Priority pick to boost Demons

MELBOURNE has qualified for a priority pick before the first round of this year’s NAB AFL National Draft, making it the first club to have the first two picks since St Kilda in 2000.

The Saints chose Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke at No.1 and 2 that year, and the pair now leads St Kilda’s forward line as the club makes a tilt at the premiership nine years on.

The Demons won just four games in 2009, following on from three in 2008 to qualify for the priority draft pick.

Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Tom Scully is widely tipped to be the No.1 pick in this year’s draft, with Melbourne’s other top selection expected to be one of Sturt’s Jack Trengove, Peel Thunder’s Anthony Morabito, John Butcher from Gippsland Power or Gary Rohan from the Geelong Falcons.

West Coast finished with pick seven after a strong finish to the season bumped them down the order. They were expected to come close to qualifying for a priority pick but three wins out of their last five games changed the landscape.

Eagles coach John Worsfold has hinted he will look at trading away his side’s first-round pick if a suitable experienced player is on the market.

Pick seven has been a lucky charm in recent years, providing the last two NAB Rising Star winners Joel Selwood (Geelong) and Rhys Palmer (Fremantle), as well the favourite for this year’s award, Brisbane Lion Daniel Rich.

All draft picks can be traded but the confirmed draft picks from the first three rounds going into trade week are:

First round
1. Melbourne
2. Melbourne
3. Richmond
4. Fremantle
5. North Melbourne
6. Sydney Swans
7. West Coast
8. Port Adelaide
9. Hawthorn

Second round
18. Melbourne
19. Richmond
20. Fremantle
21. North Melbourne
22. Sydney Swans
23. West Coast
24. Port Adelaide
25. Hawthorn

Third round
34. Melbourne
35. Richmond
36. Fremantle
37. North Melbourne
38. Sydney Swans
39. West Coast
40. Port Adelaide
41. Hawthorn