By Jonty Ralphsmith
Richmond is set to shape the opening night of the AFL Draft, with the Tigers possessing the best draft hand since GWS had the top three selections in the 2012 AFL Draft, ahead of its inaugural season.
The Tigers have picks 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23 and 24, with speculation the club could send picks six and 11 to North Melbourne to acquire pick two.
It’s has the potential to be a generational draft for a team which has several holes to fill.
How the Tigers use pick one is also set to have a large bearing on the night, with the even top bracket made up of a group of nine midfielders and key-position players Alix Tauru and Harry Armstrong.
They are tipped to take powerful big-bodied midfielder Sam Lalor who has had an injury-interrupted year but has drawn comparisons to Dustin Martin in an even race for pick one.
Midfield pair Jagga Smith and Finn O’Sullivan are also in contention for the number one pick.
Another storyline to watch will be where a bid comes for Brisbane father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, widely viewed as the best player in the crop.
The reigning premiers are also set to welcome Academy midfielder Sam Marshall who will be bid on later in the first round.
Other clubs to keep an eye on in the first round are Melbourne and St Kilda, each club having two selections in the top 10.
The Dees have been heavily linked to tall forward Armstrong, while the Saints are believed to be keen to add a midfielder, possibly Gippslander Xavier Lindsay, before welcoming Next Generation Academy key defender Adrian Cole on the second night.
GWS is also set for a big haul, with three selections on the first night before welcoming Academy ruck Logan Smith on night two.
The first round of the AFL Draft will be held on 20 November, before the remainder of the draft is held the following night.
Predicted Top 10
Pick 1 – Richmond: Sam Lalor
Pick 2 – Brisbane (matching a bid): Levi Ashcroft
Pick 3 – North Melbourne: Alix Tauru
Pick 4 – Carlton: Finn O’Sullivan
Pick 5 – Adelaide: Sid Draper
Pick 6 – Melbourne: Harry Armstrong
Pick 7 – Richmond: Jagga Smith
Pick 8 – St Kilda: Murphy Reid
Pick 9 – St Kilda: Xavier Lindsay
Pick 10 – Gold Coast (matching a bid): Leo Lombard
