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EARLY BIDS<\/p>\n
It\u2019s only natural that the trickiest aspect surrounding the most compromised AFL draft ever is predicting where the bids on club-tied talent will come.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s becoming clear that the top four players already linked to clubs are likely to be snapped up within the first seven picks.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s expected West Coast (Picks 1 and 2) and Richmond (Picks 3 and 4), between them, will bid on most \u2013 if not all \u2013 of Gold Coast academy duo Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson, Carlton father-son gun Harry Dean and Brisbane academy on-baller Daniel Annable.<\/p>\n
Rival clubs believe the Eagles, who are being widely tipped to take Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler with their first two natural selections, will at least bid on Uwland \u2013 brilliant, left-footed winger with great game sense who\u2019s likened to dual All-Australian Errol Gulden.<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s a chance West Coast also calls Patterson\u2019s name, the industry view is that bid will more likely be left to the Tigers, who like the Suns academy star\u2019s explosive, game-breaking speed and power.<\/p>\n
Petracca traded to Suns for three picks | 02:01<\/p>\n
No matter where the Uwland and Patterson bids come, the Suns will ensure they\u2019re well placed to match both.<\/p>\n
There has been speculation West Coast will bid on Dean \u2013 the son of dual premiership Blue Peter Dean \u2013 as the club has interest in him. If that doesn\u2019t happen, the Tigers will almost certainly attempt to select Dean, who\u2019s widely regarded as the best key defender in this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
Carlton is committed to taking Dean, so the club will ensure it\u2019s well positioned to not only match that bid but also be in a good spot to take NGA prospect Jack Ison later in the draft. The Blues will also have an eye towards stockpiling 2026 picks for father-son gun Cody Walker, who\u2019s already committed to the Blues.<\/p>\n
Annable \u2013 a strong-bodied, well-balanced and courageous on-baller \u2013 will join the reigning premiers Brisbane on Wednesday night. Again, Richmond looms as the most likely Annable bidder \u2013 and if the Tigers do overlook him, Essendon won\u2019t let him slip further.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a school of thought that if Annable was on back-to-back premier Brisbane\u2019s AFL list this year, he\u2019d be a regular member of its line-up. That\u2019s how highly regarded the Lions academy prospect is.<\/p>\n
LATER BIDS<\/p>\n
But this is where it gets a little murkier and uncertain from a bidding perspective.<\/p>\n
To the point where a club could let an academy prospect go to a rival if a bid comes \u2018too early\u2019.<\/p>\n
The Suns, as it stands, hold Picks 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36 and 52. But when the draft officially begins next week, look for the Suns to quickly trade out some of those early picks to bank even more points.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s not just for top-five chances Uwland and Patterson, with three more players in their academy in the mix for late first-round or second-round bids.<\/p>\n
Several rival clubs are big fans of Jai Murray \u2013 a composed, smooth-moving player with great endurance and line-breaking ability. The industry view is Murray\u2019s bid range starts at the Western Bulldogs (Pick 14), with Geelong (Pick 19) and Fremantle (Pick 20) also strongly considering calling his name.<\/p>\n
Jai Murray of Team Sloane. Picture: Daniel Pockett\/AFL Photos\/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s Beau Addinsall \u2013 a reliable and consistent midfielder who stuffed the stats sheet at nearly every level he played at in 2025. Both the Cats and Dockers, again, will consider bidding on the Suns academy midfielder, as will Essendon (if it holds Picks 21, 27 and 30) and North Melbourne (Picks 25 and 26).<\/p>\n
Whether the Suns match an Addinsall bid, however, remains a hot talking point among recruiters. Sources believe if Murray and Addinsall received bids in the same first-round range, Gold Coast would more likely match for Murray than Addinsall. <\/p>\n
Inside midfielder Koby Coulson, another Suns academy prospect, is also tipped to be taken in the national draft, but looms more as a second night proposition. While Gold Coast will clearly wait to see where the Murray and Addinsall bids come, the club is expected to match for Coulson, according to sources.<\/p>\n
Like Gold Coast, Sydney also faces a (good) academy conundrum, with three players set to attract national draft attention.<\/p>\n
The Swans hold Picks 31, 32 and 42 \u2013 but there\u2019s a strong chance their academy prospects receive bids before their selections.<\/p>\n
An exciting 188cm rebounding defender with potential to play in the midfield, Harry Kyle probably sat third or fourth in the Swans academy pecking order at the start of the year. But rival clubs really like the look of Kyle, who now looms as a first-round selection \u2014 and could be the first Swans-linked player to attract a bid on draft night.<\/p>\n
Kyle\u2019s run and dash is a big feature of his game \u2014 and the in-game hunched shoulders have drawn comparisons to Giants star Finn Callaghan. Speaking of the Giants, they\u2019ve been strongly linked to a potential first-round bid on Kyle but Pick 12 could be a touch early. The Western Bulldogs (Picks 14 and 33) and Fremantle (Pick 20) also have interest.<\/p>\n
Lachlan Carmichael at the draft combine. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake\/AFL Photos\/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs, too, have been linked to rebounding defender Lachlan Carmichael \u2013 one of the most bankable prospects of this year\u2019s class \u2014 with one of their first two selections. The Swans would be hoping it\u2019s Pick 33, rather than Pick 14.<\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s Max King, who\u2019s upside at AFL level is enormous but, by his own admission, \u201cnever really reached my potential\u201d during his rollercoaster 2025 campaign. A powerful, freakishly athletic prospect who\u2019s strong overhead and clean at ground level, clubs haven\u2019t forgotten King\u2019s best footy. He\u2019ll attract a national draft bid, but where that comes is tough to pinpoint.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, the Swans \u2013 who parted with three first-round picks during the trade period to acquire Charlie Curnow \u2013 face an anxious wait to see which clubs call Kyle, Carmichael and King\u2019s names, with Carmichael seen by sources as the most acquirable of the trio.<\/p>\n
Four more players in the late first-round to early second-round mix are Jack Ison (Carlton NGA), Adam Sweid (Essendon NGA), Tylah Williams (West Coast NGA) and Kye Fincher (St Kilda NGA).<\/p>\n
Of the quartet, Ison is seen as the most likely night one chance, with again Geelong and Fremantle linked to a potential bid, while it\u2019s unlikely he slides past North Melbourne (Picks 25 and 26). Sweid\u2019s bidding range, too, starts at Fremantle\u2019s selection.<\/p>\n
Small forward Williams for weeks has been tipped to attract a bid on night one of the draft. The Giants (Pick 12) have been linked, as have \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 the Dockers.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a view that Fremantle, depending on which players are still on the board, could launch several bids late on night one, which could see the first round stretch out into the late 20s.<\/p>\n
FIRST-ROUND TRADES<\/p>\n
Due to the unpredictable nature of this year\u2019s draft, clubs are also bracing for a few more first-round trades than usual, especially should some prospects slide down the pecking order on the night.<\/p>\n
Harry Dean of Victoria Country. Picture: Rob Lawson\/AFL PhotosSource: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a big watch on Carlton\u2019s two selections: Picks 9 and 11. Whether those picks change hands, though, depends on where the Harry Dean bid comes.<\/p>\n
For instance, an early West Coast Dean bid would essentially see Carlton\u2019s pair of picks turn into a selection in the 30s. But should Dean slide to a Tigers bid at Pick 6, for example, Picks 9 and 11 for Carlton would instead become one selection in the teens (around Pick 13).<\/p>\n
The Blues will wait until draft night to make a trade call. For they\u2019d want to get out of the pick when the Dean bid comes, rather than when \u2013 or if \u2013 a rival club was ready to move up the board. It\u2019s why trading with the Blues is seen as a potential gamble, for a club could move up the order not knowing whether its preferred player will still be on the board.<\/p>\n
West Coast in recent weeks has been linked to a Blues trade \u2013 which would see the Eagles move up from Pick 13 to 9 \u2013 while Adelaide is said to be prepared to part with its future first-round selection \u2013 which could help the Blues set up to match a Cody Walker 2026 bid \u2013 and get another early pick in a South Australian-heavy 2025 crop.<\/p>\n
The other possible Carlton trade suitor is Essendon, with sources suggesting the Bombers could package up a few selections to acquire a third pick at the pointy end of the draft. However, the Bombers have also been linked to Gold Coast\u2019s first-round selections (Picks 15 and 18).<\/p>\n
TIGER CONUNDRUM<\/p>\n
Which players Richmond selects with its first two picks remains a big talking point among the industry.<\/p>\n
Should West Coast overlook Duff-Tytler, the Tigers would almost certainly pounce with their first natural selection. But the expectation is the Eagles will pair Duff-Tytler with Duursma.<\/p>\n
Three open-pool players are consistently linked with Richmond: Eastern Ranges star pair Xavier Taylor and Sullivan Robey, as well as Oakleigh Chargers speedster Sam Grlj.<\/p>\n
Robey \u2013 a powerful 192cm forward-mid \u2013 is the biggest bolter in an AFL draft since Clayton Oliver 10 years ago. No AFL club had spoken to Robey prior to July this year. Three months later, all 18 had contacted him.<\/p>\n
Sam Grlj at the draft combine. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake\/AFL Photos\/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Taylor is a serious defensive talent who\u2019s rocketed into top-10 calculations over recent months. At 191cm, he\u2019s a genuine hybrid third defender who has the athleticism and versatility to either lock down or intercept while playing on forwards of different sizes.<\/p>\n
Grlj, who\u2019s spoken to 17 of the 18 AFL clubs, is a hybrid midfielder with the appealing combination of speed, power and endurance.<\/p>\n
Opinions from rival clubs vary on what the Tigers will do.<\/p>\n
Some believe Robey would be too good to overlook. If the Tigers didn\u2019t select him, he wouldn\u2019t get past either Essendon or Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Most would be shocked if Richmond overlooked Taylor, who\u2019s seen as a possible long-term replacement for the likes of Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad. But would the Tigers prioritise midfielders at the pointy end of the draft? And would Essendon or even Melbourne have a similar mindset?<\/p>\n
The Tigers arguably don\u2019t have a player with running power and speed like Grlj on their list. But if they don\u2019t pick Grlj, he could slide past several clubs and land somewhere in the middle stages of the first round.<\/p>\n
The only other prospect in the Richmond mix would be South Australian midfielder Sam Cumming, yet it\u2019s more likely he\u2019ll land at one of the Bombers or Demons. Fellow on-baller and statesman Dyson Sharp continues to be heavily linked to Essendon, while sources believe another SA player in Cameron Nairn \u2013 a shrewd 188cm forward and consistent goalkicker with a great tank \u2013 is being considered by Melbourne with one of its top-10 selections.<\/p>\n
Dyson Sharp of South Australia. Picture: Mark Brake\/AFL Photos\/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
If Sharp slips past Melbourne, expect clubs \u2013 especially Adelaide \u2013 to make moves in an attempt to get back into the early stages of the draft.<\/p>\n
Who the Giants select at Pick 12, too, remains a point of intrigue, for many different player \u2018types\u2019 are linked to the club by rivals.<\/p>\n
The most common Giants link is Eastern Ranges defender Oskar Taylor \u2013 the quintessential modern-day attacking half-back player with his speed, left-foot kicking ability, one-on-one strength and defence-first mindset. But forwards like Nairn, Archie Ludowyke and Mitch Marsh are also said to be in their mix, as well as mature-age bolter Latrelle Pickett and West Coast NGA prospect Tylah Williams.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Giants have a reputation for pulling a first-round surprise, taking the likes of Leek Aleer (2021), Phoenix Gothard (2023) and Cody Angove (2024) earlier than most rival clubs expected. <\/p>\n
WIDE DRAFT RANGES<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to get a read on where several prospects will land.<\/p>\n
Central District\u2019s Aidan Schubert roared into first-round calculations after earning the title as the best key forward during a brilliant campaign for South Australia. But his landing spot remains somewhat unclear.<\/p>\n
Essendon (Picks 5 and 6) is likely where his draft range starts, with the Bombers putting a fair bit of work into the South Australian, who\u2019s also been linked to Melbourne (Picks 7 and 8). But both clubs, according to rivals, are also keen to bolster their midfield stocks at this point in the draft.<\/p>\n
So if Schubert is overlooked there, could Adelaide \u2013 looking at life after Taylor Walker \u2013 pounce? There\u2019s a chance Schubert could still be on the board at the Crows\u2019 natural first-rounder (Pick 16), but they have been eyeing off one of Carlton\u2019s first-round picks and could get him if they traded up.<\/p>\n
Aidan Schubert of Central District. Picture: James Elsby\/SANFLSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a scenario, according to sources, where Schubert is still on the board by the time Essendon picks again.<\/p>\n
Eastern Ranges midfielder Ollie Greeves is one of this year\u2019s most polarising prospects, hence his draft range is hard to grasp. Geelong (Pick 19) might be his earliest hope, with the likes of Hawthorn and Essendon other potential landing spots. But there\u2019s just as much chance he slips to the second night of the draft.<\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves \u2013 a real wildcard card prospect who has top-10 talent yet has split scouts all season with his game-to-game consistency. He\u2019s an outside chance to go late on night one with Essendon interested and Hawthorn linked to him, but a slide into night two would also be a possibility, with rivals linking Hibbins-Hargreaves to the Dogs and Tigers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A lengthy first night of the draft looms, with an array of club-tied prospects set to attract bids.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":278887,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[161657,161650,134637,134628,161651,3445,33319,3494,3484,638,3531,93763,64,63,689,55,161652,639,77700,3423,161647,651,93795,33337,1129,3464,19120,7803,161667,161658,1653,3434,3429,3499,161666,147927,120008,161654,127778,147933,161661,3496,3451,3435,3500,51244,42259,161670,161653,15648,3422,2105,2485,30399,9130,1139,2536,161669,161648,91805,3470,161659,3523,83080,93761,111740,3502,7804,18092,3453,33348,147944,161665,161644,17985,161643,3436,677,161668,99980,161664,112751,161660,161662,701,161663,147934,672,2528,3519,1124,85,6750,3424,7200,33309,18394,16702,161655,105269,161649,1133,161656,3482,698,161646,161645,147940,159951],"class_list":["post-278886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-academy-conundrum","tag-academy-duo","tag-academy-midfielder","tag-academy-on-baller","tag-academy-pecking-order","tag-academy-prospect","tag-academy-prospects","tag-academy-star","tag-adam-sweid","tag-afl","tag-aidan-schubert","tag-attacking-half-back-player","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australian-midfielder","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-back-to-back-premier","tag-ben-waterworth","tag-brilliant-campaign","tag-brisbane","tag-brisbane-academy","tag-central-district","tag-charlie-curnow","tag-chelsea-football-club","tag-christian-petracca","tag-clayton-oliver","tag-club-tied-prospects","tag-clubs-call","tag-cody-walker","tag-cooper-duff-tytler","tag-daniel-annable","tag-daniel-pockett","tag-defence-first-mindset","tag-defensive-talent","tag-draft-combine","tag-draft-looms","tag-draft-mail","tag-draft-range","tag-draft-range-starts","tag-dual-premiership","tag-dylan-patterson","tag-eastern-ranges","tag-finn-callaghan","tag-first-round-draft-picks","tag-first-round-picks","tag-first-round-selection","tag-first-round-trades","tag-game-sense","tag-game-to-game-consistency","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-gold-coast","tag-gold-coast-academy","tag-gold-coast-suns","tag-greater-western-sydney-giants","tag-harry-dean","tag-hybrid-midfielder","tag-industry-view","tag-jack-ison","tag-jai-murray","tag-key-calls","tag-key-defender","tag-landing-spot","tag-left-foot-kicking-ability","tag-lions-academy","tag-max-king","tag-melbourne-demons","tag-midfield-stocks","tag-mitch-marsh","tag-national-draft","tag-national-draft-bid","tag-natural-first-rounder","tag-natural-selections","tag-nick-vlastuin","tag-night-proposition","tag-oakleigh-chargers","tag-oceania","tag-open-pool-players","tag-pecking-order","tag-picks-turn","tag-pointy-end","tag-prioritise-midfielders","tag-prospects-slide","tag-queensland","tag-range-starts","tag-real-wildcard-card","tag-richmond-tigers","tag-rival-clubs","tag-sam-cumming","tag-south-australia","tag-sports","tag-start-time","tag-stats-sheet","tag-sydney-swans","tag-talent-news","tag-talking-point","tag-taylor-walker","tag-tiger-conundrum","tag-trade-call","tag-trade-gamble","tag-trade-period","tag-trade-suitor","tag-victoria-country","tag-western-bulldogs","tag-wide-pick-ranges","tag-wide-ranges","tag-wildcard-card-prospect","tag-wildcard-finals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}