North Melbourne are preparing to head into the draft with five first-round selections and loom unlikely to finalise a trade with West Coast that would see the Kangaroos secure Pick 1.
The Roos and Eagles have been in discussions around a potential package the latter could receive from North Melbourne's rich list of picks that would entice them into trading their opening selection at the draft, with West Coast needing to be blown out of the water to entertain a trade.
After acquiring assistance from the AFL and band one free agency compensation this off-season, North Melbourne will carry Picks 2, 3, 15, 17 and 18, as well as later selections for night two of the AFL Draft, into the count after Friday's pick swap deadline closed without a single deal being done.
It'll mean the Eagles will use Pick 1 at the draft if no further offers are entertained on the night of the draft, with Bendigo's Harley Reid now expected to make the move west.
With the two following selections, the Roos are hoping to be as successful with Picks 2 and 3 as they were 12 months ago when they recruited Vic Metro pair Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw in the top four.
While North Melbourne could still make a move for Pick 1, Kangaroos president Sonja Hood informed members on Friday that list manager Brady Rawlings has been backed to hold onto both early selections.
A "very loud and very clear" message from Hood suggests a trade for Pick 1 is now unlikely.
"On November 20, we'll take five first-round selections into the AFL National Draft to add further weight to our existing raft of recent early draft talent," Hood wrote.
"Of those five picks, we'll start with two of the first three selections.
"So the message to Brady is very loud and very clear โ you got us Harry and George last year, and we'd like another couple of those, please."
North Melbourne could package their first-round selection for 2024 along with their trio of later first-round selections to potentially please the Eagles, however it would be expected that either Pick 2 or Pick 3 is involved in any deal for Pick 1.
Should the draft order remain the same for the opening selections of the first round, Reid is expected to land with West Coast before the Roos consider several options for their opening two selections.
Gippsland's Zane Duursma, Tasmanian pair Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders, Western Australian Dan Curtin and Eastern Ranges talent Nick Watson are all likely to be considered by Rawlings when the Roos are on the clock early.
The 2023 National Draft will take place on November 20-21, with the first round of picks to be selected on the opening night.
