IF CLUBS pull the trigger and trade future draft picks this year they run the risk of missing out on an elite crop of midfielders in 2016.
The AFL Commission ticked-off future trading this week, giving clubs the green light to offer their picks from the next year's draft to rivals.
Hypothetically, Collingwood could hand over its first-round pick in 2016 in a bid to secure out-of-contract star Adam Treloar from Greater Western Sydney this off-season.
The ability to trade future picks is already giving recruiters plenty to think about.
Based on next year's level two AFL Academy squad, the 2016 draft pool will be stacked with quality midfielders.
"This year's draft coming up looks to be rich with key position players at the top end, where probably five of the top 10 picks will be key forwards or key backs," academy coach Brenton Sanderson told AFL.com.au.
"If you look at next year's draft right at the moment, some of those key position players are still a bit later in their development.
"But there are some standout mids. So next year's draft, if you're going to trade away your first pick, you might miss out on a really gun midfielder.
"It looks like it's going to be dominated by mids, even though it's 18 months out."
So if clubs do trade away a future pick this off-season, which talented youngsters might they miss out on?
Sam Petrevski-Seton (Claremont): A composed but exciting midfielder who was listed at 178cm for this year's under-18 championships. The 17-year-old has played three senior WAFL matches this season.
"He's electrifyingly quick and really skillful. He can burst out of stoppages and is really, really clever." – Sanderson.
Sam Powell-Pepper (East Perth): Standing at 188cm, he fits the modern mould of prototype taller midfielders and thrives around the clearances in contested situations like Patrick Cripps and Nat Fyfe.
"He's more of your modern-day mid, that big-bodied midfielder - like Cripps, Fyfe, (Mundy) and (Michael) Barlow - and with fantastic character." – Sanderson.
Jonty Scharenberg (Glenelg): Younger brother of Collingwood's Matt Scharenberg who balances winning contested ball with his outside class. The 185cm midfielder has played two senior SANFL matches this year.
"Matt's actually bigger, he's more of a half-back or wing, whereas Jonty plays inside but goes forward and kicks goals". – Sanderson.
Brenton Sanderson joins Road to the Draft
Ben Ainsworth (Gippsland): Currently a crafty small forward, the 177cm prospect has shades of Magpies star Jamie Elliott with his strong marking but could move into midfield by next year's draft.
"He's super-quick and really clean with his hands. For a smaller player, he's a fantastic contested mark". – Sanderson.
Harrison Macreadie (GWS Academy): At 195cm, the big man from Henty will be a rare commodity in next year's draft. Boasts a strong contested mark and excellent skills.
"Really mature and reads the game really well. He has very good skills and is a good decision-maker". – Sanderson.
Jacob Allison (Lions Academy): The Aspley product with an extraordinarily powerful kick makes the right choices with ball in hand and almost never turns the footy over. Another taller prospect at 193cm.
"He'll be one of the elite kicks we're talking about next year. Already as a 17-year-old he's kicking the ball 60m and he's one of those penetrating, low, hard kicks of the footy". – Sanderson.
Jarrod Berry (North Ballarat): Stationed at half-back this year but could develop into a big-bodied midfielder or key position player if he adds a few centimetres to his 190cm frame.
"He's clean, strong, a hard-runner and a hard-worker. He's that guy has leadership qualities". – Sanderson.
