Every year there is a team that alters the trajectory of the AFL Draft and this year that team is poised to be the GWS Giants, who hold the No.2 pick.
The Giants are in a rare spot where they hold such a high selection but also played finals last year.
They hold the enviable Draft slot due to a trade from 2020 where they acquired Collingwood’s first-rounder, before the Magpies’ horror 2021 season.
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While the No.1 pick is virtually set in stone, with Jason Horne-Francis a near-certainty to go to North Melbourne, the No.2 selection is totally up in the air.
Less than 48 hours out from the AFL Draft, the Giants aren’t prepared to give away their strategy either.
“You always have an idea of who you think might be the one and it’s not until you finish doing everything that you can say you’re settled,” GWS recruiting manager Adrian Caruso told AFL.com.au.
“We don’t make arbitrary bids, we’ve never done it, but bidding is part of the draft.
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“Bidding on a player and knowing you’re not going to get them and then getting the next best player is part of the draft. Everyone’s been in that boat.
“If we think [Sam] Darcy or [Nick] Daicos fit above the player we’re going to draft, then we’ll bid. We don’t play games.”
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming AFL Draft
WHEN IS THE 2021 AFL DRAFT?
The 2021 national draft will be held on Wednesday, November 24 with the picks to get underway from 7pm (AEDT) onwards. It is a two-day event, with the second round to take place on Thursday, November 25.
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH THE AFL DRAFT?
The draft will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, while fans can also stream the draft live on Kayo Sports.
HOW ARE THE DRAFT PICKS ORDERED?
Each of the 18 clubs earn draft picks which are based on the reverse ladder order from the most recently completed AFL season.
Picks can be traded up to a year in advance of the draft, while teams are also available to trade picks with each other during the draft. Picks are also given out as compensation by the AFL for clubs who lose players to free agency.
HOW DOES THE BIDDING SYSTEM WORK?
Clubs who have the first-choice of academy players as well as father-son players have to ‘pay’ draft picks in order to secure them.
Rival clubs reserve the right to bid on any player at any point in time, whereby the player’s nominated club can choose to match the bid in order to draft the player.
If the bid is not matched, then academy or father-son prospects can be snapped up by rival clubs.
WHERE IS THE AFL DRAFT HELD?
Due to COVID-19 implications, the AFL Draft will be a virtual event for the second consecutive year.
The Draft will be centred at the AFL Review Centre (ARC), with all 18 clubs submitting their selections from corporate boxes inside Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Victoria’s top draft prospects will be housed at a private event at the London Tavern, while players from South Australia and Western Australia will watch on from the Adelaide Oval and RAC Arena, respectively.
2021 DRAFT FIRST-ROUND ORDER
1. North Melbourne
2. GWS Giants
3. Gold Coast Suns
4. Adelaide Crows
5. Hawthorn
6. Fremantle
7. Richmond
8. Fremantle
9. St Kilda
10. West Coast
11. Essendon
12. Port Adelaide
13. GWS Giants
14. Brisbane Lions
15. Richmond
16. Sydney Swans
17. Melbourne
18. Brisbane Lions
WHAT PICKS YOUR CLUB OWN
Adelaide: 4, 33, 75, 80
Brisbane: 14, 18, 41, 60, 76, 90
Carlton: 25, 64, 82
Collingwood: 36, 38, 40, 46, 48, 58, 78, 79
Essendon: 11, 51, 56, 87
Fremantle: 6, 8, 19, 61, 69, 84
Geelong: 22, 30, 32, 34, 50, 91
Gold Coast: 3
GWS: 2, 13, 53, 54, 71, 89
Hawthorn: 5, 21, 24, 59, 65, 81
Melbourne: 17, 37, 49, 57, 94
North Melbourne: 1, 20, 42, 47, 72, 77
Port Adelaide: 12, 63, 73, 74, 92
Richmond: 7, 15, 26, 27, 28, 83
St Kilda: 9, 55, 62, 66, 67, 85
Sydney: 16, 31, 39, 70, 88
West Coast: 10, 29, 35, 68, 86
Western Bulldogs: 23, 43, 44, 45, 52, 93
PREDICTED TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS
Jason Horne-Francis (South Adelaide)
Position: Midfield/Forward, Height: 185cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 21/06/03
Horne-Francis has rocketed up the draft board this year on the back of some scintillating performances for both South Adelaide and South Australia. He has earned comparisons to the likes of Michael Voss and Patrick Dangerfield due to his ability to hurt you both inside and out. A certainty to be the first name read out on draft night.
Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers)
Position: Midfield, Height: 183cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 03/01/03
Was widely considered to be the top prospect before being surpassed by Horne-Francis this year. Like Horne-Francis, Daicos can accumulate the ball at will and put up some huge disposal numbers this year. He also possesses the ability to hit the scoreboard and takes the game on with his kicking. Tied to Collingwood as a father-son pick.
Sam Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers)
Position: Forward/Ruck, Height: 205cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 19/07/03
Darcy’s unique blend of size and agility makes him the prototypical big man that all clubs are crying out for in today’s AFL. He has spent time both up forward and in the ruck and has shown himself to be an aerial threat with his marking. The son of ex-Bulldog Luke Darcy, the junior will follow his father’s footsteps into Whitten Oval.
Finn Callaghan (Sandringham Dragons)
Position: Midfield, Height: 191cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 26/04/03
Callaghan is another one who has rocketed up draft boards this year and is likely to now go inside the top three. While he will likely settle in the AFL in the midfielder, Callaghan’s versatility is likely to see him plug any gap his team needs in the early part of his career. He is able to be used as a winger or a half-back as well as in the midfield in stretches.
Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays)
Position: Ruck, Height: 201cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 12/04/03
Andrew is an athletic big man who is able to get around the ground and has good follow-up work for a player of his size. Due to his slender frame, Andrew could potentially start his career as a key position player before graduating into a full-time ruck role. He is a member of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy, but a change in rules means the premiers are unable to bid on him.
EXPERTS’ TOP TEN MOCK & PHANTOM DRAFT PICKS
PICK ONE
Cal Twomey (AFL.com.au): Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Ben Waterworth (Fox Footy): Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Chris Doerre (ESPN): Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Dan Batten (Herald Sun): Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
PICK TWO
Twomey: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs match GWS Giants bid)
Waterworth: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs match GWS Giants bid)
Doerre: Nick Daicos (Collingwood match GWS Giants bid)
Jordan Pinto (HS): Nick Daicos (Collingwood match GWS Giants bid)
PICK THREE
Twomey: Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
Waterworth: Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
Doerre: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs match GWS Giants bid)
Pinto: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs match GWS Giants bid)
PICK FOUR
Twomey: Nick Daicos (Collingwood match Gold Coast Suns bid)
Waterworth: Nick Daicos (Collingwood match Gold Coast Suns bid)
Doerre: Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
Pinto: Josh Rachele (GWS Giants)
PICK FIVE
Twomey: Mac Andrew (Gold Coast)
Waterworth: Mac Andrew (Gold Coast)
Doerre: Josh Ward (Gold Coast)
Batten: Josh Gibcus (Gold Coast)
PICK SIX
Twomey: Josh Rachele (Adelaide Crows)
Waterworth: Josh Rachele (Adelaide Crows)
Doerre: Neil Erasmus (Adelaide Crows)
Batten: Finn Callaghan (Adelaide Crows)
PICK SEVEN
Twomey: Josh Ward (Hawthorn)
Waterworth: Josh Ward (Hawthorn)
Doerre: Matthew Johnson (Hawthorn)
Pinto: Josh Ward (Hawthorn)
PICK EIGHT
Twomey: Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
Waterworth: Ben Hobbs (Fremantle)
Doerre: Mac Andrew (Fremantle)
Batten: Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
PICK NINE
Twomey: Josh Gibcus (Richmond)
Waterworth: Matthew Johnson (Richmond)
Doerre: Leek Alleer (Richmond)
Pinto: Ben Hobbs (Richmond)
PICK TEN
Twomey: Matthew Johnson (Fremantle)
Waterworth: Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
Doerre: Josh Rachele (Fremantle)
Batten: Neil Erasmus (Fremantle)