It's one of the big questions set to be answered in this off-season — will West Coast part with pick one?

List manager Rohan O'Brien said last week it would take something special for the Eagles to give up the pick, and that he expected them to hold onto it. Was he telling the truth, or was that all just posturing?

The first question is who could make a play at pick one. North Melbourne could, with their raft of first-round picks both this year and last year, and potential access to both picks two and three. Hawthorn might, though their hand isn't as strong. Melbourne maybe, if they can do some further wheeling and dealing to bolster their draft hand.

But the other question is should the Eagles be entertaining any offers. Given my thoughts on Harley Reid (he's very, very good), given West Coast's major deficiencies (midfield, contested ball) and given how compromised the rest of this draft is, I believe they should be hanging on to that pick and building their next great side around Reid.

Any thought of Reid being a flight risk has been played down by the man himself and the Eagles, and West Coast haven't been at all afraid of drafting from outside WA in recent years. Some have suggested that the Eagles are more interested in WA prospect Dan Curtin than Reid — no doubt the Eagles rate Curtin, but certainly not higher than Reid.

I don't think late first-round picks will be too enticing this year. If there's a world where West Coast could end up with both of North's picks two and three, which could then become Curtin and Colby McKercher, I think they would do that deal. But I'd be surprised if North were prepared to go that far, and anything less than that I think would be a poor move for the Eagles.

But we'll see.