Pies still in box seat for Houston
Carlton’s big move does not remove Collingwood from pole position for Port Adelaide’s back-to-back All-Australian Dan Houston, with the Blues hovering in the background, but content to use picks 12 and 14 in a strong and deep draft.
They have a skinny hand (69, 72 and 73) behind those two first-round selections to match bids on the Camporeale twins, Ben and Lucas, but neither is tipped to receive an opposition bid in the top 30.
Carlton still has time to bolster their draft points, and may even try to bundle their top two picks to climb inside the top 10.
North Melbourne loom as the greater threat to the Magpies for Houston – particularly with Melbourne threatening to pinch Gold Coast’s pick 13 from under Collingwood’s nose – given they are willing to hand him a lucrative five-year contract, and could stump up the best offer of all the star defender’s suitors.
The Suns are seriously considering the Demons’ offer of a future first-rounder and their second-round pick this year, currently No.28, which they received back from Adelaide in the Alex Neal-Bullen trade on Monday.
Melbourne’s chances of scoring the coveted pick, which Gold Coast will trade because they expect to match a bid before then for academy prospect Leo Lombard, increase the longer the Pies fail to find middle ground with the Suns over John Noble.
Joe Richards’ trade request to join Port Adelaide is the other wrinkle in this situation that aids Collingwood’s chances with Houston – but securing pick 13 is crucial because their best selection without it this year is No.36.
The Power are waiting patiently in the background while all this plays out, still without a concrete offer from any of the pack chasing Houston. There is a decent likelihood that Jack Lukosius’ impending move from Gold Coast to Alberton will be separate to the pick 13 discussions.
Hawks should still land Barrass
Hawthorn remain in a good position to make a deal for Barrass, with more assets to play with, but West Coast miss out on having an extra stake in this draft.
One positive in that respect is that just one West Australian, Bo Allan, is tipped to be selected in the top 30.
The Hawks have offered Barrass, 29, a four-year deal with a contract trigger for a fifth season.
Fremantle could try to convince Baker to pick them after Friday’s developments, but they have prioritised another Tiger, Shai Bolton, who is likely to become a Docker despite not nominating his preferred destination.
Fremantle hold picks 10, 11 and 18 in the first round, so have the assets to make both deals work, although Richmond knocked back their offer of 10 and 18 for Bolton and would prefer both 10 and 11.
Sharp replacement
Fringe Brisbane wingman Harry Sharp has requested a trade to Melbourne, who are on the hunt for run and speed after the recent exits of Neal-Bullen and Lachie Hunter.
An emergency in the Lions’ grand final team after six games during the season, Sharp’s hopes of more game time in the club’s powerful midfield next year won’t be helped by the impending arrivals of young guns Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall.
The Lions want points to bid for father-son prospect Ashcroft and academy product Marshall.
Ashcroft is a contender to go at No.1, while Marshall – best afield for Sandringham Dragons in their Talent League grand final win over GWV Rebels – is a chance to attract a bid inside the top 20, or not far beyond that.
Melbourne have pick 40 and a suite of third- and fourth-round selections that could form a deal for Sharp, but future picks may be needed to satisfy Brisbane, who traded out a future second with Carlton as part of a deal that gained them picks 34 and 66.
The Lions also significantly swelled their points tally by trading out pick 20 to Richmond on Friday, in return for 32, 42, 43 and 45 from the Tigers, a net gain of 792 draft points.