The Melbourne Demons are exploring strategies to secure multiple first-round picks in this year’s AFL Draft. Reports indicate that they are considering offering their earliest selection for 2025 as part of the negotiations. Currently, Melbourne holds Picks 5, 28, 40, 48, 53, and 64 ahead of the draft scheduled for November. Their second-best selection was acquired through a recent trade with Adelaide, which saw premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen join the Crows.
Last year, Melbourne capitalized on their first-round selections, choosing Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup with Picks 7 and 13 during the first night of the 2023 draft. These players have been their only additions from the National Draft, emphasizing the importance of maximizing their picks this year. With a keen eye on securing a selection from Fremantle, the Demons are particularly focused on acquiring one of the Dockers’ three top picks in 2024.
Fremantle currently possesses Picks 10, 11, and 18, having secured these through trades with Collingwood and Port Adelaide during the last trade period. Melbourne is looking to negotiate a deal that would allow them to exchange their 2025 first-round pick for one of these coveted selections. However, Fremantle is also in talks with Richmond regarding a potential acquisition of Shai Bolton, which could complicate matters for the Demons if it requires them to part with multiple first-round picks.
In addition to Fremantle, other clubs are also considering trading their first-round selections during this period. North Melbourne holds Pick 2, West Coast has Pick 3, and GWS is looking to trade their Picks 15, 16, and 21. Brisbane is making their Pick 20 available, aiming to break it down into several later selections to gather draft points for high-priority prospects Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall, who may attract bids in the first round.
Gold Coast is also in a strong position with Picks 6, 13, and 23 as they pursue Academy talent Leonardo Lombard. They are likely to package Pick 6 in a deal for Richmond’s Daniel Rioli, with the Tigers hoping that Pick 13 will also be included. Meanwhile, the Demons are interested in Pick 13 and have offered their 2025 first-round pick to Gold Coast, who are fielding interest from clubs like Collingwood and Carlton for that selection. The competition is heating up, particularly between the Blues and Magpies as they vie for the opportunity to trade with Port Adelaide for defender Dan Houston, with Pick 13 being pivotal in those discussions.
With various clubs looking to bolster their positions, the upcoming trade period is poised to be highly dynamic, and Melbourne’s efforts to navigate these negotiations will be critical in shaping their future in the AFL landscape.