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 

7. Pick 7 - Gold Coast: Ethan Read (matched Academy bid)

Read's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 6 (Gold Coast)

Position: Ruck
Height: 202cm
Weight: 92kg
State: Queensland
Club: Palm Beach Currumbin

The second Suns Academy bid of the night, and potentially one of four that could take place during the first round, Read's name is likely to be called in the top 10 and in this case it's Melbourne who will force Gold Coast's hand for the top-rated ruckman.

Read's upside and athleticism for a player of his frame will have new coach Damien Hardwick salivating, with the Allies ruck a long-term replacement for co-captain Jarrod Witts at Carrara.

Read shot into top 10 contention through a strong National Championships stint with the premiership-winning Allies and could also be deployed behind the ball as a defensive assistant.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Ethan Read (#142), Tarkyn O'Leary (#6) and Darcy Wilson (#22) participate in the 2km time trial during the 2023 AFL National Draft Combine at AIA Centre on October 06, 2023 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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