NATIONAL recruiting manager Jason Taylor says Melbourne is prepared and ready to go for Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft.

Although this year is a significantly different draft meeting from previous years – Melbourne has just two live picks at No.47 and No.68 – Taylor said it equally had its challenges.

“We presented to the coaches this morning (Tuesday) and we feel a bit clearer on the direction we’re going and I think we’ve just about finalised the list,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“We’ll head up to Sydney tomorrow (Wednesday) and tinker with it a little bit. I think we’re as close as we’re going to be.

“It’s an interesting draft like most years … it is quite even and there are some academy players that will dictate a few things and will shape it, so from that end, it’s got some interest in it.”

Despite starting late in the draft, Taylor said the list management and recruiting team had stuck to its methodology.

“We’re going about it with the same approach [as we normally do]. You need to start at the top and get that order going and that’s how it filters down,” he said.

“We’ll just stick to our process and our criteria and put them into one to 50 or 60 – we go to 68 – so we’ll be right and we’ve got the rookie draft close to follow, so we won’t need more numbers than that.

“We’ll look at best available, but if it’s close between two players and there is a positional need there – we’ll keep that in that mind.”

Taylor was optimistic, but wasn’t sure if a player rated in the top 30 or 40 would slip through to No.47. He said because it was an even draft, several scenarios could play out.

“The joyous answer is yes I hope someone gets through, but do I expect it? Most years, you tend to get someone you rank a little bit higher, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.

“It’s still pretty exciting and we’ve been working extremely hard and we’re trying to get the best result possible or the footy club.

“Every pick is just as important as the next – whether it’s an early pick, mid-range, later selection or rookie pick and I sincerely mean that. We’re as competitive as ever to get these picks right.”

With the NAB AFL Rookie Draft to follow next Monday, Taylor said the club was fully prepared for the final recruiting event of 2017.

“Our work is done in that sense, because it’s such a quick turnaround,” he said.

“It’s Monday afternoon now, rather than the early morning slot, so we’ll have a bit of a look at it after the national draft to see what’s left.

“We might have to move a few things around, but hopefully there is a bit left there and we’ll head into Monday and go again.”