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I have posted on another thread that I would be open to splitting pick 5 should JT think we can pick up two quality players a bit later in the first round. However with the reported depth of this draft I wanted to look at our chances of trading in or up in the later parts of the first round and early second. Most clubs will be keen to do the same so the price of picks will be expensive. Going by our pick trading last year we don’t seem to mind over paying. We are sitting in a reasonable position to trade- should we want to trade our F1st team will assume it will be a top 10 pick next year giving us an advantage over any team playing finals this year. We also have picks 38,45 and 51 this year which are decent for teams looking for points for F/S and academy picks. Here’s some picks I think could be on the table Lions pick 14- they have F/S in the top 5 Suns picks 13, 20,26,34(also have pick 6) they have academy player coming in and should def be willing to trade those last 3 picks. Essendon pick 28- academy player in mid first round calculations Then there always side deals- should the Swans try to move up they have picks 18&19 and maybe interested in trade one out to improve their hand. Freo could also be willing to part with pick 17(they also have 9&10) to load up for next year when they are rumoured to be in for Chad Warner So as you can see there’s plenty of scope to improve our draft hand this year, fingers crossed we manage to nail it.

Like most years, we are seemingly on the hunt to have a better draft hand this year and have been linked to Gold Coasts pick 13 and Lions pick 20. With FA compo for some players released today, we potentially have other picks to target. However this has also strengthened our rivals hand to upgrade their picks if they decide to do that. GWS now have 15, 16 (perryman) and 21 (Cumming). Saints have picks 7, 8 (battle) Freo have picks 10, 11, 18 Swans have picks 19, 22 We have currently picks 5, 40, 48, 53 and 64. Pick 25 (now 28) was suggested as a possible trade outcome for ANB but Peatling nominating crows perhaps complicates that. We have allegedly already put our future 1st on offer for the Suns pick 13. Can we can get another top 20 pick by moving on our later picks to Brisbane? A draft hand of 5, 13 and 20 would be an amazing outcome in a strong even draft.

Given that #13 is unlikely to make an early contribution to our performance, I wondered about a team built out of ‘depth’. Take out all of the ‘A’ listers and what have we got? How would this team fare? FB: Bowey, Adams, hore HB Rivers, Turner, McVee C Woewodin, Sparrow, Howes HF Billing’s JVR McAdam FF chandler, Petty, sestan foll: Verrall, Laurie, Windsor i/c ; Fullerton , moniz wakefield, tholstrup, schache. To me it looks like it has real potential, a few of the players might be underdone at this stage, but it is a really good side. I reckon it would not be the worst team going around, and shows the depth that we have if you tale our all of the big names. Start adding back: max, Trac, Viney, may, lever, lingers,ANB,Pickett, etc etc and see how good the team can be.

Reading all of the hand wringing about the Demons as we head into 2024 is enough to make me spew. Honestly, can we be as big a basket case as we are being reported as? The demons have huge challenges and massive messaging headwinds just to get to the starting line. Today I got contacted about the Demon draw raffle - I’m in immediately. I might break my oath to never bet on sport and choose dees for top 4, GF and premiers. When you put coal under pressure you make diamonds. We are under pressure now but I remain all in. C’mon Dees, stick it up em all and take the flag!