Will they punt on former Eagle Ben Cousins or will they use the pick on an untried youngster?
The assembled media are preparing themselves for either scenario.
Guiding about a dozen journalists to the conference room, an AFL spokesman remarks: “A lot of people here for 30 seconds.”
It might only be 30 seconds, but it could be the half-a-minute the football world has been looking forward to for more than a year.
There is a bit of a technical glitch 15 minutes before the draft when the phone is disconnected. Mild panic sets in.
Then a couple of minutes delay because a couple of clubs can’t be contacted. God bless technology.
At 10.04 there is a knock on the door. Football operations manager Adrian Anderson needs to have a word with AFL spokesman Patrick Keane. More delays and it looks like the Ben Cousins saga is dragging on just that little bit longer.
The 16 clubs are on the conference call and it is time for a quick roll call in alphabetical order. There is a sense of high school students about to sit an exam. Adelaide takes a while to respond, but every other club responds almost immediately.
The roll call comes to Richmond, the club of the moment. There is a small delay, followed by what sounds like distant giggles before responding with ‘here’.
At 10.14 we kick off proceedings. Melbourne has the first selection and takes Yuendumu youngster Liam Jurrah.
The next few selections don’t surprise anyone. Josh Carr returns to Port Adelaide, Essendon recycles former Crow Hayden Skipworth and Carlton takes former Demon Chris Johnson.
The Brisbane Lions snap up youngster Tom Rockliff and it is time for what we’re all here for.
Richmond’s Craig Cameron reads out “Player 209448, Ben Cousins, Port Melbourne.”
He’s back. Now we wait to see him play.
