After much waiting the day has arrived – the 2018 AFL Draft begins tonight at Marvel Stadium. Join The Roar for a live blog of every pick and every player selected on Day 1, starting from 7pm AEDT.
Unlike previous years where the entire draft has taken place over the course of a single evening, the 2018 edition will be split over two days as the introduction of live trading will require more time between selections.
The AFL has confirmed that there will be five minutes between picks in the first round, and it’s likely that clubs will have the same amount of time between their selections in the second round and later.
Only the first round will be picked tonight, starting with Carlton at pick 1.
Expert opinion is widely unanimous on how the first eight or so picks will go with the Blues seemingly a certainty to select Sam Walsh at No.1.
Gold Coast are then tipped to pick South Australian duo Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine with picks two and three, before St Kilda are expected to round out an awesome foursome with Max King.
Port are heavily tipped to pick up a local boy in Conor Rozee at pick 5 before the Suns have another crack with pick 6, and all the talk is that they’ll go with Ben King.
Bailey Smith is then likely to join the Western Bulldogs at pick 7 and Jye Caldwell at pick 8.
It’s a strong chance also that we’ll see a bid for Nick Blakey and possibly also one for Tarryn Thomas at some point in that mix, they’ll join Sydney and North Melbourne respectively.
Of course, following the introduction of live trading this year, there are certainly no guarantees about which clubs will pick who or even what order they’ll do it in.
We could be in for a long one tonight with news today that an AFL ‘dress rehearsal’ for the new draft yesterday turned into something of a debacle following some tech failures.
What are the odds that the AFL has waved a magic wand and fixed everything in the space of 24 hours? One would think pretty low, but we’ll have our fingers crossed.
Join The Roar for a live blog of every pick and every player selected on Day 1, starting from 7pm AEDT.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Not watching...I'll be reading The Roar's coverage and I'll just project it onto the whiteboard. The boss is a Dockers tragic.
Josh
Expert
That must be about half the population of South Australia right there?
Josh
Expert
Extremely!
Josh
Expert
I wouldn't be surprised if live trading rules somehow get tweaked between now and next year - though not sure exactly how you could prevent it.
Josh
Expert
I'll throw a barbeque for all The Roar's Carlton fans if so.
Josh
Expert
Did seem a bit stiff didn't he? Though those headed to Gold Coast weren't exactly jumping up and down either.
Josh
Expert
Click here for a full wrap of all of tonight's action. Be sure to join me again tomorrow from noon AEDT for the remainder of the draft!
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
What if Adelaide finish last?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Yeah i know what it is. but i won't go into it.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Might not be what you think it is, bud.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
You will be following the draft with your class at the desks.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Hang on, so you a teacher and your class will be watching the draft.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Go coffee house
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Yeah one of my teachers is a big Eagles fan and another is a big Cats fan. But sadly, watching the draft during class would be mission impossible.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We make our kids keep them in their lockers all day. You'll find a compliant teacher, Jordan. We'll all be following it at our desks.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Dunno yet.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Try and convince your teacher to spend the lesson watching the draft ;)
Macca
Roar Rookie
Highlights look good, like him using both feet. Well done SOS
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
You legend. Coffee, brekky then draft while i have Health, Science, Computing, English and Social Studies and that is actually my timetaable for tomorrow. But i am actually looking forward to the rookie draft. I think that is where we will see a lot of mature age players be selected.
Macca
Roar Rookie
If it's a top 4 pick and if it 11. Bird in the hand and all that.