Greater Western Sydney will have the first three picks in November’s AFL national draft and five of the first 13 after further boosting their stocks in a trade with Melbourne.
The deal delivered Northern Territory speedster Dominic Barry to the Demons and the right to recruit exciting WA 17-year-old power forward Jesse Hogan, along with draft pick No.20 from the Giants.
Melbourne gave up draft picks No.3 and No.13 in return, still leaving them with No.4, which they have been trying to use to snare Collingwood pair Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham.
The imposing Hogan, already 195cm and 97.4kg, will have to spend next year in the VFL under rules governing the select group of four 17-year-olds the Giants were able to trade away this year and last.
Barry, who was able to be traded by the Giants under their NT zone concession, has been playing with North Ballarat in the TAC Cup under 18 competition.
The Giants, who already had the No.1 draft pick as wooden spooners, picked up the No.2 choice on Monday in a deal which gave Gold Coast the right to draft 17-year-old Jack Martin.
They also gained the No.12 pick from St Kilda as part of a deal to net the Saints 21-year-old key forward Tom Lee.
It means GWS now have picks one, two, three, 12 and 13.
The Giants engineered a similar scenario last year, when they also used recruiting concessions designed to help them gain experienced players from other AFL clubs to instead snare 11 of the first 14 picks in the national draft.
“We are focused on securing the best young talent available to ensure the long-term success of the Giants,” GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni said.
“To have five of the first 13 selections, on top of the 11 first-round picks we had last year, puts us in the position to build on an already exciting young list.”
TC
Guest
Yes, I agree - and other teams have done the reverse (Swans). TC
TC
Guest
Breezy I'm sure it's over the top, but some clubs will whinge about anything if you give them half a chance. TC
Talisman
Guest
There have been plenty of teams in that 'traditional' area who have bought about their own lowly position by lousy draft picks - own goal in other words.
Breezy
Guest
Don't know why they say the death of some traditional clubs. If everything goes according to plan for GWS and GC, all it will mean is that they will dominate for a few years. They will eventually have salary cap problems like every other team, and of course the homesickness factor. Some teams haven't won a flag in the last 50 years, so to them, what difference does it make as to who is dominating.
TC
Guest
The DT says this morning that GWS can just about field a whole team of first round draft picks. Some club officials state this could be the death of some traditional clubs. GCS will have 14 first round draft picks next year on their list, which ain't too shabby. TC
Brewski
Guest
The David Attenborough theory ....... interesting.
TC
Guest
Plenty of ifs. GCS have already lost Josh Caddy. Giants may not hold onto Giles and Patton, which is precisely why the Giants are playing the game of as-many-top-draft-picks-as-we-can-muster. It's like the giant turtles laying hundreds of eggs - only a few will survive - but that enables the species to continue. TC
Breezy
Guest
IAs with the Gold Coast, it's going to be fascinating to see where they are at in 3-5 years. If most of the first round picks live up to their potential, it could be frightening.
TC
Guest
Dominance of two years of high draft picks, to the extent that GWS is about to achieve, is unparalleled in AFL history. Should be interesting. TC
Brett McKay
Expert
Fox Sports News tried to get clever about this yesterday afternoon, using Twitter handles for GWS and Jesse Hogan in their news scroller (which probably doubled as what they sent out on Twitter itself). Except that they used the wrong handle for Jesse Hogan the player, and instead ended up discussing the virtues of Jesse Hogan the journalist, who writes for The Age in Melbourne, and who isn't anywhere near 197cm and 98kg....
Bill Larkin
Guest
Hogan is a ready-made key position forward, and is a very good get. I have family members who work for the Demons and they are delighted how things have worked out so far. Interesting what they will do with pick 4 (and no, the boys will not give me any hints :))