TASMANIA has emerged as a possible host of this year's NAB AFL Draft.
The AFL has yet to announce details on this year's national draft – where it will be held, on what date or if it will run over more than a single night – but it is understood Tasmania has been considered to hold the event.
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The League is also believed to have discussed bringing the draft back to Melbourne for the first time since 2009, while Adelaide has also been raised as a potential host.
An AFL spokesperson said in a statement to AFL.com.au: "The venue for the 2018 NAB AFL draft is yet to be locked in. Currently there are multiple locations being considered."
The draft has been on a national roadshow since first heading to the Gold Coast in 2010, western Sydney in 2011 and then three more years in Queensland.
It shifted to Adelaide for a year in 2015, when technical issues caused confusion throughout the night, before being staged in Sydney the past two years.
The AFL is looking at ways to change its draft event, with the possibility it will run over two days – with the first two rounds to be held on the opening night and the rest of the draft – and potentially the rookie draft – to be staged the following day.
Clubs also believe the League is keen to introduce the ability for live trading of selections during the draft this year.
The AFL has been criticised for overlooking Tasmanian football, with two clubs quitting the state league this year.
There has been only one player drafted from Tasmania the past two years – Hugh Dixon to Fremantle last year.
However, the state will have a home-town hero should it host the draft, with Tarryn Thomas expected to be a top-10 pick at the draft for North Melbourne.
The classy indigenous midfielder is a member of the Kangaroos' Next Generation Academy and starred for Tasmania throughout the under-18 Academy series, when he was named the best player of the carnival.
Midfielder Chayce Jones is also considered a possible top-20 pick, with 13 players picked in the Allies' squad for the division one championships, which start next month.
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Tasmanian gun draft pick Tarryn Thomas joins Cal Twomey and Mitch Cleary. What will the Saints do with their first pick? And the Straw Poll returns as the guys quiz five recruiters on the best key position prospects:
