THE SAYING goes, everyone has a plan until another club swoops in and picks the player you wanted. Or something like that. While targets have been firmly locked in for all 18 clubs, fans and experts alike have other ideas of what a successful intake looks like. Having scouted the 2024 crop over the span of several seasons, we identify who we think to be the ideal first target for each side.

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EACH CLUB’S IDEAL FIRST PICK

Adelaide: Pick 4 – Sid Draper (South Adelaide/South Australia)

It just makes sense. The Crows have been crying out for a point of difference in their midfield and Draper offers the line-breaking speed to make them a more dynamic unit. The generally one-paced engine room would greatly benefit from Draper’s polish and drive, and he is a readymade proposition having played senior footy for two seasons. What’s more, he’s a local boy and Adelaide supporter.

Brisbane: Matched Bid – Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)

This one’s easy. Ashcroft is considered by some to be the top prospect in the draft pool and it’s almost laughable that Brisbane is likely to match a bid all the way back at pick five – akin to the Nick Daicos pick four farce. The midfielder boasts high level footy IQ and a winning mentality. Perhaps an edge he has over brother Will is his ability to go forward and kick big goals, which will aid his quest for an early debut.

Carlton: Pick 3 – Sid Draper (South Adelaide/South Australia)

It’s no wonder Carlton wanted to get into this part of the draft given the amount of unique midfield talent available. What Draper offers is speed and that’s something the Blues need in an on-ball group which is largely comprised of slower, bigger bodies who thrive on contested ball. Draper’s readymade nature makes him a good fit for Carlton’s contendership window – he’ll be ready to go. Jagga Smith would be the other natural choice, and he’s arguably a better player, but is perhaps too similar to Sam Walsh.

Collingwood: Pick 52 – Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)

Collingwood is not exactly blessed with choice as the club which holds the latest opening pick. Fans have been lobbying hard for a key forward and there may be a few available in this range, which will improve after earlier bids. That being the case, if Mraz can slip through he’d be a good choice. He has slid under the radar after missing most of the year through injury (navicular), but offers great versatility as a tall with experience in every key position post, and a strong running base to boot.

Essendon: Matched Bid – Isaac Kako (Essendon/Vic Metro)

Much like Brisbane and Ashcroft, Essendon and Kako are the perfect pairing. The Bombers traded out of pick nine in anticipation of matching an early bid for their Next Generation Academy star, and he conveniently fits a glaring list need. Lacking a genuine crumbing forward with pace and goal sense, Essendon will land one out of its own backyard keen to don the sash.

Fremantle: Pick 14 – Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)

As flagged in the Rookie Me Central Phantom Draft, Fremantle has some solid “foot soldiers” in the small forward department but could certainly do worse than to add a bit of genuine speed, flair and class. Berry offers all of that and is a reliable goalkicker each week, perhaps allowing new recruit Shai Bolton to spend more time on-ball and covering the loss of Lachie Schultz a couple of years back.

Geelong: Pick 45 – Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)

Much like Collingwood, Geelong doesn’t currently hold a pick in the first two rounds. The Cats could hold out and see their position improve slightly after bids, but getting active to trade up and secure ruck Alex Dodson is a move which is gaining traction. If not, Burmeister is a highly athletic ruck-forward who can provide long-term depth in both roles. Geelong will soon need a key forward to step up and has long had question marks over its ruck department, so could do worse than to target a split of both.

Gold Coast: Matched Bid – Leo Lombard (Suns Academy/Queensland)

Joining Brisbane and Essendon in matching a bid for its first selection, Gold Coast will gladly welcome another Academy gun to the fold. Lombard is already well embedded in the club having played in the Suns’ 2023 VFL premiership and long been an Academy standout. His combativeness will put him in good stead and knowing the Suns’ system helps. Watch for him to potentially spend a good amount of time up forward before getting a greater run on-ball.

GWS: Pick 15 – Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)

Greater Western Sydney has a type of sorts, often targeting athletic and versatile prospects with high upside. Hotton fits that description and will likely be available in the back half of the first round. His athletic profile is terrific, boasting elite speed, agility, and an exciting leap, but he can play too. In a few years, we may look back at this pick as a steal given Hotton was on track to be a top 10 prospect before tearing his ACL. The talent is there.

Hawthorn: Pick 33 – Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)

Hawthorn has quickly turned its squad into one which can contend, and having welcomed some much needed key position strength during trade period, perhaps midfield depth will be a target. The Hawks like to move the ball quickly and Moraes offers the kind of running power they require. His versatility is another plus, able to play inside, outside or up forward as he hopes to crack the top level.

Melbourne: Pick 5 – Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)

Having picked for needs previously, Melbourne has been open about targeting the best available talent this time around. Laying claim to a pair of top 10 picks helps. Given what is likely to be taken by pick five, Langford is a good shout to be the top prospect on Melbourne’s board. He would add healthy competition for spots in a stacked starting midfield group and has the double threat of going forward. Some clubs have him pegged as a genuine top three talent.

North Melbourne: Pick 2 – Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)

While executing this selection at pick two would be a stretch, hence the waning link, North Melbourne is clearly well stocked in the midfield department already. That’s why a tall utility like Tauru, renowned for his aerial prowess, would be the perfect fit for. It seems versatile all-rounder Finn O’Sullivan is North’s man, but Tauru would offer a chop out down back and the flexibility to do so up forward. His upside is considerable and other clubs are openly keen on him throughout the top 10.

Port Adelaide: Pick 13 – Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers/NSW-ACT)

A tall is likely in Port Adelaide’s sights with pick 13 and Shanahan would be a shrewd choice if available. It looks like Harry Armstrong may slide to this pick instead, which would be a steal, but Shanahan’s ability to play at both ends of the ground is a handy point of difference. His marking prowess is just about second to none and having three strong VFL performances under his belt means he’s proven relatively ready to go. He could end up the best key forward of the lot.

Richmond: Pick 1 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)

Making early picks in the draft is often about risk management against upside, and Smith is easily the most bankable option available. His consistency throughout the year, no less in the Tigers’ VFL side, would make him a worthy pick one contender in any other draft. Given Richmond’s depth of high-end picks, risks are perhaps more likely to be made, meaning the hurt factor and overall potential of Sam Lalor wins out. Over the course of their careers, that could well change.

St Kilda: Pick 7 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)

St Kilda needs some size in midfield and a player who can put bums in seats. Smillie, who describes himself as somewhat of a “coach’s dream” pick, offers both. The 195cm on-baller is a nimble mover and polished ball user who could develop in any third of the ground. His size makes for sound stoppage craft, but his kicking points towards a potential role down back. Either way, he was once considered the top prospect and could well deliver on that promise down the line. Richmond is the main threat here.

Sydney: Pick 19 – Luke Trainor (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)

Trainor is no certainty to be taken in the first round of the draft but clearly has the talent to be one of the best talls available – if not the best. His ability to intercept and distribute from defence is high class, and he also rates himself as a swingman who can impact up forward. His slide is being attributed to concussion concerns, but Sydney would be shrewd to pounce on him and bolster its key defensive stocks.

West Coast: Pick 12 – Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)

Eagles fans were up in arms when their side traded out of pick three, but some genuine high-end talent may still be available in Reid. A local talent like Bo Allan will likely already be off the board, so perhaps with midfield depth in mind the Victorian would be well suited. He offers class and creative ball use going forward, opposed to the size, power and brute force of some of West Coast’s more recent midfield selections. On pure output in 2024, he’s a genuine top-fiver – that’s hard to ignore.

Western Bulldogs: 17 – Jesse Dattoli (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)

Many links to the Bulldogs’ first selection have Cooper Hynes in their line of sight, but Dattoli seems like a good fit. The Dogs are in need of some flair and running power, and are known to utilise midfielders out on the wing or off half-forward. Dattoli plays all of those positions naturally anyway, so can quickly earn his place in the side wherever required and offer a new scoring avenue beneath an array of exciting talls. Imagine him kicking bags of goals alongside Cody Weightman.