Is it unfair on North Melbourne that arguably the best player in the draft has been unavailable to them three years in a row or is it simply the swings and roundabouts of the draft system?
In 2020, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was tied to the Western Bulldogs via their Academy – the Roos had pick three and likely missed out on either Ugle-Hagan or Riley Thilthorpe depending on the Crows’ decision.
Last year, they were always likely selecting Jason Horne-Francis, but had no ability to even pursue Nick Daicos, given his status as a Collingwood father-son.
Daicos has had a generational debut season with the Magpies, averaging 26 disposals per game, while Ugle-Hagan has begun to emerge as a key forward for the Dogs.
Compounding this, the top pick in the 2022 National Draft will likely be Will Ashcroft – a Brisbane father-son prospect.
Given the Roos are on the bottom of the ladder and stuck in a deep rebuild, have they unfairly missed out on the top talent available?
AFL draft expert Callum Twomey believes most clubs see the father-son rules as swings and roundabouts and every team will have their chance.
“I think it’s luck of the draw. Clubs will get different opportunities at different stages through father-son and Academy picks,” Twomey told SEN SA Breakfast.
“North Melbourne got Luke McDonald a little while ago and then Tarryn Thomas was the earliest next generation bid a few years ago, so swings and roundabouts to a degree.
“The timing for North Melbourne is obviously a bit different being back to back years.
“Last year they didn’t really have access to Nick Daicos, I know they didn’t bid on him, but they didn’t have access to him and this year Will Ashcroft is the number one player at this point.
“His other challenger has been George Wardlaw and if they both played all year it would’ve been interesting to see how close they would’ve been because Wardlaw has missed six or seven weeks with hamstring injuries, he missed some footy at the start of the year with illness as well.
“Overall I don’t think the clubs have a huge opposition to the father-son rule. I think they see that mainly it can just be luck of the draw and see what comes through.”
North Melbourne currently sits 18th and will hold pick one, but West Coast could still move into that spot if they suffer big losses to Fremantle and Geelong in the final fortnight.
Twomey is bullish on Ashcroft, believing he could be playing senior footy for the Lions this season.
“He’s Sam Walsh. That type of player. He’s relentless with his running, he’s added some burst this year which I think has made him really difficult to stop,” Twomey said.
“He’s so consistent, he averages 35 touches in the NAB League, watched him have 38 on the weekend for the Sandringham Dragons, he just does it every single week.
“He’s starting to get a bit more attention too. I think he’s going to make a difference for Brisbane from day one.
“If he was thrown into that midfield (now) he’d make a difference as well. He’ll be playing a lot of footy next year.”