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GREATER Western Sydney and Collingwood will shape the first round of next week's NAB AFL Draft, Port Adelaide recruiting manager Geoff Parker believes.
While many club recruiters are unable to agree on who the best player in the draft is, the Giants and Pies' first-round selections could have huge ramifications for their rival clubs further down the draft order.
St Kilda has the first pick, followed by Melbourne with No.2 and No.3 before the Giants (picks 4, 6, 7) and Magpies (pick No.5) take over.
The Giants have been linked to Jarrod Pickett at pick No.4, while it is expected Collingwood is unlikely to draft a tall at pick five because exciting big man Darcy Moore will join the club under the father-son rule at No.9.
If the above scenario occurs, the Giants can take their choice of talls – perhaps Hugh Goddard – at picks six or seven.
However it plays out on November 27, Parker told AFL.com.au the two clubs' actions will prove telling for the rest of the draft.
"I always viewed this draft that it would be a fairly solid group all the way through and it was probably going to have a few more talls at the start, which is rare," Parker said.
"The key to this draft is going to be the picks that GWS and Collingwood have at 4, 5, 6, 7 – that's going to work out where a lot of the other blokes are going to fall.
"GWS have got three (early picks) - they'll pick a blend of types, they won't just pick one type of player, and so that will shape what comes next, what spills out."
With its first pick not until late in the third round (No.57), Parker doesn't have to concern himself with who Port should take early.
Port Adelaide has never had to wait so long for its first selection.
The late start will slightly change the club's strategy on draft night, leading to a greater emphasis on need rather than simply selecting the best player available.
That need has also shifted given the recruitment of Paddy Ryder, who has satisfied what Parker described as a "glaring" demand for another forward/ruck option.
The club remains a little light at half-back though, which could prove an area it targets.
"If you've got early picks, you should just pick who you think is the best player (but) we're going to try and pick the best player that fits what we're looking for," Parker said.
"We're just going to go with kids that are talented in the areas we think we need something.
"To get Paddy in has been a real bonus and has covered that off, it's changed our strategy maybe a fraction, but as I said we'll still keep going along the path of trying to find some depth where we think we need it."
Encouragingly, the club has enjoyed considerable success late in drafts in recent seasons.
Of its current squad, Robbie Gray was drafted at No.55 and Justin Westhoff at No.71 in 2006, Tom Jonas and Kane Mitchell both began their careers on the rookie list, while youngster Sam Colquhoun was secured in the pre-season draft.
Parker said he was confident he could add quality to the Power's squad at the back end of the draft.
