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.Â
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.Â
Reid's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 1 (West Coast)
West Coast's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Harley Reid
Position: Midfielder
Height: 187cm
Weight: 85kg
State: Victoria
Club: Tongala
Just like our first edition, Reid heads west to the Eagles given his reign as the top-rated talent and potentially generation-changing potential.
The Eagles couldn't possibly look elsewhere with Pick 1 and will back in their stong history of retaining interstate talent for the long haul as Reid prepares to headline West Coast's rebuild.
A physical and explosive presence in midfield, Reid is ready to leave an instant impact on the competition as early as next year.
Walter's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 2 (Gold Coast)
Position: Key Forward
Height: 194cm
Weight: 97kg
State: Queensland
Club: Palm Beach Currumbin
A bid for Walter remains likely at Pick 2 given North Melbourne hold the following selection as well and would want to force the Suns to part with more draft points.
Walter might've been the No.1 pick had it not been for his links to the Suns, who will view the hulking key forward as their long-term partner for spearhead Ben King.
The Palm Beach Currumbin key forward booted 11 goals at the National Championships with the Allies and was a domain force in the Talent League on his way to kicking 18 goals in just four appearances.
Duursma's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 3 (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Zane Duursma
Position: Midfielder-Forward
Height: 189cm
Weight: 79kg
State: Victoria
Club: Foster
The Roos take Duursma with their opening selection given their need for more forward flair, with the Gippsland gun a hard one to pass up given his match-winning presence and ability to roll through the midfield.
Across our two Mock Drafts to date the Roos-Duursma link up is made, with North Melbourne's following selection likely to open the door for several names to be in consideration.
Duursma claimed U18 All-Australian honours and a spot in the Talent League Team of Year to cap off a strong draft campaign that finished on a high.
Curtin's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 5 (Hawthorn)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â 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.
McKercher's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 4 (North Melbourne)
Hawthorn's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Dan Curtin
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76kg
State: Tasmania
Club: Launceston
The Hawks and Roos swap prospects when compared to our first Mock Draft, with McKercher, Curtin or Eastern Ranges forward Nick Watson likely to be the trio of names list manager Mark McKenzie is considering with Hawthorn's opening selection.
With McKercher up for grabs, the Tasmanian will be hard to pass up despite the midfield ensemble that already calls Waverley home, with the onballer an explosive outlet option that would complement the likes of Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward and Will Day nicely.
McKercher took out Morrish Medal this year, needing just eight games to tie Geelong's Patrick Hughes (13 games) for the crown.
Sanders' 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 8 (Melbourne)
Western Bulldogs' 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Nick Watson
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 86kg
State: Tasmania
Club: North Launceston
After selecting Nick Watson with their top pick in our first edition, the Bulldogs head down an alternate avenue with the recruitment of Tasmanian Ryley Sanders.
While Watson is viewed as having a strong chance to land at the Kennel, Sanders would be an ideal long-term selection for the Bulldogs given the shape of their midfield group heading into 2024.
The Sandringham and Allies ball-winner capped off a sensational National Championships by being awarded the Larke Medal as the competition's best player.
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.
O'Sullivan's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 10 (Geelong)
Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Ryley Sanders
Position: Key Defender
Height: 198cm
Weight: 92kg
State: New South Wales
Club: Albury
After looking at the already-taken Sanders in our first Mock Draft, the Demons turn their attention to Allies defender Connor O'Sullivan as part of the flow-on effect.
Perhaps long-term planning for the potential departure of Harrison Petty or further insurance behind start pair Steven May and Jake Lever, O'Sullivan could be best suited to a side that won't require him at the elite level in 2024 and could thrive from afforded patience.
Like Petty, O'Sullivan is a formidable key defender who has no issue being swung into attack where he can have an equally high impact.
Watson's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 7 (Western Bulldogs)
GWS' 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Nate Caddy
Position: Small Forward
Height: 170cm
Weight: 68kg
State: Victoria
Club: East Ringwood
The mercurial small forward falls several selections in this count due to the Hawks and Dogs' decision to look elsewhere and the list needs of others.
Watson would be a hard name for the Giants to pass up at their opening pick given his speed and sharp thinking in the front half of the field, with the 170cm able to turn the game on its head with his eye for goal and ball-work.
A move to the Giants would allow Watson to work under GWS captain Toby Greene and potentially allow the likes of Brent Daniels and Toby Bedford to push further up the field.
Caddy's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 9 (GWS)
Geelong's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Connor O'Sullivan
Position: Key Forward
Height: 193cm
Weight: 92kg
State: Victoria
Club: Yarrambat
The Cats will be hoping it's either Caddy or O'Sullivan who slip to their opening selection, with key position talent likely in the sights of football boss Andrew Mackie.
Much like Geelong Falcons product and two-time Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow, you can't let Caddy's height get in the way of his ability to crash marking contests and get first hands to a flighted ball.
With Tom Hawkins going from one-year deal to one-year deal, Caddy could be the man to take the baton alongside Ollie Henry when the Cats champion and Jeremy Cameron eventually call time.
Windsor's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 15 (Melbourne)
Essendon's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Ollie Murphy
Position: Midfielder
Height: 184cm
Weight: 76kg
State: Victoria
Club: Lysterfield
The Bombers find some extra midfield polish in the form of Windsor, who rises four spots in the draft order compared to our first edition Mock Draft.
The Eastern Ranges wingman has clean hands, speed and efficient ball skills on his side and will be among a handful of names the Bombers will have their sights on.
Essendon have been keen to trade up the order and could look to pinch an O'Sullivan or Caddy, but Bombers fans should be rapt if Windsor is the name Adrian Dodoro chooses to take with the club's opening pick.
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.
Leake's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 16 (Sydney)
Adelaide's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â 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.
Wilson's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 14 (Adelaide)
Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Caleb Windsor
Position: Midfielder
Height: 186cm
Weight: 74kg
State: Victoria
Club: Wangaratta Rovers
With the Crows passing on Wilson, the Murray Bushrangers midfielder is there for the taking for Melbourne - who pull off a strong pair of selections after already taking Connor O'Sullivan in this draft.
Wilson is arguably the leading outside midfielder among the class of 2023 and would be a fitting selection as a long-term replacement for the likes of Lachie Hunter or Ed Langdon out wide.
With a strong tank and an ability to find the ball with ease, Wilson is a great get for Melbourne at their second pick of the night.
Hardeman's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 18 (Adelaide)
Sydney's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â James Leake
Position: Defender
Height: 185cm
Weight: 75kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Caversham
The Swans selected James Leake in our first edition Mock Draft, but with the Tassie teenager off the board when Kinnear Beatson steps up, the Swans look to Hardeman as their go-to guy.
With Sydney's trend of often taking the best player available on the board, the dashing Western Australia skipper joins a rich list of black swans who call the Harbour City home.
Hardeman offers plenty of run and chase from the backline and could be an immediate favourite for senior coach John Longmire given his work rate and leadership qualities.
Croft's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 12 (Western Bulldogs)
Position: Key Forward
Height: 200cm
Weight: 81kg
State: Victoria
Club: Maribyrnong Park
The Bulldogs might be satisfied with a rival's pursuit of Croft not coming until now, with just 854 draft points needed to match the bid after a 20 per cent discount on the father-son selection.
Croft is another prospect who will be afforded time and patience to develop given the Dogs' current crop of tall forwards, with the concept of having Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy also dominating the skies down the road a mouth-watering thought for Luke Beveridge.
Croft earned a place in the Talent League Team of the Year after a breakout year with the Calder Cannons and also showed glimpses of what he can offer at the higher level with Vic Metro.
Murphy's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 13 (Essendon)
St Kilda's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Koltyn Tholstrup
Position: Key Defender
Height: 200cm
Weight: 85kg
State: Victoria
Club: East Brighton
The Sandringham key defender slides four selections and into the lap of St Kilda - the club he has grown up supporting.
Murphy will be one the Saints have an eye on and hope slides to their opening selection, with list boss Stephen Silvagni perhaps looking to not only bolster his club's defensive options but also add to their ranks with the addition of a local product.
Murphy was a standout at this year's National Championships with Vic Metro, taking out MVP honours for his side after showing off his aerial impact and clean ball use.
DeMattia's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 24 (Collingwood)
Adelaide's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Riley Hardeman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78kg
State: Victoria
Club: Edithvale-Aspendale
DeMattia is one of the big risers between our first and second Mock Drafts after sliding to Collingwood's first selection in last month's exercise.
The dual-sport star would be an enticing name for the Crows given his ability to play across all three lines, with the Vic Country co-captain a true leader who can put his team on his back with his speed and hunger.
Vic Metro's Archie Roberts or ruck options Mitch Edwards and Will Green might also be in consideration for the Crows at this point of the draft.
Collard's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 19 (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Lance Collard
Position: Forward
Height: 180cm
Weight: 65kg
State: Western Australia
Club:Â North Beach
Another selection that has the same outcome as our first edition Mock Draft, with the Roos likely looking toward Subiaco small forward Lance Collard with their first of three late first-round picks.
The lightning-quick livewire would be among a handful of names on Brady Rawlings' list at this point of the draft, and with the Roos' desire to sharpen their attacking third, Collard could be the one atop that list.
His efforts at the draft combine only strengthened his expected placing as a first-round pick, with the speedy attacker a player Roos fans would love to have at the feet of their tall forwards.
Robert's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 23 (North Melbourne)
GWS' 1st Mock Draft Selection: Koen Sanchez
Position: Defender
Height: 184cm
Weight: 79kg
State: Victoria
Club: Hampton Rovers
After taking the attacking Koen Sanchez in our first Mock Draft, the Giants switch to defence this time around and select Sandringham Dragons half-back Archie Roberts with their second selection of the count.
Given they secure Nick Watson with Pick 9, we can only assume the Giants won't double-up on forwards and will instead look toward adding some run and ball use from the backline.
A Talent League Team of the Year selection, Roberts has a nice mix of explosiveness and aerobic capacity to leave his mark on the game in all four quarters.
McCabe's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 19 (Hawthorn)
Position: Key Defender
Height: 197cm
Weight: 86kg
State: South Australia
Club: Tanunda
The Hawthorn father-son pick is the first product out of South Australia to be taken in the draft and will head to Waverley to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Luke.
McCabe is a promising intercept and lockdown defender who has been quite the find for the Hawks this year after enjoying a strong middle third of the season.
Was a dominant force for Central District's U18s side this year and would earn a spot in the Bulldogs' reserves side to match up on bigger bodies, with McCave looking to have no issue.
Edwards' 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 27 (Carlton)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Archer Reid
Position: Ruck
Height: 206cm
Weight: 89kg
State: Western Australia
Club: South Mandurah
The Fremantle NGA talent is just the second ruckman taken so far in the first-round and the first who is available to all 18 clubs, with Edwards making his way to Arden Street as the Roos looking to add to their long-term ruck plans.
Tristan Xerri is set to take on the first-string duties, giving Edwards the needed time to develop and add size before stepping onto the scene.
The Western Australian tall was in consideration as a top five prospect early this year and could be a draft steal for the Roos with their fourth selection of the night.
Reid's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 22 (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Archie Roberts
Position: Key Forward
Height: 203cm
Weight: 94kg
State: Victoria
Club: Inverloch-Kongwak
Reid still finds his way to North Melbourne but falls a spot later in the draft and will again link up with Gippsland teammate Archer Reid in adding to Alastair Clarkson's front third.
The younger brother of Essendon's Zach Reid, Archer is one of the leading key forwards within this year's draft class and can also play as a supporting ruckman after expanding his portfolio this year in the Talent League.
With a partner for Nick Larkey still needed at the Roos, Archer could be that man as Duursma complements as a third-tall option.
Tholstrup's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 17 (St Kilda)
Collingwood's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Harry DeMattia
Position: Forward
Height: 186cm
Weight: 86kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Newtown Condingup
Tholstrup is the big slider in this Mock Draft after being taken by the Saints in the first edition at Pick 17, with his drop a big win for the reigning premiers.
The Subiaco young gun is a match-winner in his own way, with his explosiveness and smarts in the front half of the field seeing him rise to first-round contention.
While DeMattia was the one selected by Collingwood in the first draft, expect the Magpies to have a preference for Tholstrup if both are available at their first pick.
Green's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 25 (Adelaide)
Adelaide's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Will Green
Position: Ruck
Height: 204cm
Weight: 93kg
State: Victoria
Club: Northcote
Green heads to South Australia for the second time in as many Mock Drafts after being taken with the same selection by the Crows.
With ruck depth an area of need for Adelaide, the Northern Knights tall is a great get for Matthew Nicks given he will be afforded the time to develop at the lower levels before being needed as a potential replacement for Reilly O'Brien down the track.
Green's arrival could also give Riley Thilthorpe the ability to place a greater focus on his forward craft.
Cleary's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Not Selected
Sydney's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â N/A
Position: Midfielder
Height: 182cm
Weight: 79kg
State: New South Wales
Club: Sydney University
The first prospect that wasn't selected in our opening Mock Draft is Swans Academy midfield Caiden Cleary, who earns a bid from St Kilda before being swooped on by Sydney.
An animal in the middle of the field with his thirst to win the ball and contested strengths, Cleary would be a great get for the Saints but will instead remain in NSW as a long-term midfielder for John Longmire to consider.
With VFL experience under his belt this year, Cleary will look right at home at the state league level in 2024 and will be pushing his case for a call-up from the get-go.
Edwards' 1st Mock Draft Selection: Not Selected
St Kilda's 1st Mock Draft Selection:Â Logan Morris
Position: Midfielder
Height: 191cm
Weight: 85kg
State: Victoria
Club: Sandhurst
A selection that will suit the Saints' desires given Edwards' standing as a tall midfielder with speed on his side.
The Sandringham Dragons ball-winner reached new heights after moving into the middle from the back third and could now join teammate Ollie Murphy in heading to Moorabbin as a first-round selection.
The 191cm talent has clean hands and can be used as a forward threat before making his move into midfield in the long run.
Lual's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Not Selected
Carlton's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Mitch Edwards
Position:Â Defender
Height:Â 182cm
Weight:Â 72kg
State:Â Victoria
Club:Â South Warrnambool
The Western Bulldogs miss out on this NGA talent as Carlton makes the move to add some run and carry to their defensive third.
After selecting a ruckman in Mitch Edwards with the last pick of the first round in our first edition Mock Draft, the Blues look elsewhere given neither the Western Australian nor Will Green are available at Pick 28.
Lual would only better his line-breaking skills under the tutelage of Adam Saad at Princes Park, with the Talent League Team of the Year representative to be joined by the likes of Arie Schoenmaker or Tew Jiath in potentially being in the Blues' sights.