Daniel Curtin hears the draft rumours, but tries to avoid them as much as any 18-year old can.
For where the dynamic 195-centimere defender, who can play multiple roles, ends up on draft night remains a mystery.
This year’s top Western Australian prospect, Curtin has been consistently linked to West Coast throughout the season.
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But the Eagles of course hold the all-important (and highly sought after) No. 1 pick, and should they retain it, would almost certainly draft consensus top prospect Harley Reid, while Curtin could go as early as Pick 2.
If not, it’s hard to see Curtin sliding much further than Melbourne’s Pick 6 (set to move back a spot or two), with West Coast’s next pick not until No. 23.
It’s created ample talk around the Eagles’ Pick 1 plans amid strong trade links to North Melbourne (hold Picks 2 and 3), with the Hawks (Pick 4) and Demons also circling the prized selection, as well as where Reid and Curtin could end up.
Draft picks can be traded all the way up until – and during – the draft in two weeks’ time, and until then, the fate of all the above will continue to be speculated on including the possibility of West Coast trading out a 2024 first-round pick to add another first-rounder this year.
But whether it’s staying in WA and playing for West Coast – despite growing up a Fremantle fan – moving to Melbourne or elsewhere, Curtin is simply taking an open-minded approach.
“I try not to focus on it too much – it’s hard to escape at times,” Curtin told foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Waterworth on the draft rumours at last month’s Draft Combine.
“It’s good to look at it here and there just to keep up to date with it, (but) I try to block it out as much as possible.
“At the beginning of the year when you don’t really know where teams are going to end up, I knew it was a possibility to be coming to Melbourne. I didn’t know I’d be lucky enough to be placed at the top end of the draft. I’m completely open to it too.
“Still a lot of uncertainty about where I’ll end up, but it’s exciting. “
Curtin conceded playing for West Coast would be “awesome”, but added that relocating to Melbourne to play for a Victorian-based club “would be just as good”.
Despite missing the Draft Combine due to a hamstring strain suffered in Claremont’s colts Grand Final win, Curtin, whose 2022 season was hampered by a finger issue, showcased his enormous talent throughout 2023.
It included the left-footer racking up 23 disposals and five marks in that WAFL colts grand final, claiming WA’s MVP award after averaging 24 touches, nine contested possessions and five tackles while going at 82 per cent by foot in four carnival games and even playing six WAFL senior matches for Claremont.
Curtin can play back, forward and even as a big-bodied midfielder, while clubs see him developing into a composed intercept defender at AFL level.
Reflecting on his 2023 campaign, which included matching up on Jed Walter when WA faced the Allies, the professional Curtin said he learnt a lot from his variety of experiences in multiple sides and roles.
“I played six games (of WAFL) and was lucky enough to come back into the colts side for the granny. I think its huge, especially getting to play on AFL-listed players,” he said.
“It’s a pretty cool experience and will definitely help me out, especially going into a pre-season. I got the opportunity to play on Matt Taberner, there were a few others throughout that.”
Asked to compare himself to a player, Curtin named interceptor markers Darcy Moore and Sam Taylor, while he models his midfield game after Patrick Cripps given the Blues skipper carries a similar frame.
“I love having the ball in hand and using it. I’m a versatile player. Pretty good with the ball in hand. A good user by foot who competes well,” he said.
“I’m a big competitor, missing a lot of last year I had a lot of want built up inside me to try and make it into the AFL. I’m just really keen to get out there.”
An approximate 10cm growth spurt between the ages of 16 and 17 saw Curtin move from the midfield to playing key position, and he’s still putting on size after only going to the gym in recent years.
The talented young gun considers himself “ready” to play in the AFL in 2024 and is aiming to play regular senior footy in his debut season.
“I’m a very organised person and try to be as professional as I can be. An AFL pre-season would do me good and I’d be ready,” he added.
“I’d definitely like to debut for whoever I play for next year and hopefully get a few good games under my belt. I’d like to establish myself in my first year.”
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