Melbourne are attempting a last-ditch effort to land highly-touted youngster and “game changer” Harley Reid in the 2023 AFL Draft.
The Demons are still determined to make a play for the Victorian-based midfielder, who will likely land at West Coast, which holds pick one.
Despite the 18-year-old confirming he is happy to play anywhere, including interstate at the Eagles, Melbourne are hoping they can move up the order to keep him in Victoria.
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“There was always a glimmer of hope,” Demons recruiting manager Jason Taylor said on Friday.
“If you look over the journey, players like Harley Reid are game changers.”
The 2021 premiers have offered West Coast picks 6, 11, 42 and a future first rounder in exchange for the prized number one selection.
“We’ll have a look at that (pick one). We’ll always look at trying to increase our position up the order and we’ll do that via whatever ways or means we can,” Taylor said.
Meantime, Adelaide are also preparing to go hard at this year’s draft, aiming to move up the order to secure the services of one of the best defenders in the country, Connor O’Sullivan.
Crows recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie admits the pressure is on to make the right call with their three first-round picks.
“There is always pressure and the fact that we’re in a good position with three first rounders, you definitely want to nail those and get them right,” Ogilvie said.
The Crows’ draft strategy is to select the best player available, irrespective of if they play a position they need filled.
They currently hold picks 10, 14 and 20, but are keen to move up the draft order to secure O’Sullivan, who stands at 198cm.
“You look at Joel Selwood when he got to Geelong and they had the most unbelievable midfield and you would’ve said Geelong didn’t need a young midfielder, but it worked out pretty well for the next 15 years,” he said.
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However, Adelaide will keep their options open, knowing that if they reshuffle during the live trade, they may not take O’Sullivan.
“You don’t want to get too locked in to any one player. Connor’s had a terrific year, he’s a great young man,” Ogilvie said.
“We’ve done the work we need to, but I don’t want to get locked in to one specific player, because (if) we move up three spots, we might be out of his range.”
The AFL Draft begins on Monday, November 20 from 7pm (AEDT).