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While there's been a flurry of top-10 draft pick trading, it will be a huge surprise if Gold Coast give up their top selections.
SOME KEY TALKING POINTS AHEAD OF THIS WEEK'S AFL DRAFT:
The AFL national draft will be held on Wednesday (first round) and Thursday (second round onwards) from 7:00pm at Marvel Stadium.
* SURELY WE KNOW THE TOP TWO:
Courtesy of their extra priority pick, Gold Coast have the top two draft selections. It's practically gospel that the Suns will use those picks to recruit Carey Grammar and Oakleigh Chargers pair Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. It would be a huge surprise if Gold Coast traded away either selection.
* BUT ELSEWHERE IN ROUND ONE ...
Last week, there were several trades involving round-one draft picks ahead of Friday's deadline. GWS have moved up two spots to No.4 and that's seen as part of their strategy to make sure they recruit their gun academy prospect Tom Green. Sydney might name Green with their No.5 selection, but the Giants will most likely match the bid.
* THE STOCKER OPTION:
Speaking of round-one picks, Carlton and Adelaide became the story of last year's draft with their radical trade. With live trading of draft picks in use for the first time, the Blues gave up their first-round 2019 selection to Adelaide on the night so they could recruit Liam Stocker. Who wins out of that deal is an ongoing AFL parlour game. It's a high-risk strategy - will any club follow the Blues' lead?
* IT'S A THIN DRAFT FOR TALLS:
Melbourne are expected to pick former basketballer Luke Jackson at No.3 and key defender Fischer McAsey is another strong top-10 prospect. But otherwise, there are few top-shelf ruckmen or key-position players in the draft pool. That was cited by Essendon as one of the main reasons they couldn't strike a deal with Sydney in trade week for Joe Daniher. Jackson would be the first ruckman picked this high in the draft since Nic Naitanui went to West Coast in 2008 with the No.2 selection.
* THAT NAME LOOKS FAMILIAR ...
As always, there are several father-son prospects. Finn Maginess, son of two-time Hawthorn premiership player Scott, is set to go to the Hawks early in the draft. Port Adelaide want Jackson Mead, son of Darren, and Trent Burgoyne, son of Peter. Kysaiah Pickett isn't a father-son nomination, but he's the nephew of North Melbourne and Port Adelaide hard nut Byron Pickett.
* WHAT ABOUT JACK MARTIN?
The Gold Coast small forward is in limbo, with last month's trade request to Carlton falling through. He has nominated for Friday's pre-season draft and still wants to join the Blues. But the Suns have the No.1 pick in this draft as well and have not ruled out naming him.
