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Despite a relatively low number of selections, the 2020 AFL draft proved a lengthy night as clubs wheeled and dealed around academy prospects.

An AFL draft that delivered a low number of list spots, the 2020 edition still proved a marathon event - and one dominated by club academy prospects.

Wednesday night's action didn't kick off until almost 7.30pm and the first round alone dragged out to 26 selections and almost two hours amid matched academy bids and draft-night trades.

In total, there were 59 players drafted in a window close to four hours long.

Of the academy kids, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked off proceedings when the Western Bulldogs matched Adelaide's bid for the gun forward at pick No.1.

Hawthorn forced Sydney to match a bid of pick No.5 for academy midfielder Braeden Campbell, while Lachie Jones (Port Adelaide, pick 16), Reef McInnes (Collingwood, pick 23) and Blake Coleman (Brisbane, pick 24) also landed in the first round.

Another six academy players were drafted from the second round onwards, while there was a touch of romance when Richmond matched Essendon's bid for father-son prospect Maurice Rioli Jnr at pick 51.

The early picks of the draft were largely dominated by tall prospects, with Ugle-Hagan joined by fellow big men Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide, pick two), Logan McDonald (Sydney, pick four), Denver Grainger-Barras (Hawthorn, pick six), Nik Cox (Essendon, pick eight) and Zach Reid (Essendon, pick 10) in the top 10.

The draft action continues on Thursday when Adelaide kick off the pre-season and rookie drafts - the same day first-round picks will be properly unveiled by their new clubs.

The Crows are set to take former GWS midfielder Jackson Hately with the first pick of the pre-season draft, which starts at 12pm AEDT.

The rookie draft follows and Collingwood premiership defender Tyson Goldsack could be a surprise selection after coming out of retirement to nominate for the draft.

Goldsack, 33, planned to play with Port Adelaide in the SANFL this year, but the club's reserves team withdrew from the competition due to COVID-19 factors.