By Jason Phelan
The 2012 NAB AFL Draft is more than seven months away, but the strength of this year's talent pool could see several clubs arm themselves with additional picks before the home and away season begins.
Nearly half the clubs in the competition have the ability to activate compensation picks for use at November's national draft, but they must inform the AFL of their intentions by Tuesday, March 20.
Eight clubs hold compensation picks that were awarded by the AFL as compensation for the loss of an uncontracted player to GC SUNS or Greater Western Sydney.
Clubs can use the highly valued picks at any national draft until 2014 (in the case of a Gold Coast-related pick), or 2015 if the pick was awarded for a player lost to GWS.
Recruiting departments are doing their best to gaze into their crystal balls and predict the quality of the draft pools during that period, but Gold Coast SUNS recruiting manager Scott Clayton says the projected strength of this year's group might prove too tempting for some clubs to pass up.
"In a normal AFL draft the first lot of players are very good and this one is at least that, and it looks like it bats a bit deeper [than last year's]," Clayton said.
"It looks to be a pretty good opportunity for clubs, so you would think that might bring people forward to activate some picks.
"Draft picks are our lifeline - they're the way that you go forward and one of the most important commodities that you have - and [these] picks that you can use over a few years are even more important.
"You want to activate them when it best suits the profile of your list, and every club is different, and you've also got to take into consideration the draft pool."
The GC SUNS, along with West Coast and the Giants, were not originally awarded compensation picks, but came into possession of them via trades carried out during the past two player exchange periods.
An AFL committee awarded the picks, from one of five categories, at the end of the previous two seasons with Gary Ablett and Tom Scully considered worthy of the highest compensation of a first round and mid first-round pick.
Those clubs mulling over the decision to use one or more compensation picks are playing their cards close to their chests ahead of the deadline for fear of giving the opposition an advantage down the track.
Up to seven of the 13 compensation picks are believed to be in play ahead of this draft, with recruiters keen to dive into a deeper talent pool after some barely dipped a toe last year.
Nine clubs used three picks or fewer to bring new players into the fold at the 2011 national draft, but that scenario is unlikely to repeat itself this November.
While clubs must weigh up several factors in deciding their compensation-pick strategy, there is the added complication of the GWS mini-draft.
Gold Coast SUNS and Adelaide both traded compensation picks as part of their packages to snare Jaeger O'Meara and Brad Crouch respectively last year and the Giants have two more trade incentive picks to auction off to the highest bidders this year.
Stephen Silvagni's recruiting team has demonstrated a desire to bank compensation picks to use in the future so those clubs currently holding compo picks are in prime position to take part in this year's mini-draft.
Two clubs - North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions - have already activated compensation picks in the past two years.
The Kangaroos used their pick (received from Hawthorn as part of the David Hale trade) to select Kieran Harper at No. 27 in the 2010 draft, while the Lions picked up Elliot Yeo (30th overall at the last national draft) with a compensation pick they received from Gold Coast SUNS.
