The overlooked prospect who could be the steal of the AFL draft’s second night

Talent expert Mick Ablett has named the prospect he thinks could be the steal of the AFL Draft’s second night.

The first round took place at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, with 27 players picked up.

With a night to consider who is left on the board, Ablett thinks that pick 28 – which is held by Richmond – could be hot property as clubs look to pick up a player that they were surprised was overlooked on night one.

The standout that Ablett thinks should have been picked on night one is Murray Bushrangers tall Jack Whitlock, whose twin brother Matt was coincidentally taken with the final pick of the first round by North Melbourne on Wednesday.

“I think it's the twin brother, I think it's Jack Whitlock,” Ablett told SEN Breakfast.

“You're talking about a 200-centimetre player who's been an elite tall forward in the competition.

“He’s got the capacity to go and pinch hit in the ruck as well and I think he’s got a fantastic football brain.

“I was very, very surprised to see him still on the table, and that's where another club overnight who may have been equally surprised could have been on the phone trying to pinch that first pick in round two off the Tigers.”

Another player who Ablett considers unlucky not to be read out as a first-round pick is Bendigo Pioneers forward Jobe Shanahan, who also represented Essendon in the VFL.

“They can get that pick and get Jack or even potentially Jobe Shanahan - his performance at the under-18 championships was outstanding,” Ablett said.

“I think the phone will have been ringing hot for the Tigers overnight.”

The second night of the 2024 AFL Draft begins at 7 pm (AEDT) at Marvel Stadium on Thursday.