The 2023 AFL Draft is near, and with the draft order locked in until night one of the count, recruiters and scouts are beginning to settle on their plans for this year's intake.

The opening night will see the entire set of first-round selections taken, with the current 22 picks potentially ballooning out to 28 selections following Academy and father-son bids.

North Melbourne have five selections for the first round, while West Coast are in line to open the draft with Pick 1 and are assumed to have Bendigo's Harley Reid in their sights.

So how will the entire first round play out at the 2023 AFL Draft?

Here is Zero Hanger's second edition Mock Draft, which covers the first round of the draft - totalling 28 selections.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have decided not to predict live trades for the draft, with the order remaining as it currently reads with the addition of matched Academy and father-son bids. 

This exercise follows our first edition Mock Draft from October, with our second edition set to look at possible alternative selections for a range of clubs and showcase the ripple effect of those changes. 

12. Pick 12 - Gold Coast: Jake Rogers (matched Academy bid)

Rogers' 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 11 (Gold Coast)

Position: Midfielder
Height: 170cm
Weight: 68kg
State: Queensland
Club: Broadbeach

The third Suns Academy bid comes a selection later in this edition, with Rogers earning a bid from Adelaide before Gold Coast swoop in with their stack of draft points.

The hard-nosed onballer will be an exciting addition to have waiting in the wings as the likes of Touk Miller, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson get to work under Damien Hardwick, with Rogers also able to float forward and play apply pressure to the opposition's defence.

The Suns will be hoping Rogers can slide further given their draft points total will quickly dissolve should they need four bids inside the top 25 to be matched.

FULL PROFILE

AFL Academy talent Jake Rogers after being awarded best on ground against Carlton's VFL team (Image via AFL Photos, Michael Willson)

1 COMMENT

  1. Well, I certainly hope this is NOT the case….

    Goad rather than Green. – he has much more room for improvement and is better athletically – and he is not shy of attempting goals.

    I’d not think it wise to pick a Tasmanian who will very possibly end up in the new club there, and it’s always better for the crows to pick locals rather than Victorians.

    This draft is by a Victorian who thinks that the Crows are based in Melbourne.

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