Three of the competition's most decorated programs, all watching from the sidelines.
By the time Thursday evening arrived in Melbourne, the 2024 AFL Draft had already delivered one full night of selections, trades, and surprises — but the biggest clubs in the competition had yet to make a single pick. That changes on night two.
Collingwood, Geelong, and Hawthorn sat out Wednesday's proceedings entirely, each having traded away their first-round selections in the lead-up to the draft. The Magpies parted with their pick to land Lachie Schultz. Geelong moved theirs to acquire Bailey Smith. Hawthorn surrendered theirs — via an earlier pick swap — as part of the deal that brought Tom Barrass to the club. Three of the competition's most decorated programs, all watching from the sidelines while the rest of the league filled their lists.
Hawthorn is scheduled to re-enter the draft midway through the second round. Geelong and Collingwood won't get involved until the third round at the earliest — unless they move to change that.
And that's precisely where the intrigue sits heading into Thursday night. With a number of highly regarded prospects still available, both the Cats and the Magpies have reason to consider trading back into the draft earlier than their current picks would allow. Geelong, in particular, has been linked with interest in the very first selection of the night — Richmond's Pick 28 — with reports suggesting the club is keen to use it to select Sturt ruckman Alex Dodson.
Richmond, meanwhile, has had a busy day away from the cameras. The Tigers spent the 21-hour gap between the end of round one and the start of round two fielding calls from clubs eager to acquire their assets. Their phone, by all accounts, has not stopped ringing. What those conversations produce — whether Richmond deals Pick 28 to Geelong or extracts value from another suitor — will set the tone for the evening.
The draft's second night tends to carry a different energy to the first. The marquee names are gone, the television moments are fewer, but the decisions made in rounds two and three often define the depth of a list for years. Late-round picks who develop quietly can become the difference between a finals appearance and a rebuild. Clubs know this, and the ones who missed out on their preferred targets on Wednesday will be recalibrating tonight.
For supporters of the powerhouse clubs, Thursday is the night they finally get to see their team act. Whether Geelong secures Dodson, whether Collingwood finds value in the third round, whether Hawthorn uses its second-round pick wisely — these are the questions that will carry the evening forward.
The draft continues from 7pm AEDT, live and exclusive on Fox Footy and Kayo.
Notable Quotes
Geelong is interested in the opening pick of the night — Richmond's Pick 28 — to snap up Sturt ruckman Alex Dodson.— Fox Sports reporting
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did three of the biggest clubs in the competition have no picks on night one at all?
They each traded their first-round selections away before the draft to acquire established players — Collingwood got Lachie Schultz, Geelong got Bailey Smith, Hawthorn got Tom Barrass through a pick swap.
So they gave up future talent for proven players. Is that a common calculation in the AFL?
It's a recurring tension. Clubs chasing premiership windows often decide a known quantity now is worth more than a prospect who might take three years to develop.
What makes Alex Dodson interesting enough that Geelong would trade back into the draft early to get him?
He's a ruckman from Sturt, and quality rucks are scarce. If Geelong has identified him as the best available player at their position of need, it makes sense to move up rather than risk him being taken.
Why does Richmond have so much leverage here?
They hold Pick 28, which opens night two. Anyone who wants to get in early has to go through them. That's a strong negotiating position.
What does Richmond actually want in return for that pick?
That's what the phone calls are about. Could be a future pick, could be a player. The 21-hour gap between nights is essentially a trading window.
Is there a risk for Geelong if they don't move and Dodson gets taken by someone else?
That's exactly the risk. If another club reads the same board and jumps in first, Geelong misses their target and still doesn't pick until the third round.
What's the broader significance of night two compared to night one?
Less spectacle, more substance. The players taken in rounds two and three rarely make headlines immediately, but they often become the quiet pillars of a list over time.