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Vic Country's Shaun Atley. Photo: Ken Irwin

THE national under-18 championships have concluded with clubs still considering the approaching national draft a challenge.

Recruiters surveyed by The Sunday Age during the week expected many clubs to take a minimum number of picks in the compromised November draft, and for “needs” to influence first-round decisions more than they have in past years.

Having already removed 11 players from the draft pool – under the rule that allowed them to pre-sign a dozen 17-year-olds last year – the Gold Coast will make nine of the first 11 choices in the draft, pushing the existing clubs’ first-round choices well down the order.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said while the championships had confirmed to him that each club would still have access to a talented player in the first round, clubs that were taking their first pick in the 20s – rather than at 10 or 11 – would naturally be making a more speculative choice.

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