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GREATER Western Sydney could be set for another haul of academy pick-ups in the early part of the NAB AFL Draft, with versatile defender Isaac Cumming emerging as a top-30 candidate.
Cumming has flown under the radar this year as one of the Giants' group of academy prospects but has steadily risen up the draft board for clubs.
Some recruiters rate him in the early part of the second round, and a bid there would justify the club's decision in the trade period to stock up on later selections for draft points given there are expected to be early bids for academy pair Will Setterfield and Harry Perryman.
The Giants' group of 11 selections – No.2, 15, 37, 39, 45, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60 – equate to 6014 points under the draft value index.
However, the club acquired the second selection in the draft in the hope it can grab a non-academy player with it before a bid comes for Setterfield. Without the 2517 points attached to the No.2 selection, the Giants have 3497.
Setterfield is ranked by some clubs as a top-three player in this year's draft with a bid expected in the opening group of choices. Perryman, another midfielder who can also play off half-back, appears likely to attract a bid in the top 15 selections.
If GWS, for instance, matches bids for Setterfield at No.5 and Perryman at No.12 (totaling 2516 points), they would be left with 981 points to grab Cumming, who some recruiters view as the third-best player in the club's batch of academy prospects this year. The leftover points tally will marginally change as the fluid draft order moves throughout the night.
The remaining points would be enough to secure Cumming if a bid comes in the second round, but may rule out any other bids they want to match without going into a points deficit.
The Giants had three first-round academy picks last year – Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy and Harrison Himmelberg. Their fourth and final choice, Matthew Flynn, was also from their zone.
Cumming, a 183cm prospect from Broken Hill, has good speed and can win his own disposals in defence then provide rebound.
A nice kick (he finished second in the kicking test at the NAB AFL Draft Combine) and efficient by hand, Cumming played under-18s for North Adelaide this year in the SANFL and also got a taste of NEAFL level with Greater Western Sydney.
He was one of eight GWS academy players invited to test at the combine, and the club appears likely to nominate the majority as possible academy picks.
That doesn't necessarily mean they will pick them, however, with the Giants likely to draft five or six players when names are called on November 25 at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
The AFL this year changed rules relating to the 'hidden picks' used by clubs to bank draft points, but the Giants can have an additional three picks due to an allowance given to clubs who traded in future picks in 2015 because when those deals were made the clubs didn't know the rules were set to be altered.
Their selection at No.2 may depend on who Essendon chooses, with Hugh McCluggage and Andrew McGrath the most likely contenders for the first choice. If Essendon chooses McGrath, the Giants could look closely at explosive forward Ben Ainsworth at No.2.
Giants list manager Craig Cameron told AFL.com.au's Road to the Draft podcast earlier this year the club was looking to add to its group of small forwards and Ainsworth has proved himself as a top talent over the past two years.
