The Crows have a vast number of midfielders whose specialties lie on the inside of contests, but it's the outside where they'd like to boost their depth. The emergence of Riley Knight and Rory Atkins is pleasing, but the poor form of David Mackay only highlights the need to find outside speed. They also need to add players who possess elite skills. Adelaide's disposal efficiency has been amongst the lowest in the competition this season and while coaching can help improve the side, natural skill is needed. Key stocks are another area requiring improvement, but given the club's recent 2013 draft sanctions it's unlikely the club would give up early picks. - Harry Thring
First selection: Pick 11-14
Cal Twomey says: Having lost some key forwards in recent seasons and added tall defender Jake Lever through last year's draft, the Crows might look to boost their forward line. Harry McKay would be an obvious target at about their draft range, as would Sam Weideman, while Charlie Curnow would have to be considered if he was still available.
When you finish on the bottom, your list needs plenty of work, and although the Lions aren't quite on life support, they've got a few holes to fill. They're crying out for a quality tall forward, and with the odds of that coming through the trade period now diminishing, they might have to turn to the draft. Contested ball has been horrible the past two years, so another ball-winning midfielder would be handy, as would some quality ball users through the midfield and off half-back. The Lions are traditionally active during the trade and free agency period and with the likely losses of James Aish and Matthew Leuenberger, could command first round draft picks as compensation. They'll be keen to lock in academy players Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood and continuing to rebuild through the draft. - Michael Whiting
First selection: Pick 1-2
Cal Twomey says: The Lions have a choice to make between key forward Josh Schache and key defender Jacob Weitering with the first selection in the draft, and either would be a great fit for them. Given their desperate need for a key forward, Schache's brilliant season and his links to the club, he would be very difficult to pass on. Schache would start what looms as a good draft for the Lions with access to two highly-rated academy players – midfielder Ben Keays and tall forward/defender Eric Hipwood.
This list is in dire need of renovation – a key defender, key forward, classy small forward, line-breakers, at least one ruckman (depending on whether Matthew Kreuzer stays) and a few young leaders. Last year Carlton traded its first round pick to GWS for Kristian Jaksch and Mark Whiley but the list management strategy under club legend Stephen Silvagni will be different. The Blues will be looking to improve their stocks by loading up with first-round and early second-round picks. To do that they must make calls on several players, the most notable being Chris Yarran. Lachie Henderson is leaving, probably to Geelong, and the Blues are looking for a first-round selection. Tom Bell may want to return home to Queensland and doubt surrounds the futures of Troy Menzel and the out-of-contract Kreuzer. - Howard Kotton
First selection: Pick 1-3
Cal Twomey says: At pick No.2, the Blues seem likely to wait and see who the Lions don't take out of Josh Schache and Jacob Weitering and then swoop on who's left. Weitering would be a perfect option if it went that way: he's a leader already, could be the face of the club for a long time and would settle into the Carlton defence from round one next year.
Will the Blues use Tom Bell as a carrot to tempt a player from Queensland to go south? Picture: AFL Media
If they land Adam Treloar (Greater Western Sydney) and/or James Aish (Brisbane Lions) during the trade period - which would require them to surrender early draft picks - the Pies might simply be along for the ride in the early rounds of this year's draft. In that case they would back their eye for talent and their player development program, given they have enjoyed great success with mid-to-late picks (Dane Swan was selection 58, Tyson Goldsack 63 and Tom Langdon 65) and rookies (Alan Toovey, Marley Williams, Jarryd Blair, Brent Macaffer, Adam Oxley and Jarrod Witts). The Pies are reasonably well stocked for talls at either end but, as the mooted Treloar/Aish combination suggests, are keen to boost their midfield depth to take the heat off skipper Scott Pendlebury and veteran Dane Swan. - Ben Collins
First selection: Pick 7-10
Cal Twomey says: It will be interesting to see what picks the Magpies still hold by the end of the trade period, given they have been linked so strongly to Adam Treloar, James Aish and others. At the moment their first pick could see them in the mix for young key forward Sam Weideman, who has been injured most of this season but has strong bloodlines with the Pies, where his grandfather Murray is a club legend.
Assessment: The Dockers remain active in the free agency and trade market as they search for quality key position players that can slot into a top-four team. Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands are coming to the end of their careers with only Sandilands confirmed to continue next year. The problem is they have drafted key position players in recent years that are currently still developing. They need to draft more, particularly forwards, but it won't provide a solution to the immediate issue unless they find a gem. They do need to stock up on defenders with Michael Johnson, Paul Duffield and Zac Dawson in the latter stages of their careers. The Dockers drafted a trio of very young midfielders last year so they have enough midfield talent under the age of 25 to allow them to focus elsewhere in this draft. - Alex Malcolm
First selection: Pick 16-19
Cal Twomey says: The Dockers went with classy midfielder Lachie Weller last year when there were some taller prospects around, but could find themselves in a good spot this season to go for a tall back. Kieran Collins is among the best handful of key defenders this year having improved dramatically across the season and in the late teens he might be a good choice.
Geelong is in a transition phase in terms of its list demographic, meaning the upcoming drafts hold greater importance than it might have done during the club's premiership era. The Cats will also be active in the player exchange period, with Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield, Carlton's Lachie Henderson and West Coast's Scott Selwood already among those linked with the club. With so much talent potentially coming in, the Cats will need to consider the type of player they go after in this year's draft. Dangerfield and Selwood are both restricted free agents, giving their existing clubs the option of matching any offer from the Cats. If that happens, Geelong may have to trade to acquire them. But Henderson is under contract, meaning Geelong will likely have to part with either its first-round or second-round draft pick to secure him. – Ben Guthrie
First selection: 7-10
Cal Twomey says: Midfielders might be on the agenda for the Cats, who look set to hold their earliest pick in the draft since taking Joel Selwood in 2006. Local product Rhys Mathieson is seen as a top-10 pick by some clubs and is one of the best ball-winners of the draft. His Vic Country teammate Darcy Tucker had 35 disposals on the weekend and will start his career off half-back before moving up the ground.
It's been a poor year, but the Suns aren't that far away. They have elite key position and midfield talent and with so many injuries this season, have added some nice depth all over the ground. They could really do with a third tall forward that is capable of swinging to the other end of the ground. The Suns are statistically the worst in the league for disposal efficiency – although that has improved markedly since the bye – and could benefit with acquiring more quality ball users. They've generally been quiet during the trade period over their short history, but with Charlie Dixon and Zac Smith out-of-contract and sought after, this could change. - Michael Whiting
First selection: Pick 2-4
Cal Twomey says: Aaron Francis' standout championships for South Australia catapulted him into top-three contention, and although that form has dropped away a little, he's still in the frame. Key forward Charlie Curnow's impressive return from injury in recent weeks has him in contention for the first half a dozen or so picks, while midfielder Darcy Parish might also be in the mix if the Suns want to add to their stocks there.
If Charlie Dixon doesn't sign, he could provide draft leverage for the Suns in November. Picture: AFL Media
The Giants' list is stacked with talent in most areas but they need a ruckman to compliment Shane Mumford, who missed most of this year after ankle surgery. The 2012 premiership Swan will turn 30 next year and GWS did well at times early in the season using James Stewart and Adam Tomlinson as backups but they're more suited to a key position. The problem is that no ruckman in this year's draft would be physically ready to take on a role in 2016, so if star midfielder Adam Treloar leaves the club, as is expected, then the Giants might be able to get a big man in that trade period rather than the draft. A genuine small forward will also be on coach Leon Cameron's wish list. - Adam Curley
First selection: Pick 8-11
Cal Twomey says: The Giants should already have a clear idea of how their draft night will roll out, given they have first access to two of the best midfielders available – Jacob Hopper and Matthew Kennedy – via their academy. The pair is likely to attract bids in the first 10 picks, which will push the Giants' remaining picks to the end of the draft when they match them.
The Hawks are a hard club to predict ahead of the player exchange period. In the past two years, they have traded down in the draft to bring in readymade senior players Brian Lake and Ben McEvoy, and both played important roles in the premiership wins that followed. James Frawley might yet be the same in 2015. Hawthorn has a great list, but it is ageing, so expect it to continue to be active at the trade table in the next few years as it looks to replace a bunch of A-Graders with other senior players. In terms of the draft, they might look to bring in another tall forward if, as seems likely, David Hale retires at the end of the season. - Ashley Browne
First selection: Pick 16-19
Cal Twomey says: Half-back Riley Bonner has had a really strong season for South Australia and at club level, and carries some traits that have been synonymous with the Hawks in recent seasons: he's a tall, half-back flanker with a raking left-foot kick. Think Grant Birchall. Some clubs have him placed in the mid-teens, so he could be a good choice for the Hawks with their pick around that mark.
An A-grade midfielder is on the Demons' wish list. They may spring a surprise in that department - as the Brisbane Lions did last season in snaring Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen - but there has been no sign as yet whom they might target. The Demons' best option is to keep going to the draft if a quality youngster doesn't become available on the trade table, using a selection between four or six to draft a quality young midfielder. The Demons would be likely target a rookie ruckman depending on what happens to Mark Jamar, while key forward Jesse Hogan needs support. The Demons have missed out on Adelaide forward Tom Lynch, who re-signed with the Crows on Tuesday, but their emphasis should be on young talent to build a new generation that grows together. - Peter Ryan
First selection: Pick 4-6
Cal Twomey says: The Dees will get access to another high-quality player with a pick in the first five. They'll have to wait and see what gets through, though, with midfielder Darcy Parish a chance to be available. He would complement the onball mix they're building with Angus Brayshaw and Christian Petracca early picks last year. Aaron Francis, Charlie Curnow, Sam Weideman and Harley Balic might all be around that range of the draft.
- Peter Ryan
The Roos appear to have two main list holes to address: a key forward to eventually replace Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite; and outside run and class given Brent Harvey, Daniel Wells and Nick Dal Santo are fast nearing the end of their careers. North seems to have missed out on its No.1 trade target, Greater Western Sydney on-baller Adam Treloar, but is believed to lead the race to lure out-of-contract Bomber swingman Jake Carlisle away from Tullamarine. Acquiring Carlisle could allow the Roos to use fellow talls Robbie Tarrant and Lachlan Hansen more flexibly. North has been active in the free agency market in the past two seasons but has not been strongly linked to any of the remaining players in this year's pool. Out-of-favour forward Aaron Black and support ruckman Dan Currie are two Roos who could request trades in the hope of more senior opportunities at a new club. - Nick Bowen
First selection: Pick 11-14
Cal Twomey says: One of the best things about Harley Balic is he can play in three different parts of the ground: as a half-back, midfielder and half-forward. That creativity and competitiveness would suit North well if Balic was still available at the Roos' first pick. He's got some star quality, and no team has too much of that. Riley Bonner's form off half-back and Jade Gresham's skill in the midfield also warrant discussion.
Harley Balic looks a perfect fit for the Roos' requirements at the draft. Picture: AFL Media
With speculation mounting that Jay Schulz will join Fremantle in October, the Power will want to add a key forward to its squad. The man widely tipped to fill that void is Gold Coast's Charlie Dixon – although his arrival could cause a few headaches in terms of how coach Ken Hinkley handles the balance of Dixon, Patrick Ryder and Matthew Lobbe. Hinkley has flagged a desire to add strong, inside midfielders to his side but would have been pleased by the emergence of Brendon Ah Chee late in the season. Set to finish just outside the top eight the Power could receive a top-10 pick, which might be needed to secure Dixon. Overall the club still has a relatively young, balanced list and drastic changes or needs aren't overly apparent. - Harry Thring
First selection: Pick 9-12
Cal Twomey says: If there's any benefit to dropping down the ladder like Port did this year it is in securing an earlier first-round pick. Sam Weideman and Harry McKay would be the clear candidates if the Power wants to add a young and developing tall forward to its list, but South Australian half-forward Wayne Milera has put together some great form at SANFL level recently. He might end up a top-10 pick.
The Tigers have kept their first round selections recently and have used them well to recruit the likes of Dustin Martin, Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin, Ben Lennon and Corey Ellis, but if they want to get serious this trade period and actually land a big player, their best pick just might have to go on the table. The Tigers, who were unable to pull off trades for preferred targets David Armitage and Jack Trengove last year, are eying Adam Treloar, Chris Yarran and Steven Motlop, and may need to dangle a carrot in the form of their first draft pick in order to stock up their areas of deficiency – speed, skill off half-back and potentially a small forward – with an experienced player.
- Jennifer Phelan
First selection: Pick 13-15
Cal Twomey says: Richmond's list is in pretty good shape, evidenced by its strong season. The Tigers have been linked to a number of out-of-contract players, but if they keep their first pick, a hard and tough ball-winner like Josh Dunkley might be in their mix if he chooses not to head to the Sydney Swans as a father-son. He's spending a lot of time at the club and has played with its VFL team in the second half of the season.
Assessment: After investing in elite tall talent last year, the Saints are set on bolstering their midfield depth with their premium picks. The list is stocked with inside ball-winners, so list manager Tony Elshaug will primarily be monitoring classy ball-users with the club's first two picks. In key positions the Saints would be more inclined to select tall defenders to join Hugh Goddard with later selections. The club has previously indicated it wouldn't entertain experienced free agents until 2016, but pro-scout Wayne Hughes has been monitoring all AFL lists this season in preparation for the trade period. If an opportunity arose to lure a premium young talent to the club, the Saints would have the salary cap space to pounce given they have underpaid their list for two straight seasons. GWS midfielder Josh Kelly is an example of a young talent the Saints would trade for if a deal could be struck. – Nathan Schmook
First selection: Pick 5-6
Cal Twomey says: Pick six is an interesting spot in this year's draft given the first five or so names appear standouts and the next batch is pretty even. The Saints have spoken about getting a tall midfielder in, but everyone wants one of them. Could Charlie Curnow become that in time? They could go for another tall forward in Sam Weideman after picking Paddy McCartin last year, while small forward Callum Ah Chee's skill and class would appeal.
Callum Ah Chee's class may tempt the Saints to take him early in the draft. Picture: AFL Media
The Swans' midfield is full of stars but not many of them have great leg speed, so pacy runners should be a big focus for them in the draft. The AFL's trade restrictions mean they're unlikely to be involved in any significant moves in the exchange period, unless they go down the path of targeting fringe players at other clubs who can come to Sydney for regular senior footy, as the Swans did with the likes of Josh Kennedy, Ted Richards and Ben McGlynn. Having being banned from the 2014 trade altogether, the Swans list isn't as deep as they'd like, so they'll be focused on snaring the best of their academy stars and young talent from around the country this year. - Adam Curley
First selection: Pick 16 - 19
Cal Twomey says: Callum Mills has only played two games this season as he battled shin and foot injuries, but the competitive midfielder will still be an early draft pick this year for the Swans. A top-five bid seems likely for Mills, who is attached to the Swans via their zone academy. It will mean some of the club's other picks will shift to the back of the draft, but Mills is worth whatever they have to pay.
Assessment: The Eagles were focussed on building and developing talent at the start of this season but their rise to premiership contention might have them adjusting their plans slightly. While they will still draft the best available players, they will also quietly look at what kind of midfield polish they can add to their squad via free agency or trade, but they have rarely been reckless when it comes to trading picks away. Midfielders with speed and good foot skills will be a key focus at the draft. The Eagles could look at potentially drafting a key forward with a really long-term view in mind if they are prepared to back their development in. They have depth all over the ground which has been tested due to a significant injury toll this year, and the list remains relatively young with Matt Priddis the only player over 30. - Alex Malcolm
First selection: Pick 16-19
Cal Twomey says: The Eagles have most bases covered, so don't really head to the draft with a specific area in mind to bolster. Another young small forward would be handy, and although it's unlikely Callum Ah Chee might still be available in the mid-teens. More midfield depth is most likely, while Tom Cole could be an option as well late in the first round. Cole has had a solid year as an on-baller who can switch forward.
The Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple is on the record as saying they're on the hunt for versatile ruck/forward. That player may arrive in the form of Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer as a restricted free agent. The key defensive stocks could also do with some reinforcement and the Dogs have been linked to Jake Carlisle, a player who would cost them at least their first draft pick. The Dogs look set to add a sixth father/son recruit with Northern Knights midfielder Darcy MacPherson likely to land at the Whitten Oval for a late pick. A young, developing ruckman wouldn't go astray either. - Ryan Davidson
First selection: Pick 11-19
Cal Twomey says: The Dogs have spoken about chasing a forward/ruckman, so 200cm Gippsland Power goalkicker Harry McKay would be a frontrunner if he is still on the board at the club's selection. If he's not, his identical twin brother Ben won't be selected too far behind and he kicked four goals on the weekend. None of the pure rucks are good enough to be first-round picks, so although that area of the list needs some depth they won't find it early at November's draft.
Harry McKay could be the extra tall goalkicker the Bulldogs require. Picture: AFL Media
