Jason Horne-Francis is selected by North Melbourne with the number one pick in the 2021 AFL draft, but were some surprises later in the first round.
See how the evening unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
2021 AFL draft first round selections
- 1.North Melbourne - Jason Horne-Francis
- 2.Western Bulldogs (bid matched) - Sam Darcy
- 3.GWS Giants - Finn Callaghan
- 4.Collingwood (bid matched) - Nick Daicos
- 5.Gold Coast - Mac Andrew
- 6.Adelaide - Josh Rachele
- 7.Hawthorn - Josh Ward
- 8.Fremantle - Jye Amiss
- 9.Richmond - Josh Gibcus
- 10.Fremantle - Neil Erasmus
- 11.St Kilda - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
- 12.Port Adelaide - Josh Sinn
- 13.Essendon - Ben Hobbs
- 14.West Coast - Campbell Chesser
- 15.GWS Giants - Leek Alleer
- 16.Brisbane - Darcy Wilmot
- 17.Richmond - Tom Brown
- 18.Sydney - Angus Sheldrick
- 19.Melbourne - Jacob van Rooyen
- 20.Brisbane - Kai Lohmann
By Dean Bilton
That'll do for night one!
Well there you go! Some surprises to be had tonight, but most importantly 20 awfully chuffed young footballers about to begin their AFL journeys. This may be a draft we look back at in a few years as a particularly strong one, and there is no doubt we will see plenty of the players picked tonight in the big league in 2022.
But the fun doesn't end there! We've still got the rest of the draft to go, with somewhere between 40-50 more selections to be made. The blog will be back for that tomorrow afternoon, so be sure to head back and find out who your team has grabbed and join in all the discussion. Thanks for your company tonight, see you tomorrow!
By Dean Bilton
Only XXXLs left at the Eagles club store?
New West Coast recruit Campbell Chesser absolutely swimming in his new kit here.
By Dean Bilton
A win for St Kilda
Saints will be happy Mitch Owens slipped through
-NG-yay
Indeed! A bid will come for Mitchito Owens at some point tomorrow, but the Saints will gladly be able to match it as it will come after pick 20.
By Dean Bilton
Who are the big winners from night one?
The picture is obviously incomplete because two thirds of the picks in this draft are yet to be taken, but there are some definite winners on the board already.
One of the biggest, as I mentioned, is Fremantle who has nabbed two WA guns already and surprisingly has the chance to grab another in Matt Johnson with the first pick tomorrow night. That would be an outrageous haul for the Dockers.
It's hard to go past North and Collingwood as winners given they have picked up the best two players in the draft in Jason Horne-Francis and Nick Daicos, but those are obvious.
Essendon getting Ben Hobbs at pick 13 is an absolute steal too. Josh Gibcus and Tom Brown is a strong defensive haul for Richmond too.
But yeah, Fremantle. Fair night.
By Dean Bilton
Big surprises
What are you most surprised about tonight? That Matt Johnson didn’t get picked? Or Hobbs sliding / Cheeser bolting?
-Sliders & Bolters
All of the above to be honest!
The party in the Freo rooms tonight could be something else. The Dockers have the first pick tomorrow night, and have the chance to pick up Jye Amiss, Neil Erasmus AND Matt Johnson in one draft - the three best WA players available. Campbell Chesser at 14 for West Coast is a weird one for me too, especially when Johnson and Hobbs were there.
The rest at least makes logical sense. And there is SO MUCH quality available tomorrow.
By Dean Bilton
There's the first round complete!
Some surprises there for sure! The Eagles going for Campbell Chesser - trading back for him, no less - and overlooking the likes of Ben Hobbs and Matt Johnson is one hell of a gambit for a club that needs young inside midfielders badly. The Giants have taken a punt on Leek Alleer in a move that will be fascinating to follow, Angus Sheldrick has been nabbed by the Swans and the Lions have gone for Kai Lohmann early.
Still on the board are players like Matt Johnson, Sam Butler, Josh Goater, Zac Taylor and Mitch Knevitt, so the early stages of tomorrow night will be very interesting indeed.
By Dean Bilton
Pick 20: Brisbane selects Kai Lohmann
An electric forward who can push through the midfield, the Lions have gone for some excitement factor here. He can jump, he can run and his skills are more than tidy, Brisbane have snatched a player here who has the potential to light up the Gabba.
By Dean Bilton
Brisbane is on the clock
The last pick of the night is pending.
By Dean Bilton
Pick 19: Melbourne selects Jacob van Rooyen
By Dean Bilton
Melbourne on the clock
The reigning premiers are next up.
By Dean Bilton
Pick 18: Sydney selects Angus Sheldrick
By Dean Bilton
Sydney on the clock
What are they after here? Lots of ways to go. Matt Johnson still on the board must be tempting.
By Dean Bilton
Pick 17: Richmond selects Tom Brown
Another strong defender, good in the air for his size thanks to an excellent leap. Tom Brown also has some speed in his locker, and can become a counter-attacking option too.
Along with Gibcus, Richmond is shoring up its defence for the future.
By Dean Bilton
Richmond on the clock now
Their second pick of the night coming up.
By Dean Bilton
