OVER the past few weeks, Draft Central launched its brand new series of pocket podcasts, a collection of short-form discussions which narrow in on a range of topics heading into the 2020 AFL Draft. In the next edition, Chief Editor Peter Williams again sat down with AFL Draft Editor Michael Alvaro, this time to take an early look at how the top 10 may pan out at this year’s AFL Draft. As is the nature of the rumour mill around this time of year, the likely direction of the pointy end has already changed since recording, with clubs within the top five showing greater interest in specific players and shaping the later picks. There is also the factor of potential live trading, which could see the likes of Essendon and Collingwood push to enter the top five and shake up the order even further. Nonetheless, we had a crack at drafting the top 10 as we saw fit, following the draft order as of November 18. To listen to the discussion in full, click here. Below is the top 10 selected in the podcast, and an adjusted version made after our 2020 AFL Draft whispers piece.

Podcast Top 10:

1. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – Western Bulldogs (Adelaide bid matched) 2. Logan McDonald – Adelaide 3. Elijah Hollands – North Melbourne 4. Denver Grainger-Barras – Sydney 5. Riley Thilthorpe – Hawthorn 6. Will Phillips – Gold Coast Suns 7. Braeden Campbell – Sydney (Essendon bid matched) 8. Lachlan Jones – Port Adelaide (Essendon bid matched) 9. Zach Reid – Essendon 10. Archie Perkins – Essendon

Updates: Among the changes we would already make, Adelaide may well opt to maintain the number one pick status and take a player they actually have access to – ie. not Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. That makes Logan McDonald the number one, and North Melbourne or Sydney the team to place a bid on Ugle-Hagan. The Bulldogs would undoubtedly match, leaving North to likely take Elijah Hollands, while Sydney may have eyes on Will Phillips or Denver Grainger-Barras. Gold Coast is said to be eying an inside midfielder so if Phillips is off the board, Tanner Bruhn comes into consideration. Essendon’s consecutive picks, which may not be held on to, could yield academy bids for the likes of Braeden Campbell and Lachlan Jones, as well as Reef McInnes if the Bombers are really keen on that inside midfielder. Given Collingwood would perhaps think twice about matching a top 10 pick for McInnes, Archie Perkins could be the Bombers’ man, with Riley Thilthorpe a chance to slide and Zach Reid another tall in the mix. The likes of Heath Chapman, Oliver Henry, and Nikolas Cox are others in the top 10 frame as it stands.

>> Power Rankings: November Update

Past Episodes:

The best AFL Draft hands Best readymade prospects Best players under 175cm Best midfielders over 190cm Logan McDonald vs. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Best academy and father-son hauls Brayden Cook vs. Conor Stone Key defenders kicking comparison Offence from defence Denver Grainger-Barras vs. Heath Chapman The top non-aligned midfielders