows and is a player who has drawn comparisons to Chris Judd and Zak Butters with his speed and power coming out of stoppages.
He captained his state at the under-18 national championships mid-year and spent the second half of the season playing senior football with South Adelaide in the SANFL.
Alternatively, the Crows could secure a Victorian onballer, with the likes of Jagga Smith, Harvey Langford, Josh Smillie and Murphy Reid also in the mix to be top-five picks.
Langford (191cm) and Smillie (195cm) are both bigger-bodied options, while Smith and Reid are clean ball-winners with good footy IQ.
Adelaide also has access to a father-son in 191cm marking forward Tyler Welsh, the son of Scott.
The club is yet to commit to Welsh, who shapes as a potential late selection.
BRISBANE LIONS
Current Draft Picks: 27, 34, 42, 43, 49, 60, 66
The recent trade period was largely a points collecting exercise for the Lions.
Brisbane gave up its pick 20 for some later selections, but could still secure two top-20 talents next month in father-son Levi Ashcroft and Academy talent Sam Marshall.
The club is preparing for a bid to come on Ashcroft within the top five picks on draft night – potentially as high as No.1.
A bid on Marshall is expected somewhere between picks 15 and 25.
Both Ashcroft and Marshall played for the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League this year and were the two best players on the ground in the Grand Final.
The son of three-time premiership Lion Marcus and brother of 2024 Norm Smith Medal winner Will, Ashcroft is a prolific inside ball-winner who can also push forward and hit the scoreboard.
Marshall is more of an outside player through the midfield, who is an elite runner, uses the ball well and can also have scoreboard impact in the forward half.
CARLTON
Current Draft Picks: 3, 38, 63, 68, 69, 72
The Blues pulled off a huge move during the trade period, securing pick 3 from West Coast.
List manager Nick Austin has said the move will allow the club to “add a significant part of our future”.
Could that part be Finn O’Sullivan?
Carlton has stated it wants to add some speed and power through the midfield and O’Sullivan ticks both those boxes as a dynamic onballer who tries to model his game on a mix of Sam Walsh and Isaac Heeney.
The Koroit product is in fact a second cousin of Walsh and showed glimpses of his enormous potential during an injury-interrupted top-age season.
Expect the Blues’ later picks to be used on securing father-son prospect Ben and Lucas Camporeale.
Sons of 1995 Carlton premiership player Scott, the South Australian twins trained with Carlton during pre-season.
Ben developed into a right-footed onballer this year, while Lucas is a left-footed halfback or wingman.
A rival bid on Ben could come in the 30-40 range, while Lucas could be secured a little later in the draft.
COLLINGWOOD
Current Draft Picks: 52, 55, 58
The Magpies were more focused on landing Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston during the trade period than boosting their draft hand.
Their first pick entering the trade period was 36 but now sits at 52.
As list boss Justin Leppitsch put it: “You can’t get everything you want”.
Collingwood still believes there will be “some quality players” available to it with the late selections, which should come forward a few spots after bids are matched on father-son and Academy players higher up the order.
Leppitsch has said that key position players will be a focus for the Magpies, particularly those who can light it up the forward half.
Could a player like 199cm Northern Knights key forward Tom Sims, 197cm South Australian swingman Charlie Nicholls or 199cm Greater Western Victorian Rebels ruck-forward Floyd Burmeister slip through to Collingwood’s first selection?
Another Northern Knights player — 196cm key forward Gabriel Stumpf — could be another option if the Magpies want to bolster that area of the ground.
ESSENDON
Current Draft Picks: 28, 31, 40, 46, 53, 54, 65
The Bombers would have originally been hoping to take a player at pick 9 and then secure Next Generation Academy member Isaac Kako by matching a bid in the teens.
But they parted with the top-10 selection during the trade period after it became apparent that a bid on Kako could come earlier, which would have swallowed up that pick 9.
Essendon will still be able to match a bid on Kako and now hold two first-round selections in the 2025 draft after the trade deal with Melbourne.
New list boss Matt Rosa has said the new draft hands give the Bombers “great flexibility” as the club looks to “acquire young talent” as part of its list strategy.
Rosa has also said the club has been impressed with the development of Kako, a “dynamic” small forward who has been likened to Adelaide’s Izak Rankine.
A Calder Cannons product, Kako has grown up an Essendon fan and has been part of the club’s Academy since he was 12.
FREMANTLE
Current Draft Picks: 14, 30, 67
The Docker’s draft hand looked a lot better before the trade period.
The club had held picks 10, 11 and 18, but not has only one first-round selection at No. 14 after being forced to pay up for Richmond star Shai Bolton.
Bolton fills what Fremantle thought was a clear list need, as a damaging small forward who can also rotate through the midfield.
Fremantle has downplayed the slide of its first pick from 11 to 14 and still believes it will be able to land “a really good player” in what is a draft with strong depth.
West Australian Bo Allan has been linked to the club, as a 191cm halfback who was under the nose of the Dockers playing senior football for their WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder this year.
Allan is a lifelong Fremantle fan and the Dockers recruiters are fans of his, but the club’s list already boasts a lot of similar players in Luke Ryan, Jordan Clarke, Heath Chapman, Josh Draper and Hayden Young at times.
Therefore, it wouldn’t surprise if Fremantle targeted another talent with its first pick.
GEELONG
Current Draft Picks: 45, 57, 75
Geelong struck gold in the back-end of the draft last year with mature-age gems Shaun Mannagh (pick 36) and Lawson Humphries (63) and the Cats will be tasked with finding diamonds in the rough again after the Bailey Smith trade.
Geelong offloaded both its first and second round selections to land Smith, but received St Kilda’s pick 45 in return in the four-club mega trade on deadline day.
The Cats do hold all of their future picks and list boss Andrew Mackie has said the club is open to trading back into this year’s draft. They have had success trading into the first round before, snaring 2024 Carji Greeves medallist Max Holmes with a live trade on draft night in 2020.
Fortunately the back-end of this draft is stronger than most, and expect their picks to slide in a fair amount once rival father-son and academy bids are matched.
Geelong regularly accesses its local Geelong Falcons talent and rebounding defender Lachie Jaques, a Cats fan who models his game on Tom Stewart, is the best available from the region and could be available around their current first choice.
Light-bodied playmaker Xavier Ivisic is another Falcon who could appeal later in the piece.
Could the Cats draft their second Norm Goss medallist in as many years by taking a punt on Jack Henderson?
The 25-year-old midfielder-forward had 23 disposals and kicked two goals in a best-on-ground display in the VFL grand final, receiving his medal from former teammate Mannagh.
It wouldn’t surprise to see the Cats take a developing key forward following retirement of Tom Hawkins and delisting of Phoenix Foster with marking swingmen James Barrat and Charlie Nicholls, and athletic forward-rucks Tom Sims and Kayle Gerreyn presenting as options in the second half of the draft.
GOLD COAST
Current Draft Picks: 39, 41, 51, 61, 70, 76, 78
Unlike other clubs, the Suns haven’t been desperate to go all-in on this year’s draft.
They had held four of the first 29 selections entering the trade period, but now have none in that range.
What they do have, though, is enough points to match a bid on Academy star Leo Lombard.
Expected to attract a bid around the pick 10 to 15 range, Lombard was a joint winner of the Larke Medal at the under-18 national championships for the Allies this year.
He models his game on Suns veteran Touk Miller and has been described by Gold Coast list manager Craig Cameron as a player with “unbelievable agility” and “really good aggression”.
The Suns haven’t ruled out trying to get back into this year’s draft, but they do have an eye to 2025. There are more Academy guns on the way next year, including Zeke Uwland and Beau Addinsall.
Gold Coast currently holds three first-round picks in next year’s draft.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Current Draft Picks: 15, 16, 21, 37, 56, 74
Free agency compensation picks for Harry Perryman (pick 16) and Isaac Cumming (pick 21) have left the Giants in a good spot heading into the national draft.
They now hold three of the top 21 selections.
The question will be, do they take three players with those or try to package at least two of them up to climb the board?
They could also look to trade one of the picks into next year’s draft.
But if they keep the selections, the midfield could be an area to add to and players like Xavier Lindsay and Taj Hotton could be available in that range.
Gippsland Power product Lindsay offers a good mix with his inside and outside game and has a penetrating and pinpoint left boot, while Hotton is an X-Factor half-forward or midfielder with great speed and agility.
The Giants also have access to some Academy players, with ruckman Logan Smith being the standout.
The 204cm tall played seven VFL games for GWS this year and delivers nice tapwork along with the ability to win his own ball.
HAWTHORN
Current Draft Picks: 33, 71, 77
The Hawks did have a first-round pick (No. 14) entering the trade period but don’t anymore.
That selection was traded to Carlton for two future picks, with Hawthorn then using three of its own future picks to land West Coast defender Tom Barrass.
Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie described the acquisition of Barrass as “a fantastic outcome overall”, after fellow defender Josh Battle also joined the club during the free agency period.
The experienced recruits mean the Hawks won’t enter this draft until at least pick 33, but the club has got some high-end talent through the door recently.
Across the past three national drafts, Hawthorn has made seven selections at pick 26 or lower.
That’s not counting Calsher Dear, who was taken at pick 56 last year but impressed across 17 games on debut this season.
With pick 33, a lot will depend on who is still on the board.
There are not a lot of obvious list holes so the Hawks will back themselves to find a diamond in a deep draft.
MELBOURNE
Current Draft Picks: 5, 9
A big winner during the trade period, the Demons positioned themselves nicely for the draft by grabbing a second top-10 pick.
They already held pick five, but also managed to nab pick nine from Essendon.
Melbourne gave the Bombers some later selections – as well as their future first-round pick – as part of the deal, but are now well-placed to bring in two top-end talents.
List boss Tim Lamb has declared that “supporters should be really excited”.
With two top picks, the Demons could snag two different types of players.
At pick 5, a gun midfielder like Harvey Langford, Jagga Smith or Josh Smillie would be handy.
At pick 9, Melbourne would surely have to look at Sandringham Dragons key forward Harry Armstong if he was still available.
Measuring 195cm, Armstrong’s best traits are his overhead marking and his accurate goalkicking, while he also has the tank to push up the ground and get back.
The Demons are also considering picking up Gippsland Power small forward Ricky Mentha as a Category B rookie, through their Next Generation Academy.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Current Draft Picks: 2, 62
North Melbourne will be a point of fascination over the next month as to decide whether to hold or split their prized No. 2 pick.
The club hasn’t taken a key position player with their seven first round selections since 2020 and they are crying out for elite talls.
However, the very top-end of the draft is stacked with midfielders, suggesting that the Roos should think long and hard about offers – especially if they can secure two top 10 picks, for example Melbourne’s five and nine or Richmond’s six and 10. Whether they receive those kind of offers in a relatively even top-10 remains to be seen.
Rivals believe the Roos are fans of draft bolter Alix Tauru, an intercept defender in the mould of James Sicily who can break games open at either end.
Sandringham Dragons tall forward Harry Armstrong is another whose standing has improved significantly as the season has gone on, but pick two may be a reach.
If the Roos do hold onto pick two, the likes of gamebreaking midfielder-forward Sam Lalor, agile ball-magnet Jagga Smith, impact midfielder Finn O’Sullivan and 190cm Dandenong Stingray Harvey Langford can all give their engine room a point-of-difference.
North Melbourne off-loaded several of its later picks on a deadline day, managing to add senior experience and 2022 first-round selection Jacob Konstanty to its list.
But Roos list boss Brady Rawlings said the club is open improving their 2024 draft hand.
North Melbourne also has Geelong Falcons small forward River Stevens, the son of two-time best and fairest winner Anthony, available to them. The Roos can automatically add him as a rookie if he doesn’t attract a national draft bid.
PORT ADELAIDE
Current Draft Picks: 13, 29, 36, 50
There is plenty riding on Port Adelaide’s four selections given it picked up all of them in the Dan Houston trade, after receiving less than they had initially hoped for. But all judgement should be reserved until we see the full extent of their haul in the coming years – and the names around the 13-36 range should excite Power fans.
The top South Australian prospect in Sid Draper will be off the board by the time they are on the clock, but talented dual sportsman Alex Dodson will be around the mark.
The athletic 201 centimetre ruckman chose footy over basketball and while Port Adelaide has a few rucks already on its list, Dodson’s potential is better than all of them.
Otherwise the Power will likely have to look outside SA for their first pick in what is a strong range of the draft.
Morrish medallist Xavier Lindsay could slot in right away off halfback and has also shown his talents as an inside or outside midfielder this year, silky midfielder-forward Murphy Reid could prove to be a steal if he slides that far while goalsneak Joe Berry is the best small forward in the draft and has worked with trade addition Joe Richards during his time with Wangaratta.
Homegrown talents in running defender Angus Clarke – the nephew of former Crow Matthew – and key position swingman Charlie Nicholls could come into their thinking with their next two picks.
The Power has three father-sons prospects available but it appears unlikely they will be able to take all three – even if they slide beyond the national draft.
Woodville-West Torrens defenders Rome Burgoyne and Ky Burgoyne are the sons of champion brothers Peter and Shaun respectively, while utility Louie Montgomery is the son of 204-game Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs player Brett. All three took the field for Port Adelaide’s SANFL side this year and Rome Burgoyne and Montgomery tested at the state combine.
However, the most highly touted talent tied to the club is speedy forward Benny Barrett, a graduate of their Next Generation Academy, who won the 20m sprint at the SA state combine.
RICHMOND
Current Draft Picks: 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24
The Tigers would be licking their lips as they eye an extraordinary haul in next month’s national draft.
Richmond holds eight of the first 24 selections after maximising deals for departing premiership stars Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker during the trade period.
The draft hand provides the Tigers with plenty of scope to bring in a core group of players who will hopefully be able to lead the club over the next 10 to 12 years.
Sam Lalor is an early favourite to be the No. 1 pick, as a powerful midfielder-forward who has modelled his game on Dustin Martin and Jordan De Goey.
After that, the Tigers could look to select a range of different types of players.
On-ballers Jagga Smith, Josh Smillie and Finn O’Sullivan have all caught Richmond’s attention, while defenders Tobie Travaglia and Luke Trainor, half-forward Taj Hotton and Jesse Dattoli and key position twins Jack and Matt Whitlock would be among a group of others firmly on the radar.
List boss Blair Hartley and his recruiting team have plenty of decisions to make.
ST KILDA
Current Draft Picks: 7, 8, 32, 47
After receiving pick eight as compensation for departed defender Josh Battle, St Kilda has a golden opportunity to add two top-end talents to add to a list which is bereft of A-graders.
The Saints are largely at the mercy of those before them and can sit back and see who is slides to pick seven. Will bullocking 195cm midfielder Josh Smillie be the one that is available from the top group?
His height and inside ball-winning would give the Saints an immediate boost, as would goalkicking midfielder Harvey Langford.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has been intent on adding running power and Tobie Travaglia – who finished second in the 2km time trial at the drat combine – can be used in a variety of roles and would complement Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera nicely off a back flank to start his career. If the Saints look for talls at either pick, interceptors Alix Tauru and Luke Trainor or key forward Harry Armstrong present as the leading candidates.
St Kilda also has decisions to make on three talents tied to the club in 194cm stopper Adrian Cole, medium defender Lennox Hofmann – both NGA prospects – and 187cm midfielder-forward Elwood Peckett, son of 252-game Saint Justin.
Cole has spoken to at least a handful of clubs and appears the most likely to attract a bid, but it may come after their third selection at 32. Peckett and Hofmann both tested at the state combine, but the latter had an impressive finish to the season and could also attract a bid in the back-half of the draft.
If they slide to the rookie draft they can add them as a Category B rookie.
SYDNEY
Current Draft Picks:19, 22, 44, 59
What do you add to a side who was the best all year before another grand final horror show? Sydney’s first two picks are in a strong range of the draft where some ready-made talent is on offer.
Jesse Dattoli and Cooper Hynes can slot in right away as forwards with the potential for midfield minutes in time – Dattoli silky skilled and Hynes possessing power and toughness. Tom Gross and Christian Moraes are also forward-midfielders and should be around that range of the draft, while WA medium forward Hamish Davis impressed at league level this season.
If the Swans are happy to be patient, either of the Whitlock twins – Matt a versatile swingman and Jack a mobile forward-ruck – can fill key position posts into the future.
Jonty Faull shapes as another promising tall forward in the 20s.
Could the Swans look for an immediate injection from mature-agers later in the draft? VFL talents Riley Bice – a halfback with a pinpoint left boot – and Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist Sam Davidson – an elite running 190cm forward – would slot in nicely.
They have an athletic key defender from their academy in Joel Cochran, who showed his running power by taking out the 2km time trial at the draft combine. The 194cm prospect is likely to receive a bid in the back-half of the draft.
WEST COAST
Current Draft Picks: 12, 26, 73
Some were left perplexed by the Eagles’ decision to split pick three, but in a relatively even top bracket they can still get the player they want.
West Coast must have known Fremantle was giving up picks 10 and 11, giving them a chance to potentially snare the best local West Australian talent in Bo Allan. The versatile defender-midfielder is incredibly agile and is a great size at 191cm and would be a no-brainer for the Eagles if another club doesn’t take him first.
Otherwise they are spoiled for choice at this area of the draft. Jobe Shanahan and Matt Whitlock present as the best key forward options, Luke Trainor has the intercepting traits and foot skills to fill the void of Jeremy McGovern by the time he retires, while Gippsland Power talent Xavier Lindsay offers plenty as a defender or midfielder. Goalsneak Joe Berry is another the Eagles could consider to spice up their attack.
Subiaco medium forward Hamish Davis has impressed at WAFL senior level and could come into their thinking at their second pick, but his strong back-half of the year may see him taken earlier.
All-Australian key defender Clancy Dennis, WA most valuable player Jaxon Artemis – a small wingman – and elite running wingman Will Hayes are other local products who may be available at the back-end.
West Coast also has Next Generation Academy prospect Malakai Champion, a blistering small forward who finished second in the agility test and fifth in the 20m sprint.
He has exciting attributes but a modest draft year may mean he attracts a bid late or slides through to the rookie draft, allowing the Eagles to pick him up as a Category B rookie.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Current Draft Picks: 17, 25, 35, 48
The Bulldogs gained picks 17 and 25 for losing two quality players in Bailey Smith and Caleb Daniel.
However, Smith was sidelined for the entire 2024 season and Daniel fell out of favour – as did traded midfielder Jack Macrae – so their loss isn’t as significant as they look on paper. While pick 17 may become pick 21 by the time bids come in, there should be no shortage of options for their first choice – and at picks 25 and 35.
Forward-midfielder Taj Hotton faces a delayed start to 2025 after an ACL but is an exciting talent, Xavier Lindsay would be a nice fit as a defender or inside or outside midfielder if he is still on the board, while half impact players Jesse Dattoli and Cooper Hynes should be around the mark at their first two selections.
Oakleigh Charger Tom Gross and Eastern Ranger Christian Moraes were both touted as top-10 picks at the start of the season and could both prove to be steals in the second round, while late-season bolter Ollie Hannaford has shown he can use his speed in a variety of roles, particularly as a dangerous small forward.
Or the Bulldogs could look to arguably the best pure small defender in the draft in Harry Oliver at 25, with fellow rebounders Lachie Jaques and Angus Clarke other options for their second or third pick.
List boss Sam Power said they are open to trading selections on draft night so don’t be surprised to see the Bulldogs get creative.
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