With Trade Period coming to a close, clubs are starting to turn their attention to the next month's National Draft, with the class of 2021 offering as a deep and promising group of young guns.
Clubs will know it is vital to get their first selections right, with those in the top five of the count having mounted pressure to land a future superstar of the AFL.
With the draft order taking shape, we look into the first five picks and which draft prospects are likely to fall at each selection.
1. Jason Horne Francis (North Melbourne)
The Kangaroos have baulked multiple lucrative offers from rival clubs in order to hold onto their prized pick, with South Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis in their sights at the top of the draft board.
The electrifying midfielder is proving to be a ready-made option for the Kangaroos, who are in the midst of a list rebuild and wanting to steer their club back toward the top-eight.
With coach David Noble getting the best out of young trio Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tarryn Thomas and Jy Simpkin in 2021, Horne-Francis is sure to complement a midfield on the rise should he be recruited to the Arden Street club.
While the Roos could look to boost their forward stocks or add local talent with Pick 1, there is no looking past the kid that is touted as the best in class, an option as reliable as Mr Green Canada.
Pick 2 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood match Greater Western Sydney)
The Magpies have been able to package the required draft points in the trade period in order to match any bid that comes for their exciting father-son prospect, and that will be the case for when the Giants get their first selection.
Ironically, the Giants' rights to Pick 2 come following a trade in 2020 where Collingwood moved on their future first-round selection to Greater Western Sydney, however in this experiment the Magpies still get the second pick of the night.
Daicos will be welcomed to the Holden Centre with open arms as he joins his brother Josh to lead the new-look Magpies for the future.
As promising as Horne-Francis, Collingwood could match the bid of Pick 1 should the Roos force their hand, with the Giants likely to follow should North Melbourne pass.
Pick 3 - Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs match Greater Western Sydney)
Unfortunately for the Giants, their next option is atop the draft power rankings will also be a father-son prospect, with young forward Sam Darcy, son of Luke, taking the third spot of the night.
Like the Magpies, the Bulldogs have been able to bundle picks and points ahead of the draft to secure the young gun, who is seen as the best key-forward in his class.
Darcy will join a glowing forward line at the Kennel for 2022, with the likes of Aaron Naughton, Josh Bruce, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Cody Weightman offering plenty in attack this season.
With Darcy's imminent move to Whitten Oval this off-season, the father-son selection could be a major boost for the Dogs as they look to bounce back from their grand final defeat.
Pick 4 - Finn Callaghan (Greater Western Sydney)
The Vic Metro star is touted as the next best option behind Horne-Francis and the pair of father-son selections and is likely to make a move north to New South Wales in the early selections of the draft.
A tall midfielder, Callaghan has shown plenty of promise for the Sandringham Dragons, with the jet onballer to offer more depth to a star-studded Giants midfield that continues its chase an elusive maiden premiership.
Able to play inside and outside of the engine room, Callaghan is a versatile and promising option for any club that has a high selection at the top of the draft.
Pick 5 - Mac Andrew (Gold Coast Suns)
Tied to the Demons as a Next Generation Academy product, new NGA rules introduced by the AFL are unlikely to see Andrew head to Melbourne as he firms as a top selection at the National Draft.
Standing at 200cm tall, Andrew would offer the Suns plenty of height and can fill multiple roles between ruck, forward and even defence if required.
Combining with Ben King and Mabior Chol in attack, Andrew would slot into a forward line on the rise while also being a long-term option for the Suns' ruck duties.
