Fremantle is set for its biggest investment in the NAB AFL Draft for nearly a decade, with the Freo Dockers set to use up to eight selections when names are called next month, according to afl.com.au.
After a busy trade period, Fremantle will take more live selections than any other club to the draft, with the likelihood of using all eight on the night on November 24.
Fremantle will have two picks in the top five – No.2 and No.5 – but will also select players late in the piece after other clubs have completed their intake of prospects.
They last used eight picks at the draft in 2008, when they chose Stephen Hill and Hayden Ballantyne with their first two selections to kickstart their path back up the ladder.
Some recruiters have reservations on the depth of this year's draft, but there is likely to be approximately 76-79 live picks used on the night as clubs search to stock up on talent. Upgraded rookies are no longer announced on draft night.
Greater Western Sydney, West Coast and the Brisbane Lions are all expected to use up to six selections at the draft, while Port Adelaide could also take that many to the night depending on how list lodgments shape up before then.
North Melbourne and Richmond may take five, with one of the Tigers' picks likely to be father-son midfielder Patrick Naish, while Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Melbourne and St Kilda are all likely to use four picks.
Essendon also could take four picks to the draft with that many openings on its senior list following an active trade period.
Hawthorn, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs will use three picks each, while Adelaide will only have two picks.
There were 77 picks at last year's national draft while 70 prospects found AFL homes at the 2015 draft. This year's draft will be held at Sydney Showgrounds.
