Will North Melbourne trade pick No. 1 in this year’s National Draft?
That’s the question that’s been asked after it was revealed by AFL.com.au that the Kangaroos were open to offers for the top pick.
With the nation’s top-rated under-18 Will Ashcroft headed to Brisbane as a father-son, North Melbourne are reportedly considering splitting their prized selection into multiple early picks.
AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge thinks if there’s ever a year to split the first pick, 2022 is the year to do it given how evenly the top 10 of this year’s crop is considered.
“It’s the million-dollar question at the moment,” Beveridge said on SEN’s Whateley.
“As we’ve reported on AFL.com.au, they’re open to offers and it’s the year to do it in the sense that Will Ashcroft – who’s probably the best player in the country at the moment – is headed to Brisbane as a father-son.
“Beyond that, the draft range from one to 10 is really even, so if you can get multiple good picks for pick 1, it’s the year to go and the year to split the picks.
“I think they’d be open to it, it’s whether or not there’s going to be a suitor for it or a club that’s going to be willing to meet their demands.”
With North Melbourne likely to demand multiple first-round selections if they give up pick No. 1, Beveridge believes two clubs are best placed to offer a deal that would satisfy the Kangaroos.
“I’ve got eyes on Gold Coast here,” Beveridge said.
“That’s given the fact that they’ll get a really early pick for Izak Rankine plus their own, so they’ll have multiple top 10 picks.
“And GWS, who have pick 3 but will get multiple early picks in when Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Bobby Hill and Tanner Bruhn leave the club.
“They’re the two I’m keeping a watchful eye on because I reckon they’re probably best placed as things stand to potentially twist North Melbourne’s hand and get pick 1 off them.”
Pick No. 1 in the National Draft hasn’t been traded since 2001 when Hawthorn duo Luke McPharlin and Trent Croad were sent to Fremantle for picks 1 (Luke Hodge), 20 (Daniel Elstone) and 36 (Sam Mitchell).