Intrigue continues as draft day looms
By Matt Burgan
5:34 PM Fri 28 November, 2008
WITH fewer than 24 hours before hundreds of youngsters find out their immediate football fate, this year's top 20 continues to take shape on the eve of Saturday's NAB AFL Draft, to be held at Telstra Dome from 10am.
There have been more twists and turns than a James Bond movie, with the Stephen Hill/Daniel Rich scenario at No.3, complicating the order immensely.
Jack Watts (No.1 Melbourne) and Nicholas Naitanui (No.2 West Coast) look locked in, with Hill now almost certain for Fremantle at No.3.
Now it appears, Essendon will shape the draft.
Michael Hurley, Steele Sidebottom and Daniel Rich are the most likely contenders for the Bombers pick No.5. The hot tip is Hurley or Sidebottom. It will be fascinating to see what eventuates.
From there, No.6 to No.11 will also be intriguing. Where does Daniel Rich fit? Could he land at Carlton at No. 6, or even filter through to Collingwood at No.11?
Chris Yarran (Carlton No.6), Jack Ziebell (Brisbane Lions No.7) and Tyrone Vickery (No.
are now shaping as the most likely scenarios.
North Melbourne is in the position of waiting to see who slides through. It is understood to have Sidebottom as top priority, but will it be Rich if he gets through to the Roos pick No. 9?
Matt Burgans latest top 20 1 MELBOURNE Jack Watts
2 WEST COAST EAGLES Nicholas Naitanui
3 FREMANTLE Stephen Hill
4 PORT ADELAIDE Hamish Hartlett
5 ESSENDON Michael Hurley
6 CARLTON Chris Yarran
7 BRISBANE LIONS Jack Ziebell
8 RICHMOND Tyrone Vickery
9 NORTH MELBOURNE Steele Sidebottom
10 ADELAIDE Jackson Trengove
11 COLLINGWOOD Daniel Rich
12 SYDNEY SWANS Mitchell Brown
13 ST KILDA Tom Lynch
14 WESTERN BULLDOGS Ayce Cordy
15 GEELONG Lewis Johnston
16 HAWTHORN Phil Davis
17 MELBOURNE Sam Blease
18 WEST COAST EAGLES Tom Swift
19 MELBOURNE Ryan Schoenmakers
20 WEST COAST EAGLES David Zaharakis
http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=70395