First-round AFL Phantom Draft: Who your club could pick on night 1Jasper Chellappah
ESPN
Oct 23, 2024One of the most even and deep draft pools ever means phantom drafts are fraught with danger this year. There will be stunning sliders and bolters on both nights, and live trade scenarios will play out as talent falls.
The evenness of this year's crop has seen clubs unwilling to shift out of the first-round frame as clubs including Carlton and Melbourne offer huge packages to get up the order. Watch for Richmond -- who own eight of the top 24 picks -- to move a couple of their later selections into next year's draft. GWS will be listening to offers for their three first-rounders, while Sydney is also a team to watch with their two late firsts.
Clubs including North Melbourne, West Coast and Essendon have signalled their intent to get back into the first-round frame, with the latter anticipating an early bid on Academy star Isaac Kako.
The Tigers hold all the cards, and whatever they do at No. 1 will have immediate flow on effects. It makes the nights of November 20th and 21st so fascinating to watch unfold and clubs will have combinations of trades planned for certain scenarios. ESPN's top two prospects in 2024 are projected to land at picks 5 and 7, such is the balance at the top of clubs' big boards.
With six bids and 28 picks, this is ESPN's first round phantom mock a month out from the 2024 AFL Draft.
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1. Richmond -- Sam LalorGWV Rebels/Vic Country
MID/FWD, 188cm
He wears No. 4 on his back, loves using the fend off and hits the scoreboard from the midfield. Richmond is becoming enamoured with Lalor, and he may be the least likely of the top handful of prospects to be available to them at pick 6. The midfielder's upside is worthy of the top selection. He's a nightmare matchup with his power and aerial ability when swung forward, and the potential is there for him to become the next forward-half game-wrecker capable of the sublime. Lalor edges out Finn O'Sullivan and Jagga Smith for the top spot as it stands.
2. North Melbourne -- Alix Tauru
3. Carlton -- Finn O'Sullivan
4. BID: Brisbane -- Levi Ashcroft
5. Adelaide -- Sid Draper
6. Melbourne -- Harvey Langford
7. Richmond -- Jagga SmithOakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
MID, 181cm
It's a huge coup for the Tigers if Smith is on the board here after considering at the top choice. The local boy turned out impressive performances for their VFL side and had an unbelievably consistent year on-ball, proving to be one of the best CTL accumulators ever. He's fleet of foot, opens the game up for teammates and offers one of the highest floors in the draft pool.
8. BID: Gold Coast -- Leo Lombard
9. St Kilda -- Josh Smillie
10. St Kilda -- Xavier Lindsay
11. Melbourne -- Murphy Reid
12. Richmond -- Tobie TravagliaBendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
DEF/MID, 187cm
Travaglia is unique at the top of the pool, a hard-running halfback with leadership aspirations and bucket loads of competitiveness. It's not only an area of need for the Tigers, but Travaglia suits in the cultural elements that he provides for a rebuild. His flexibility to play across all three levels will appeal for a club effectively restarting with a blank canvas.
13. BID: Essendon -- Isaac Kako
14. Richmond -- Harry ArmstrongSandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
FWD, 195cm
Armstrong finished the season with a bang and is a lot of recruiter's best key forward in the pool. After taking Lalor, Smith and Travaglia, shoring up key position stocks should be a priority for the Tigers. Armstrong's ability to get up the ground, clunk big pack marks and kick accurately for goal is a well-rounded package.
15. West Coast -- Bo Allan
16. Port Adelaide -- Joe Berry
17. Fremantle -- Taj Hotton
18. GWS -- Oli Hannaford
19. GWS -- Jobe Shanahan
20. BID: Brisbane -- Sam Marshall
21. Western Bulldogs -- Cooper Hynes
22. Richmond -- Luke TrainorSandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
DEF, 194cm
Trainor is the slider in this phantom draft, but he shouldn't make it past the Tigers at this point. The intercepting tall was touted as a top 10 pick earlier this season but an inconsistent run due to injury has seen him drop out of that top rung. He's a beautiful aerialist and classy by foot, able to kickstart transition with slicing ball use. The tutelage of Nick Vlastuin may be exactly what Trainor needs.
23. Sydney -- Jack Whitlock
24. Richmond -- Alex DodsonSturt/South Australia
RUC, 203cm
This pick may be moved if a package entices the Tigers, but if not Alex Dodson will appeal as the ruck of the future. The basketball star turned his back on college scholarships and a professional contract to pursue football; he's the top ruck prospect this year and his soft hands and ability to win clearances will eventually translate well to the next level.
25. GWS -- Matt Whitlock
26. Sydney -- Hamish Davis
27. BID: St Kilda -- Adrian Cole
28. Richmond -- Jesse DattoliNorthern Knights/Vic Metro
MID/FWD, 179cm
Dattoli's profile is unique -- he averages a contested mark per game despite his size and is a nightmare one-on-one matchup with his smarts and strength. He's also shown ability on-ball to rack up possessions and hit the scoreboard from the midfield, but despite the package there isn't buzz around him much higher than this spot. The Tigers could trade out here, but the upside swing on Dattoli would be a nice decision.
https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/41946825/afl-first-round-phantom-draft-2024-every-club-pick-richmond-sam-lalor-jagga-smith-finn-osullivan-bolters-sliders-more
