PORT ADELAIDE’s General Manager - Football Chris Davies is excited by the prospect of bringing in another three first round draftees, after the club completed a pick swap with Brisbane on Monday morning.
The swap saw Port Adelaide added picks 16, 52, 55 and 72 to its draft collection but give up picks 29 and 71 along with next year’s first round pick.
Davies says it’s an exciting time for the club to add another high-end draft selection this year, considering how compromised next year’s draft is.
“We are rapt to be entering this year’s draft with the potential to get some good young talent on to our list again,” Davies told media at Alberton Oval on Monday afternoon.
“Without a first rounder the following year, you’ve got to look at how you can get back into the first round or we go down the path of free agency - they are the options open to the club.
“Right now, most people in the AFL would suggest that next year’s draft is going to be the most compromised in history.
“It’s something we are going to have to be mindful of. And as I say, getting pick 16 this year is a really exciting outcome.”
The head of football said the example set by last year’s three first round picks - Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma - gives the club confidence to invest in the draft again.
“It certainly does,” Davies said.
“From our perspective, to have Rozee, Butters and Duursma do what they did last year at around about the same picks - outside of Connor - gives us confidence.
“We think one or two of those guys (in this year’s draft) should be able to compete for selection at AFL level straight away.
“You all saw the energy and enthusiasm those guys bring to your club.”
Davies also discussed Port Adelaide’s potential father-son selection Jackson Mead.
“It’s fair to say pick 29 was around the mark where most people would suggest Jackson might be taken,” he said.
“We have wanted to position ourselves in the draft this year to get as many good quality players on our list as we can.
“Jackson is obviously tied to us, so we get the last right of refusal, I guess. Having three picks early in the draft obviously makes it more likely that Jackson is bid on after pick 18.
“It remains to be seen how that plays out on draft night. We will have to make whatever assessments we need to, but now if Jackson is bid after pick 18 then it probably becomes an easier decision for us.”
Following this morning’s pick swap with Brisbane, Port will take selections 12, 16, 18, 52, 55, 66, 67, 68, 72 and 86 into next week’s NAB AFL Draft.
