Former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell believes Adelaide will attempt to trade for pick one in this year’s National Draft.
With Victorian prospects Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy already locked to Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs respectively as father-sons, it’s widely expected that South Australian youngster Jason Horne-Francis will be the first live pick in November’s draft.
With the Kangaroos locked into the first pick as wooden spooners, Rendell believes Adelaide will attempt to get their hands on the selection to draft the home-grown product.
He explained what it may cost the Crows to make a deal on SEN’s FootySA.
“He (Horne-Francis) will be the first live pick,” Rendell said.
“He’s played senior footy for South Adelaide for two years and been great.
“Those three (Daicos, Darcy and Horne-Francis) are clearly in front of everyone else.
“I would suspect North would want to pick him.
“If North Melbourne win today, and the Crows have pick two then Adelaide would be thinking, ‘How can we do a deal with North to get pick one?’.
“To get the local, home-grown product, that’ll cost a hefty price if North agree to it.
“It might cost them their first pick in the draft next year on top of this years.
“He’s such a good player and such a vital player in this draft that everyone would take him as the first pick after Daicos and Darcy.”
With Horne-Francis head and shoulders above most of the remaining draft class, Rendell believes the Crows may need to even offer an established player to get the deal done.
“It might be a player to throw in as well,” Rendell explained.
“But they wouldn’t have any captain obvious’ that North would want back
“The only one I can think of is maybe someone like Chayce Jones, but Adelaide wouldn’t want to give him up as he’s had a great year.
“North would look at him and go he’s perfect for us to run out of defence with his pace and kicking ability.
“This is a massive watch for Crows and North supporters to see the manoeuvrings that might happen.”
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