AFL Draft expert Mick Ablett believes Sam Lalor is the player Richmond will take at number one, labelling him a ‘potential replacement’ for retired Richmond superstar, Dustin Martin. 

Throughout the year, the top 10 prospects have chopped and changed with new players delivering breakthrough performances and launching their name into that highly sought out top pick spot. 

If you were to ask any draft expert who their top pick was at one point in the year, most would have a differing answer, predicting the likes of Jagga Smith, Finn O’Sullivan, Levi Ashcroft and Sam Lalor could end up at Punt Road through the number one pick.

The AFL community will at last have their answer in a few hours, with many draft experts, including Ablett, unanimously agreeing Lalor’s name will be read first on Wednesday night. 

“He’s a young fella who’s 187cm who’s out of the Greater Western Victorian Rebels,” Ablett told SportFM.

“He looks to be a potential replacement for Dustin Martin in the way he goes about his footy. He’s a real bull on the inside. 

“He’s got beautiful balance and precision by foot and he just finds the gaps in tight and makes the most of his use when he’s got the footy in hand.”  

The strength of at least the first 15 picks is tempting to all AFL clubs, with a variety of midfielders in all shapes and sizes on offer to meet their various needs. 

In the trade period, numerous clubs traded picks to get into that range, but Ablett expects little pick trading will happen in the first part of draft night, with clubs fixated on bringing their targets home given the draft’s competitive nature. 

“It’s such a strong draft and there’s lots of elite talent across the 10 to 15 picks and it will get out to around about 30,” he said.

“The top 10-15 you’re going to have to have some sort of mega deal to break in, particularly for the top 10, then you run the risk of paying overs for that opportunity to get inside the 10. 

“It has a flow on effect in a couple of years of drafting. I don’t think we’ll see too much movement in the top 10, whether you start to see it around the mid teens, late teens, clubs potentially willing to give up one of those selections. 

“I would imagine the clubs selecting in the top 10-15 will take the opportunity considering the strength of this year’s draft and really go after the players they want.” 

WA top prospect Bo Allan was the only Western Australian to receive an invitation to the first night of the draft, flying out to Melbourne on Tuesday. 

He is expected to go between picks 10 and 15, with West Coast holding a pick within that range. West Coast holds pick 12 and 26, meanwhile Fremantle has one selection at 14. 

However, the Peel midfielder has been linked to Richmond, Melbourne and St Kilda and is not expected to slip through to either West Australian club.

With Allan possibly off the table, Ablett shared his predictions as to which players may find a new home in WA by the end of the night. 

“I think both clubs are in the mix for Joe Berry, he’s one that certainly I know got keen interest from both West Coast and Fremantle,” he said. 

“He’s a loose small forward, he’s absolutely surgical in the way he goes about it, he just picks them apart. He’s got a lot to offer, he averages a couple of goals per game in the under 18s.

“West Coast have also got an interest in Murphy Reid. He’s a creator, he’s got a footy IQ that is absolutely off the charts and he just seems to find an opening like no other player in the draft.

“Xavier Lindsay potentially gets through to Freo and West Coast, him obviously being on the radar, somebody that’s got very good leg speed. He won the Morris Medal in the Coates league this year and he’s a beautiful left footed user who could come off the halfback for either side.” 

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