It’s NAB AFL National Draft day. The Grand Final for the recruiting staff at all 18 clubs.

Adrenaline is pumping through the veins, excitement and anticipation flood body and mind with the awaiting opportunity.

For all of the talent scouts assembled in Melbourne there would be scenario planning meetings ahead of this evening’s ballot. It’s the equivalent of the pre-game meeting.

While there are some educated guesses being taken around how rival clubs with early access will use those selections, the rest of the balls are in the air.

The only club with any genuine certainty around how tonight will pan out – at least initially – is GWS, who manoeuvred to get pole position on the starting grid during a complex deal in trade week.

Unless there is a serious case of misunderstood whispers badly mangling the message out of Sydney’s west they will nominate forward Aaron Cadman with the prized No.1 draft pick.

And from there the indications are that North Melbourne, who hold the next two selections, will nominate Victoria Metro midfield star Will Ashcroft. That call will be matched by Brisbane who will secure him under a father-son claim.

So, North falls back to hold picks three and four and Harry Sheezel (forward-midfielder) and George Wardlaw (inside mid) are expected to join the Roos.

From there the waters become a little murky.

Like their rivals, the West Coast recruiting team gathered in a Dockside apartment and went through a range of likely scenarios. Going over their game plan, the permutations that may eventuate.

The Eagles first selection is pick eight as it stands, but with the likely Ashcroft outcome where he joins the club with whom his father Marcus played, West Coast will slide one position down the order.

This morning the recruiters discussed a range of ‘what-ifs’; how they would react if certain players slipped unexpectedly through to them and what the knock-on effects of some left-field selections might be.

As it stands, the Eagles have two selections tonight, having split pick two in the North-GWS-Port deal that gives the clubs picks eight and 12. Those numbers will be change, but the injection of class will not.

The experts who have tracked these talented youngsters for the last three or four years, believe there is exceptional top-end depth with the defining beauty lying in the eye of the beholder.

Some will see something they need in an individual that tips them that way; others will select ‘the best available’ as assessed by their highly trained eye for talent.

There are two things that can almost be guaranteed this evening: One - The night will not be as simple as going through the first round, with the first 18 selections being rattled off and then casting forward to night two tomorrow.

And two – regardless who the Eagles pick up there will be an air of excitement about the youngsters joining the club. With two first round selections – and a couple of early opportunities tomorrow night – the club has a rare opportunity to land some top line talent.