These were noted during the draft. No analysis in the cold light of day, just in-the-moment reactions to Night One of the 2024 AFL Draft.
2024 AFL DRAFT OBSERVATIONS – DAY 1
- Holy. F**k. I cannot believe that North Melbourne panicked and gave up an almost certain top-three selection in 2025 for two picks that’ll end up in the 20s. It was rumoured that North were both looking to trade down and also find a trade partner someone in the middle of the first round, but obviously nothing happened. They then panicked and did this deal with Richmond, who will get another high pick to aid in their rebuild. Key position help is nice, but this was one of the worst picks/trades I’ve ever seen.
- One of the big winners were the Eagles, who managed to move down twice from #3 to #16 over the off season, and still got their talons on Bo Allen, the guy they would have seriously considered at #3 anyway.
- Regarding the second trade, the rumour is the Eagles took advantage that both Port and Fremantle badly wanted Joe Berry and either auctioned the pick off to them or traded with Port to screw over Freo all to gain some extra picks and get Allen anyway. Amazing night for them.
- Also amazing for Brisbane, who got Ashcroft and Marshall later than either of them should have gone.
- Essendon were a big winner and a big loser. Trading out of the first round turned out to be unnecessary, but Kako wasn’t bid on either. Take that for what you will.
- Richmond really threw open this draft with #12 when they took Taj Hotton. Nobody saw that coming and forced quite a few teams to shuffle their boards around.
- St Kilda said they needed midfielders and definitely needed forwards, but took two defenders with their first rounders. I get taking someone to replace Josh Battle, but their deficiencies in 2024 are going to continue for a while yet when you get forward of the back 50.
- The Swans bidding on a player is an annual tradition at this stage. Never change, Sydney.
- The big bolters were Cody Angove and Ned Bowman from GWS and Sydney respectively. Bowman was ranked in the 80s(!?) by Fox Footy, while nobody thought Angove would get close to the first round. It’ll be interesting to see whether either of these two picks make the respective list managers look like geniuses, or quite the opposite.
- The big slider was Harry Armstrong, who I was absolutely shocked fell to #23 to the Tigers. I thought he should have been a top 10 pick, and the first key forward off the board. But nabbing both him and Jonty Faull was an exceptional coup for the Tigers.
- The bigger shockers when it comes to not being picked were Jobe Shanahan and Jack Whitlock, both shouldn’t last too long on Day 2, however.
- On the topic of the Tigers and key forwards, with them taking two tall forwards, I don’t expect them to keep the first pick of the second round. Someone is going to want a key forward, and they’re going to pay up.
- Can we PLEASE make the draft one day again? I get trying to make it a spectacle but splitting it into two nights is dumb. The NBA did it too, and it’s also dumb because there are too few selections. The NFL does it over three days, but they have nearly 300 picks to get through. Come on guys.
