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The AFL’s 2014 National Draft takes place tonight and will see more than 60 young men across the country achieve their dream to play football at the highest level. Join The Roar for every pick live from 6:30PM (AEDT).
For the first time in years there’s a genuine feeling of suspense as to which name will be called out for the No. 1 pick of the 2014 AFL Draft, held by St Kilda.
Big-bodied midfielder Christian Petracca was the frontrunner ever since he claimed the Larke medal as the best-performing player of the U18 National Championships, but it now seems he has been pipped at the post.
It’s now a near certainty that the Saints will select 194cm goalkicker Patrick McCartin with the first pick.
McCartin is rated as the best key forward available in the draft, has kicked 41 goals from his last 13 TAC Cup games, and shapes as a long term replacement for club champion Nick Riewoldt.
Melbourne hold the next two picks in the draft and are set to nab a pair of powerful midfielders in Petracca and Angus Brayshaw, before the Greater Western Sydney Giants take over, holding three of the next four picks.
The Giants’ decisions with picks No. 4, 6 and 7 are set to shape the draft as they choose from a wide variety of talented young footballers.
From there, anything could happen.
203cm ruck-forward Peter Wright is set to be one of the more interesting stories of the draft. Considered a potential No. 1 pick at the start of the year, Wright had an up-and-down season and could now fall to the bottom half of the top ten, or even lower.
Clubs are concerned about where he will play his best football, with most willing to spend a high draft pick on a key forward, but not on a ruckman. It’s not clear where he’ll wind up, but it’s possible someone will be getting a bargain.
It’s not all about who goes in the early picks however, sometimes the late-draft smokeys turn out to the best of the lot. Just ask Brent Harvey (No. 47, 1996), Dane Swan (No. 57, 2001) or James Hird (No. 79, 1990).
One name to remember is Caleb Daniel.
The South Australian is credited with one of the most damaging kicks of the draft, with his ball-use going into forward 50 particularly effective. What’s the catch? He’s just 167cm tall (just over 5 foot, 5 inches), and if drafted will be the shortest player in the AFL by a significant margin.
Another great story yet to play out will be that of Nakia Cockatoo. The Northern Territory U18 Captain missed all but one game in 2014 with a foot injury, but that one game, a best-on-ground performance in the Grand Final curtain raiser, has him set to be drafted in the first round.
West Coast are interested in Cockatoo at pick No. 11, and he’s almost certain not to get past Essendon’s pick at No. 17 if still available.
One last player to keep an eye out for is tall forward Reece McKenzie. The 196cm prospect finished the year with a strong patch of form, including a haul of ten goals in a game late in the year, and has become a social media sensation.
Despite the love he’s getting on Twitter, McKenzie is almost certain to be overlooked in the first 20 picks, and perhaps even for a lot longer than that.
Nothing is set in stone just yet, but in a few short hours it will be. Draft day is here, and it’s better than Christmas.