AFL National Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan predicts West Aussie youngster Bo Allan will be right around the mark for West Coast to snatch him up on draft night. 

The AFL National Draft is one week away, with clubs finalising their plan of attack and potential targets for this year’s haul. 

WA’s Bo Allan is widely accepted as Western Australia’s top prospect after strong WAFL and National Under 18s campaigns and testing extremely well in the Draft Combine. 

The versatile midfielder who shares traits with Elliot Yeo is linked to numerous clubs, including West Coast and Fremantle, who have picks 12 and 14 respectively. 

Interstate clubs including St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Melbourne are also considering the Peel premiership player, with picks around the two WA clubs’ first rounders.  

Speaking a week before the draft, Sheehan says Allan should be available for the Eagles to swoop in and pick come next Wednesday. 

“There’s no doubt his performance over the last couple of years warrants that,” he told SportFM. 

“Allan’s just over the 190cm mark, so he’s a lovely size, and can play anywhere, we’ve seen him play there, he can play on the wing, he can play in through the midfield even on the inside down the track. 

“He’s right around that mark I reckon… just maybe outside the top 10 so right in the wheelhouse for the West Coast Eagles. 

“Freo’s there too, so I’d expect that if not taken beforehand. He’s there right for the West Coast Eagles to consider first up, just being ahead of Fremantle in the pecking order. 

“He’s a real talent and had some great moments playing for WA at under 18 level too. Those big moments where the ball’s in dispute and through he’d come in at 100 miles an hour and gather it, and broke the game apart. 

“You like to see those moments, courage, athleticism, the whole works. Even at the Combine he tested very elite as an athlete. He will love the full time environment of the AFL.” 

This year’s draft crop has been praised for its depth and evenness with a new top prospect putting up a strong performance and their hand up to go first every other week. 

With compensation picks, father-son and academy bids to come – including Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane F/S), Leo Lombard (Gold Coast), Isaac Kako (Essendon NGA) the first round is expected to expand by at least four picks.  

With this, Sheehan anticipates another West Aussie may sneak into the first round – Claremont utility Hamish Davies. 

“Bids will mean some of those clubs will use some of their choices back in the thirties, package them up to get enough points to take them early, and that should push the draft out to at least 27 choices on the first night,” he said.

“Hamish Davis is a chance to be taken. He had a wonderful back half of the year too, including his National Championships and playing some good footy at Claremont. 

“He topped it off with the best on ground at the Colts grand final when he dropped back to that level with 30 disposals and very important in that win.

“He’s right around the money for the first night I think.” 

AFL Clubs had until last Friday to finalise their draft hauls ahead of the night, however, pick swapping will reopen up on draft night. 

West Coast controversially traded pick 3 to Carlton for picks 12 and 14 to secure Liam Baker and Matt Owies, which was met with widespread criticism. 

However, Sheehan claims another club may follow suit and trade a top three pick to to get two picks in the teens. 

“North are now considering whether they trade pick two and get a couple in the teens, the same sort of theory, maybe the picks very very early are are about as good as the picks (in the teens). 

“They might be a fraction better, but then the picks in the teens are that good that getting two of those might compensate for one of the earlier picks. Fascinating to see how it unfolds.” 

“The clubs will all look at it differently, but there’s still plenty going around the trade of picks.“

IMAGE: The Herald Sun