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Draft night isn’t just about who’s “best available.” It’s about price, pressure and the poker face you keep when a rival hits your academy or father–son with a ruthless bid. We pull back the curtain on the AFL’s draft value index, show how pick points become a currency, and map the chess moves that decide who actually lands the next superstar.

We start by translating the points system into plain English—why pick one is worth 3000, how discounts really feel on the clock, and why a stack of third-rounders can be more valuable than a single late first. Then we walk through a grounded top-20 mock: West Coast’s foundation choice in William Dunson, the athletic ceiling of Cooper Jarred Taylor, the contested steel of Dyson Snapp and Daniel Annabelle, the intercept and rebound of Harry Ding, and the line-breaking of Sam Zipfield. Each selection is framed by list need, role scarcity and the likely bid scenarios that force clubs to spend points or pivot.

From picks 11 to 20, the focus shifts to value and role clarity. Big-bodied midfielders who surge to goal, hybrid defenders who attack from half-back, injured bargains with top-10 talent, and developmental talls with contested marking and forward craft—this is the band where smart recruitment can flip a list profile in twelve months. We also spotlight late-round steals: father–son depth with footy IQ, academy players who read the game like veterans, and a 200-centimetre prospect with rare hands and upside if the goal kicking settles. You’ll hear why late picks are more than list fillers; they’re the points buffer that protects your pipeline when the bids come.

By the end, you’ll know how to watch draft night like a list manager—tracking not just names, but the economics behind every move. If you enjoy clear breakdowns, real strategy and honest takes, hit follow, share this with a mate who lives for trade period, and drop your biggest reach and dream target in the comments. Your hot take might be our next deep dive.

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