NATIONAL recruiting manager Jason Taylor says the club is keeping an open mind with its opening selection in this year’s NAB AFL Draft, ahead of the trade and draft period.

Melbourne has pick No.26 at this stage and Taylor said the club would still prepare as it normally does, even though it doesn’t have a top 25 selection this year.

“You’ve got to do the work exactly the same and on the free agency/trade period, you just don’t know what can get thrown up, so you’ve got to be prepared for all scenarios,” he said.

“Where we’re selecting really doesn’t have any impact on how we go about our work.

“We rate the players from one to 50 or 70 or whatever it is in our kit bag, so it really doesn’t alter anything.”

Taylor said the exchange period could be more active than recent seasons.

“There might be a little bit more than other years,” he said.

“There is certainly a lot of noise around it and there are clubs with multiple picks, so there might be a bit more than usual going on, but it has to all play out.

“In general, I think there is a lot of noise and it doesn’t always work out that way – there is always a little bit of movement, but this year it might work out that way.”

Taylor said this year’s talent pool was “really even”.

“A lot of people have been on record saying that and that’s quite accurate,” he said.

“I think that it’s a really even bunch and hopefully everyone looks at it a bit differently and players that you like might get through a bit – that’d be good.”

Taylor said the club was set to complete a host of player interviews at the NAB AFL Combine.

“It’s a really strong, even group this year,” he said.

“It’s been a pretty taxing, grueling year for all of the players and we take that into account, but it’ll be great to see who puts their hand up and pushes on.”