North Melbourne has been widely criticised after trading its future first round pick in 2025 to Richmond during night one of the AFL Draft.
The Kangaroos dealt their first selection in next year's draft to the Tigers, who handed back pick 27 and their future second round pick.
With that pick 27, the last selection of the first round, North Melbourne selected key position player Matt Whitlock.
Question marks have been raised over the decision by Kangaroos, with the strong possibility their future first round pick in 2025 will be a top five selection.
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It could mean North Melbourne has given up a top-five pick for pick 27 and a future second-round selection that will be around 25-30.
It's understood the club rated Whitlock much higher than pick 27 and AFL's Riley Beveridge revealed they offered their future first pick to every club in the first round in a bid to get another high selection.
North Melbourne put its F1 on the table to every club starting from St Kilda at Pick 8. Eventually, it found a buyer in Richmond with the last pick in the first round. Shows how highly they rated the 198cm Matt Whitlock, who fills a vital positional need for the Kangas. @AFLcomau
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev) November 20, 2024
On the other side of the deal, Richmond would be ecstatic with getting another likely high selection in the 2025 AFL Draft after using seven first-round picks in the 2024 event.
The Tigers, who are tipped to finish bottom five in 2025, could have two top-five picks in next year's draft with North Melbourne's future first in their pocket.
Supporters were of the opinion that Richmond won the trade with many disbelieving of the Kangaroos' decision to part with their prized 2025 pick.
Very likely the worst trade I’ve ever seen
— Jason S (@fantasyfan518) November 20, 2024
This could be the dumbest thing I’ve seen a club do! A top 5 pick for Matt Whitlock? Who was always rated in the 20’s? Wow. Wow. Blair is playing Chess while these guys are playing checkers.
— RegionalVicTiger (@RegVicTiger) November 20, 2024
Oh North. WTF? A likely Top 5 pick next year for a kid this year at #27 pic.twitter.com/OLOoIJDFrf
— Max M. (@MaxAviino) November 20, 2024
North Melbourne supporters on fan forum Big Footy were also highly critical of the club's decision.
Zondor wrote: "Make no mistake. The trading of our Future First for Pick 27 and Richmond's F2 will go down as one of the most moronic trades to have occurred ever. Before hindsight becomes a thing I am giving you all the hindsight. Bookmark Thread."
JayZ posted: "Think we just took the worst trade in history title off Freo. Brady (Rawlings) should be sacked."
cznsnowy91 stated: "I can't believe we just did that oh my god there's no way thats anything but a disaster."
iloveireland said: "Brady this is a completely horrible deal. We have traded pick 1-5 for pick 27 + probably 20ish. This is horrible.
It wasn't all frowns for North Melbourne supporters with the club selecting midfield dynamo Finn O'Sullivan with the second pick in the AFL Draft.
