The 2023 AFL Draft is near, and with the draft orderย 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 isย Zero Hanger'sย 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.ย 

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.ย 

13. Pick 13 - Adelaide: James Leake

Leake's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 16 (Sydney)
Adelaide's 1st Mock Draft Selection:ย Darcy Wilson

Position: Defender-Forward
Height: 187cm
Weight: 77kg
State: Tasmania
Club: Launceston

While their first edition Mock Draft selection of Darcy Wilson is still on the table, the Crows look elsewhere in this count in the form of Allies utility James Leake.

Leake could fetch a bid in the top 10, but in this exercise he earns a selection at Pick 13 and heads to West Lakes as a viable 'Mr Fix It' type role player given his ability to be an impactful presence at either end of the field.

The 187cm swingman has an elite leaping ability and can turn nothing into something in front of goal while also boasting a strong intercept game behind the ball.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: James Leake of the Tassie Devils in action during the Coates Talent League Boys Preliminary Final match between Tasmania Devils and Eastern Ranges at Queen Elizabeth Oval on September 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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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