Live trading adds new dimension to big night
THE AFL’s new X-factor of live draft trading is about to meet the richest crop of player talent in nearly two decades.
While the live trading of draft picks could be a fizzer in tonight’s first round, everyone agrees this is the best group of players since 2001.
Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd led the 2001 draft, which also featured Jimmy Bartel, Nick Dal Santo, James Kelly, Steve Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Leigh Montagna, Gary Ablett and Dane Swan.
This year, it is a given that Sam Walsh, Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Max King will be among the top five.
But for the first time, clubs can trade where they are in the draft order. There has been speculation the two Adelaide clubs might try to pry the No.1 pick from Carlton or the second selection from Gold Coast, given that Lukosius and Rankine are from South Australia.
Apart from live trading, another innovation is that the draft will be held over two days this year.
Round 1 – featuring 19 selections at this stage – will be tonight at Marvel Stadium and the rest of the draft will be tomorrow from 11am (Qld time).
The speculation is that there will be no movement among the top picks, with Carlton saying repeatedly that it would take something special for them to give up the No.1 selection.
“Over the course of the two days, there will be some trading. The first night, I don’t know,” AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.
Rival clubs can also make bids for father-son or talent academy players.