Will West Coast trade Pick 1? North Melbourne keen, offer, Harley Reid height, stats

Two-time All-Australian Leigh Montagna believes it would be in the best interests of West Coast and North Melbourne to complete a trade involving Pick 1, given their respective rebuilding situations.

The Eagles finished this year’s trade period still holding the No. 1 pick after finishing the 2023 season at the bottom of the pile. But the 18 clubs can still swap their selections before – and during – AFL draft night.

The Kangaroos have significantly improved their draft in recent weeks to now hold five first-round selections – picks 2, 3, 15, 17 and 18 – heading into the November 20 event.

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With Hawthorn and Melbourne also attempting to move up to Pick 1 – which would give one club first rights to Bendigo Pioneers’ 185cm sensation Harley Reid – the Kangaroos are shaping up as the team most likely to complete a deal .

And it remains on their to-do list.

“We’re obviously interesting because we’ve got a hand that could potentially turn their heads,” Kangaroos list boss Brady Rawlings said on Wednesday night.

“We just have to assess what price we would be willing to pay for it.

“We have five picks in 18. If we sit down and take them, we will have good players.

“Without hesitation, we would like choice 1. I think everyone would like it.

“It’s just a matter of what we have to give up to be able to get it and that will be up to the Eagles.”

Rawlings then on SEN confirmed his club was particularly keen to use picks 15, 17 and 18 to move higher up the order. He said his club would “consider” trading with the Eagles for Pick 1, but added it depends on price.

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“They have a high value on their choice, which they rightly should have,” Rawlings told SEN on Thursday morning.

“We’ll look to potentially offer them something, but if it’s too much and we end up picking at 2 and 3, we’re comfortable with that.”

While the Eagles hold the top pick, the rest of their draft isn’t as juicy as other clubs, holding picks 23, 37 and 58.

Asked about Fox Footy’s Trading day If the Roos were to be aggressive in their pursuit of Pick 1, Montagna said: “Yes, I would. I think they have enough talent to kind of follow what the Giants did (last year with Aaron Cadman) and specifically target someone. I think Harley Reid and getting that type of match winner would be perfect.

“I think the West Coast needs a glut of top picks – and you need to get them in a two- or three-year window. We’ve seen premiership teams build six, seven, eight or nine guys from your core together. I think they need to get more draft picks in this draft rather than going to Pick 23 after taking the first pick.

“I think that’s why North Melbourne are in the box office. If I’m in North Melbourne I can keep choices 2 and 3, I’m not going to give them both up. I would put it in West Coast’s hands and say, “If you want more choices, you take 3, 15 and 17, otherwise we’ll just go with choices 2 and 3.” The ball is in the West Coast’s court. »

Herald Sun Reporter Jon Ralph said he had “no doubt” the Eagles would consider offers for pick 1, but suggested the Eagles would likely want “three (selections) out of 10” in return.

Ralph said the Eagles were “very likely, in the end, to try to trade in the No. 1 pick.”

“I think at the end of the day, if North Melbourne has to come up with picks 2 and 3, it’s just too much. Given that North Melbourne would move from Pick 1 to Pick 15, which would move to Pick 20 – that’s not good enough for North Melbourne,” Ralph said. Trading day.

“The (Eagles) have picks 1, 23, 37 and 58 – you can’t bring in just one elite player when you have eight holes on the roster. You have to maximize that #1 pick and that is by getting everything you can for it and that will continue until November 20th. I think it will take them that long to reach a deal on pick 1.

“They’re going to get attacked by a lot of clubs trying to throw a lot of things at them. They will be spoiled for choice, but at some point, there will have to be an opportunity to maximize their assets.

“When you think about what happened this year, North Melbourne had the No. 1 overall pick and they gave it up and in the end (Harry) Sheezel and (George) Wardlaw are absolutely incredible. West Coast fans said, “We split that pick (No. 2) and we did the right thing because we have local kids (Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett). If (they get) Dan Curtin and they get Pick 8 and 12 and they bring local kids there and they love playing there and Daniel Curtin is their captain in eight years…yes, Harley Reid will be an outstanding player. Victoria, but they have their local talents and they love their locals.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn are not currently armed with the picks to influence West Coast, holding pick 4 as well as several third-round picks to help them match a bid on father-son prospect Will McCabe, who should spark interest. interest amid later stages of the first round.

Hawks roster Mark McKenzie said his power will continue to “have a chance” while the top pick is up for grabs.

“If the No. 1 choice is there, we will continue to explore it,” he said.

It’s probably unlikely when you think about what we were potentially talking about last week, but you should never say never.

Melbourne spent much of the trade period fending off raids on Clayton Oliver and Harrison Petty, but have picks 6 and 11 in the first round to try to tempt the Eagles.

“West Coast is obviously in the box there,” Dees list boss Tim Lamb said.

“They have the golden ticket this year, so we’ll evaluate our options and see what happens there.”

“If we can move up a little higher in the draft, that would be great.

“But we’re really excited to have picks 6 and 11 because we think we can get two really good players there.”