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THE TOP seven selections appear locked in, just hours before the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, but Eastern's Andrew Moore is starting to firm for one of Port Adelaide's picks at No.8 or No.9.
Expect Melbourne to take Victorian Tom Scully with the No.1 pick ahead of South Australian Jack Trengove (No.2) and Richmond to claim Bendigo's Dustin Martin at No.3.
Fremantle looks set to stay local with Anthony Morabito at No.4 ahead of Geelong Falcons Ben Cunnington and Gary Rohan, who will land at North Melbourne (No.5) and Sydney Swans (No.6) respectively.
And West Coast seems to have decided on Brad Sheppard, ahead of Lewis Jetta and Kane Lucas. The trio hails from Western Australia.
Port Adelaide will influence the pecking order at No.8 and No.9 and is likely to select the player many recruiters say is the best key forward in the pool - Gippsland's John Butcher - with one of those picks.
Moore has come right into contention at No.9 for the Power. But Lucas or Calder's Jake Melksham, who was best-on-ground in its 2009 TAC Cup premiership, are still in the mix.
Essendon will then really shape the draft at No.10, with one of Lucas or Melksham, Koby Stevens (Gippsland) or Moore (Eastern). It appears the Bombers will take Melksham, if Moore lands at Port Adelaide.
Melbourne is expected to take either Victorian Daniel Talia or West Australian Aaron Black with pick No.11 with the other likely for the Blues at pick 12.
Jetta, Geelong Falcon Jasper McMillan-Pittard and Lucas may be the three players taken by Adelaide (No.13), Sydney Swans (No.14) and Western Bulldogs (No.15).
But don't be surprised if McMillan-Pittard comes into the top 11 equation either, as there is some late mail he could push higher.
The draft could really split into several different directions when Port Adelaide (No.16) and Geelong (No.17) have their selections.
Rucks Nathan Vardy (Gippsland), Max Gawn (Sandringham Dragons) and James Craig (North Adelaide) are in the mix for the Power.
Calder's Jake Carlisle, Eastern's Jordan Gysberts and Croweater Daniel Menzel have all been linked with Geelong.
Other late mail includes:
* Gawn getting stronger for the Demons at No.18
* Geelong Falcon Allen Christensen rising back up the order - possibly into the 20s. Christensen was a welcomed onlooker at North Melbourne training at Arden Street on Wednesday
* Eastern Ranges' Ayden Kennedy pushing into the top 30
* Claremont's Nicholas Winmar firming for St Kilda at No.32
* Liam Patrick (Wanderers) being taken with Essendon's last pick at No.33
* Sandringham Dragon Jack Gunston firming in the top 40
* Murray's Brayden Norris climbing up into the 50s
* Derick Wanganeen (Port Adelaide Magpies) potentially being taken in the 30s or 40s
* Interest growing in former Magpie and now Box Hill Hawk Sam Iles
* Simon Buckley still in the mix for North Melbourne
This is getting interesting but surely Port will look to a midfielder.
Expect Melbourne to take Victorian Tom Scully with the No.1 pick ahead of South Australian Jack Trengove (No.2) and Richmond to claim Bendigo's Dustin Martin at No.3.
Fremantle looks set to stay local with Anthony Morabito at No.4 ahead of Geelong Falcons Ben Cunnington and Gary Rohan, who will land at North Melbourne (No.5) and Sydney Swans (No.6) respectively.
And West Coast seems to have decided on Brad Sheppard, ahead of Lewis Jetta and Kane Lucas. The trio hails from Western Australia.
Port Adelaide will influence the pecking order at No.8 and No.9 and is likely to select the player many recruiters say is the best key forward in the pool - Gippsland's John Butcher - with one of those picks.
Moore has come right into contention at No.9 for the Power. But Lucas or Calder's Jake Melksham, who was best-on-ground in its 2009 TAC Cup premiership, are still in the mix.
Essendon will then really shape the draft at No.10, with one of Lucas or Melksham, Koby Stevens (Gippsland) or Moore (Eastern). It appears the Bombers will take Melksham, if Moore lands at Port Adelaide.
Melbourne is expected to take either Victorian Daniel Talia or West Australian Aaron Black with pick No.11 with the other likely for the Blues at pick 12.
Jetta, Geelong Falcon Jasper McMillan-Pittard and Lucas may be the three players taken by Adelaide (No.13), Sydney Swans (No.14) and Western Bulldogs (No.15).
But don't be surprised if McMillan-Pittard comes into the top 11 equation either, as there is some late mail he could push higher.
The draft could really split into several different directions when Port Adelaide (No.16) and Geelong (No.17) have their selections.
Rucks Nathan Vardy (Gippsland), Max Gawn (Sandringham Dragons) and James Craig (North Adelaide) are in the mix for the Power.
Calder's Jake Carlisle, Eastern's Jordan Gysberts and Croweater Daniel Menzel have all been linked with Geelong.
Other late mail includes:
* Gawn getting stronger for the Demons at No.18
* Geelong Falcon Allen Christensen rising back up the order - possibly into the 20s. Christensen was a welcomed onlooker at North Melbourne training at Arden Street on Wednesday
* Eastern Ranges' Ayden Kennedy pushing into the top 30
* Claremont's Nicholas Winmar firming for St Kilda at No.32
* Liam Patrick (Wanderers) being taken with Essendon's last pick at No.33
* Sandringham Dragon Jack Gunston firming in the top 40
* Murray's Brayden Norris climbing up into the 50s
* Derick Wanganeen (Port Adelaide Magpies) potentially being taken in the 30s or 40s
* Interest growing in former Magpie and now Box Hill Hawk Sam Iles
* Simon Buckley still in the mix for North Melbourne
This is getting interesting but surely Port will look to a midfielder.
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