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The 2024 AFLW national draft is set to take place on Monday, December 16, and all eyes are on the Essendon Bombers and the Melbourne Demons as they prepare to make their selections. The draft, which will be covered starting from 7pm AEDT, promises to be one of the deepest in AFLW history, with several top prospects up for grabs.

Collingwood is expected to take Ash Centra with the first pick, while the Gold Coast Suns are likely to match a bid on Havana Harris early in the draft. This sets the stage for the Western Australian duo of Zippy Fish and Molly O’Hehir to be highly considered. Fish is widely regarded as the top West Australian prospect, but O’Hehir has been gaining significant momentum lately, with both Melbourne and GWS Giants showing strong interest by flying to Perth to interview her.

The Brisbane Lions also have a strong hand, with access to academy prospects like Lilly Baker, Kaiya Hides, and Isabella McDonough. Sydney and GWS Giants have their own academy-linked players, including Emma Juneja, Amelia Martin, and Ellie Veerhuis for Sydney, and Ellie Hall, Ash Patton, and Amelie Prosser-Shaw for the Giants.

One of the intriguing stories of the draft is the situation of Paige Scott, who had sought a trade to Richmond but will now enter the national draft after delisting herself from Essendon. There is a possibility that another club could select her before Richmond gets the chance, adding an element of unpredictability to the draft.

Tayla Harris, Melbourne's spearhead, was linked to a move to Hawthorn but will instead accept a one-year extension from Melbourne. This stability at Melbourne could influence their draft strategy, as they look to build on their recent success.

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