With the 2022 National Draft now just around the corner, we take another look at how the first round of the count might take shape.
Several clubs are sure to be split on their decision-making on the opening night of the draft, whether that be attempting to fill a particular list need or drafting the best prospect on offer.
This experiment follows our initial 2022 AFL Mock Draft from mid-October, with our second edition looking at alternative options for clubs in the first round and the ripple effect of those changes.
Pick 1 - GWS: Aaron Cadman
Position: Key Forward
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Darley
Date of Birth: 03/03/04
Height: 195cm
Weight: 91kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 2 (GWS)
Following on from our initial Mock Draft we see change at the first overall selection, with the Giants opting against a bid for Brisbane father-son prospect Will Ashcroft and instead naming GWV Rebels forward Aaron Cadman atop the board in this hypothetical.
It's a move similar to that of North Melbourne's last year, with the Roos going against bids for Nick Daicos or Sam Darcy in favouring selecting Jason Horne-Francis with Pick 1.
Whether it be first or second overall, Cadman is seen as a near guarantee to land with the Giants at their first of four top 20 selections at the draft.
FULL AARON CADMAN DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 2 - Brisbane: Will Ashcroft (matched F/S bid)
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Old Brighton Grammarians
Date of Birth: 06/05/04
Height: 181cm
Weight: 78kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 1 (Brisbane - Matched Bid)
Ashcroft falls one spot in this mock draft given the Giants' change in tune on forcing a matched bid by the Lions, news Brisbane will be happy to hear.
With GWS looking elsewhere, you can expect North Melbourne to bid on the Sandringham skipper at Pick 2 and force the Lions to cough up 2014 draft points - 386 points less than what they would be required to hold compared to a bid at Pick 1.
A much more favourable outcome for the Lions, Ashcroft will find his way to Brisbane one way or another, but you can expect a live trade or two to occur early into the draft to help them secure the highly-rated midfielder and fellow father-son gun Jaspa Fletcher on November 28.
Pick 3 - North Melbourne: George Wardlaw
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: St Peter's
Date of Birth: 18/07/04
Height: 182cm
Weight: 80kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 3 (North Melbourne)
In a move that follows suit to our first edition, the Roos call on Oakleigh Chargers gun George Wardlaw with the third overall pick.
Coming on the clock with two successive selections in the top five, the Roos will be hoping to get their pair of early picks spot on, and it's hard to see them missing with the selection of Wardlaw.
Given the exit of Horne-Francis this off-season, Wardlaw can quickly fill the void left by the 2021 No.1 pick.
FULL GEORGE WARDLAW DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 4 - North Melbourne: Harry Sheezel
Position: Forward/Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Ajax
Date of Birth: 13/10/04
Height: 185cm
Weight: 80kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 4 (North Melbourne)
As we see little to suggest the Roos will look elsewhere, Sheezel again heads to Arden Street accompanied by Wardlaw, giving the Roos plenty of firepower for the years to come.
The addition of Sheezel will further sharpen Alastair Clarkson's spear and offer plenty of goalkicking prowess and ball-winning ability in the Roos' forward third.
While able to play through the middle, expect Sheezel to slot into a half-forward/crumbing role for North Melbourne in the early years of his professional career before sharing his time in the engine room.
FULL HARRY SHEEZEL DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 5 - Essendon: Elijah Tsatas
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Surrey Park
Date of Birth: 18/10/04
Height: 186cm
Weight: 79kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 5 (Essendon)
With the top five seemingly set in stone, the Bombers opt for Chargers midfielder Elijah Tsatas with their opening selection.
While the likes of Mattaes Phillipou and Bailey Humphrey may also be in Adrian Dodoro's sights, the selection of Tsatas sees Essendon acquire the best talent available from the prospects on offer.
The prolific ball winner will add to an exciting young crop of stars at Tullamarine and will be a key piece in Brad Scott's plans for the future.
An alternative option for the Bombers could be to trade this selection for a later spot in the first-round queue.
FULL ELIJAH TSATAS DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 6 - Gold Coast: Bailey Humphrey
Position: Midfield/Forward
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Moe
Date of Birth: 11/09/04
Height: 185cm
Weight: 86kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 11 (Carlton)
After rolling the dice on key defender Jedd Busslinger with Pick 6 in our initial Mock Draft, the Suns could look at an alternative option when they come on the clock for the opening night of the draft.
While some added height to their backline is certainly a list need for the Suns, the skillset that Humphrey has on offer could be too strong to pass up.
An explosive midfielder and tantalising prospect, Humphrey will add to a developing engine room under Stuart Dew in this experiment, as opposed to finding himself at Carlton as part of our first draft scenario.
Pick 7 - Hawthorn: Jhye Clark
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Queenscliff
Date of Birth: 23/07/04
Height: 181cm
Weight: 76kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 8 (Geelong)
Clark was on offer to the Hawks in our first edition Mock Draft, however, instead called on Oakleigh forward Matthew Jefferson to help carry the key-forward workload under Sam Mitchell.
Should Mitchell's men look toward midfield options instead when they first enter the draft, it will be hard for them to look past Clark's name.
The Geelong Falcons captain is a bullish ball-winner and bonafide leader that would strongly complement the likes of Jai Newcombe and Josh Ward in Hawthorn's new-look midfield contingent.
Pick 8 - Geelong: Cameron Mackenzie
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Beaumaris
Date of Birth: 21/01/04
Height: 188cm
Weight: 83kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 10 (St Kilda)
With local prospect Jhye Clark off the board in this experiment, the Cats will be required to look deeper into the draft pool to pluck out another formidable talent to add to their premiership defence.
Likely on their radar is Sandringham onballer Cameron Mackenzie, who ventured to his Next Generation Academy-tied club St Kilda in our initial Mock Draft.
As Clark would, Mackenzie adds an exciting edge to Geelong's midfield group as they now plan for life after Joel Selwood, who coincidentally was their last selection this early in the draft.
FULL CAMERON MACKENZIE DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 9 - West Coast: Rueben Ginbey
Position: Midfielder
State: Western Australia
State League Club: East Perth
Community Club: Dunsborough
Date of Birth: 10/09/04
Height: 189cm
Weight: 82kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 9 (West Coast)
Again, still on offer to West Coast when they go live at Pick 9, Ginbey is sure to be suited to a move to the Eagles.
While the Suns, Hawks and Cats are all sure to strongly consider the East Perth midfielder, Ginbey again finds himself overlooked until the Eagles strike.
A local prospect, Ginbey and the Eagles are sure to be an exciting partnership as West Coast plans their pathway back toward premiership contention.
FULL REUBEN GINBEY DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 10 - St Kilda: Mattaes Phillipou
Position: Midfielder/Forward
State: South Australia
State League Club: Woodville-West Torrens
Community Club: PHOS Camden
Date of Birth: 27/12/04
Height: 190cm
Weight: 89kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 14 (Melbourne)
The next part of our Mock Draft ripple effect changes comes with the Saints at Pick 10, who initially acquired draft target Cameron Mackenzie with their first-round selection.
With Mackenzie off the board, the Saints might look toward Phillipou as the firecracker that can spark some excitement at Moorabbin.
The Woodville-West Torrens prospect would be a welcomed addition as a threat among St Kilda's forward and midfield packs, with his match-winning acumen a large attraction for a club like the Saints.
FULL MATTAES PHILLIPOU DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 11 - Carlton: Jedd Busslinger
Position: Tall Defender
State: Western Australia
State League Club: East Perth
Community Club: Coolbinia
Date of Birth: 11/03/04
Height: 196cm
Weight: 82kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 6 (Gold Coast)
A slider by five selections from our initial Mock Draft, Western Australian Jedd Busslinger finds himself heading to Princes Park as opposed to the Gold Coast in this scenario.
As would've been the case with our initial edition, the Blues will be salivating at the thought of Busslinger being on offer when they come into the conversation - most likely at Pick 11.
The Royals backman would add to Michael Voss' rearguard as a key pillar of their spine, working alongside the likes of Jacob Weitering and Lewis Young down back.
Pick 12 - Western Bulldogs: Oliver Hollands
Position: Outside Midfielder
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Wodonga
Date of Birth: 16/01/04
Height: 183cm
Weight: 71kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 12 (Western Bulldogs)
A selection that follows suit to our first Mock Draft, Murray Bushrangers midfielder Oliver Hollands secures a move to the Kennel at Pick 12 in the draft.
With the Bulldogs seen a strong chance to consider outside midfield options, Hollands will be among their list of targets in the first round of the draft.
Claremont utility Edward Allan and his WA teammate Elijah Hewett may also be of interest to the Bulldogs.
FULL OLIVER HOLLANDS DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 13 - West Coast: Ed Allan
Position: Utility
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Claremont
Community Club: Mosman Park
Date of Birth: 26/05/04
Height: 194cm
Weight: 83kg
First Edition Selection: N/A
The first selection that has ascended from outside of the opening round of our initial Mock Draft, Allan lands at Pick 13 as his stocks continue to rise as the National Draft nears.
The Eagles opted for another local prospect in Elijah Hewett with their second selection initially, but in this experiment look for more versatility in the form of Allan.
The athletic midfielder can slot into a multitude of roles under Adam Simpson and would see West Coast off to a strong start at the draft after securing the aforementioned Ginbey at Pick 9.
Pick 14 - Brisbane: Jaspa Fletcher (matched F/S bid)
Position: Midfielder
State: Queensland
State League Club: Brisbane Lions Academy
Community Club: Sherwood
Date of Birth: 24/02/04
Height: 183cm
Weight: 76kg
First Edition Selection: N/A
Like Ed Allan and the Eagles on spot earlier, Brisbane father-son gun Jaspa Fletcher flies into the first round after being overlooked in our opening Mock Draft of top 20 picks.
The Allies midfielder sees his name raised as Melbourne are on the clock, with the Demons forcing the Lions to hand over 929 draft points to add to their previous acquisition of Will Ashcroft.
Fletcher, a hard-working midfielder, might just be Brisbane's final draftee of the count, with their current hand of picks likely to be dissolved should their pair of matched bids come in the opening 14 selections.
Pick 15 - Melbourne: Matthew Jefferson
Position: Key Forward
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Ashburton
Date of Birth: 08/03/04
Height: 195cm
Weight: 84kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 7 (Hawthorn)
Following on from their bid for Fletcher, the Demons find themselves again on the hunt and this time have access to Oakleigh forward Matthew Jefferson.
Having been plucked by the Hawks at Pick 7 in our first edition, Jefferson slides eight spots and is perhaps unlikely to go past the Demons on draft night.
Hoping to bolster their attack, which is currently home to Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch and 2021 first-round pick Jacob van Rooyen, the Demons gain another exciting forward option with Jefferson pulling on the red and blue.
FULL MATTHEW JEFFERSON DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 16 - Sydney: Elijah Hewett
Position: Midfielder
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Swan Districts
Community Club: Caversham
Date of Birth: 27/05/04
Height: 185cm
Weight: 85kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 13 (West Coast)
Hewett slides three selections from our first Mock Draft, where he initially remained in Western Australia with the Eagles.
This edition sees the Swan Districts star fly across the county and link up with fellow young WA natives Chad Warner, Logan McDonald and Angus Sheldrick.
Again following their 'best available' approach, the Swans add to their exciting young midfield brigade with the selection of Hewett.
FULL ELIJAH HEWETT DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 17 - Essendon: Alwyn Davey Jr. (matched F/S bid)
Position: Midfielder/Forward
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Ashburton
Date of Birth: 26/02/04
Height: 181cm
Weight: 77kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 18 (Essendon - Matched Bid)
Gaining a rival bid one selection earlier than our initial Mock Draft, Alwyn Davey Jr. finds himself landing at Pick 17 following the attempts of GWS.
The Bombers add the Oakleigh excitement machine to their previous selection of NAB League teammate Elijah Tsatas, with the pair combining on a number of occasions this year in what was a strong campaign for the Chargers.
A bid this early will mean the Bombers are required to part ways with their second-round selection at Pick 22.
Pick 18 - GWS: Brayden George
Position: Midfield/Forward
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Wangaratta Rovers
Date of Birth: 13/01/04
Height: 186cm
Weight: 87kg
First Edition Selection: N/A
After the Giants flagged a need to only acquire certain players through the draft amid their ongoing battle to retain key personnel, Wangaratta prospect Brayden George could fit the bill for GWS.
The Vic Country bull could find himself right at home at half-forward for the Giants, with his strong ball-winning ability and tenacity at the coalface a much-needed style for Adam Kingsley's squad.
George, who was not taken in our initial Mock Draft of the first round, will need some time before stepping on the big stage after suffering an ACL injury this year.
Pick 19 - Collingwood: Lewis Hayes
Position: Tall Defender
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: South Belgrave
Date of Birth: 17/12/04
Height: 199cm
Weight: 82kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 17 (Collingwood)
After securing Hayes in our first Mock Draft, the Magpies do the same here, only two spots later in the draft.
Thanks to a pair of added father-son selections, Collingwood don't enter the draft until Pick 19, but thankfully still have Hayes as an option among the available assets.
The rangy key defender will be a welcomed addition to the Magpies' backline, offering great intercept capabilities and disposal use.
FULL LEWIS HAYES DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 20 - Sydney: Henry Hustwaite
Position: Midfielder/Defender
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Rosebud
Date of Birth: 20/07/04
Height: 195cm
Weight: 82kg
First Edition Selection: Pick 15 (Sydney)
The Swans secured Hustwaite at Pick 15 in our prior Mock Draft, but thanks to a shuffling of young stars, they're are able to acquire the Dandenong utility five spots later in the draft.
Again looking toward the best talent available instead of list needs, Sydney adds an exciting midfielder/defender hybrid to their young list.
Needing some time to mature into a key asset at AFL level, Hustwaite will be an astute addition for the Swans as he waits in the wings.
FULL HENRY HUSTWAITE DRAFT PROFILE
Pick 21 - GWS: Lachlan Cowan
Position: Medium Defender
State: Tasmania
State League Club: Tasmania Devils
Community Club: Devonport
Date of Birth: 01/12/04
Height: 187cm
Weight: 81kg
First Edition Selection: N/A
Rounding out the first round of the draft is GWS and their selection of top Tasmanian talent Lachlan Cowan.
After being overlooked in our first Mock Draft, Cowan rises into the opening round as the last player picked at 21st overall.
After acquiring small forward Jacob Konstanty and speed midfielder option Olli Hotton in our first Mock Draft, the Giants look toward adding to their back half with the selection of Cowan.
