Should West Coast trade pick one in this year’s National Draft if they finish as wooden spooners in 2023?
That was the question posed by Tim Gossage to Scott Cummings on SEN WA Breakfast.
While the first pick is expected to be Bendigo Pioneers midfielder Harley Reid, who is considered one of the best prospects in years, Cummings thinks it might not be the worst idea for the Eagles.
After splitting last year’s pick 2 into picks 8, 12 and future selections, Cummings believes it could be in their best interest to do so again.
Gossage: “The scenario is if they get the number one pick, that’s Harley Reid.
“They are in a rebuild, would they not be in their best interests to extend their rebuild with more early picks?
“They're going to get good picks this year and they're going to get good picks again next year.
Cummings: “Split them like last year?”
Gossage: “100 per cent, let's go, we'll get three picks for the one pick so that you can do a deal. We don't care which club it is.
“You just go well, probably preferably one of the lower ones and you get the first pick from X, Y, Z next year and the second pick for the year after, something like that.
“They might have figured that there is a kid running around that's not eligible until next year that they're eyeing off.”
Cummings: “They'd have to know that, and they will know that there's no doubt about it.
“That’s their job to know who's available now and who's going to be available in the next year or so.”
Gossage: “Are they under pressure to take the number one pick if they are in that position?”
Cummings: “Well, I don't think they're under pressure because we know where their list is at.
“Rebuild, not too many people like using the word, but they are absolutely in a rebuild.
“Will one player irrelevant of how good he is, fast track that (rebuild)? No. But will three players? Yeah.
“They need a big turnover. I'm generally loathed to suggest anyone trades the number one pick because you listen to any recruiter and who you're going after and they’re going after the very best next available talent we can have.
“He is the very best next available from all reports.
“But they need more than one player.
“So, I reckon it would be an option for them, absolutely.”
Gossage: “My question is they need help for (Reuben) Ginbey, they need help for other guys who go through the middle, and he is that.”
With West Coast facing off against the last-placed Hawthorn side in Launceston on Saturday, the loser could be in pole position to end up on the bottom come season's end.