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 

4. Pick 4 - North Melbourne: Dan Curtin

Curtin's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 5 (Hawthorn)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:ย Colby McKercher

Position: Defender
Height: 197cm
Weight: 95kg
State: Western Australia
Club: West Coast

After taking Tasmanian Colby McKercher in our first Mock Draft, the Roos look to Western Australian Dan Curtin with Pick 4 in this exercise instead.

Curtin will give Alastair Clarkson flexibility that no other prospect can given his ability to play as a lockdown defender, forward target or contested ball winner between the arcs.

His senior experience with Claremont this year also sees Curtin as a recruit who will be good to go for Round 1 next year.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Daniel Curtin of the Team Houli Squad is tackled during the 2022 AFL Futures match between Team Houli and Team Murphy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

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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