The 2023 AFL National Draft is less than a month away and with it fast approaching we've finalised our first edition Mock Draft - looking at how the opening round of the count might unfold.
The first round of November's draft has extended to 22 selections following the establishment of free agency compensation selections and one additional pick via the AFL's assistance package for North Melbourne.
With Academy and father-son bids predicted to come on the opening night of the draft, the first round could be extended past the mid-20s in what shapes as an intriguing queue.
Below we've worked through the first round of the draft order to present our opening Mock Draft of the season.
For the purpose of this exercise, we have decided not to predict prior or live trades for the draft, with the order remaining as it currently reads with the addition of matched Academy and father-son bids.Â
VIEW: FULL 2023 AFL DRAFT ORDER
Position: Midfielder
Height: 187cm
Weight: 85kg
State: Victoria
Club: Tongala
While there'll be some consideration into potentially trading Pick 1 - only if West Coast are blown out of the water with a rival offer - the Eagles will all but certainly select the highly-touted Reid atop the draft board.
The Bendigo Pioneers prospect entered 2023 as the standout talent off the back of a promising bottom-age year and has only strengthened his stocks as the leading figure in this year's class.
Able to play across all three lines of the field and use his physicality and pace to his advantage, Reid will be among the more ready-made names in this year's crop of prospects.
Another to consider:Â Dan Curtin
Position: Key Forward
Height: 194cm
Weight: 97kg
State: Queensland
Club: Palm Beach Currumbin
A big-bodied brute force for defenders to deal with, Walter's name could be called as early as Pick 1 following his dominant year with the Suns and the Allies.
The tall forward booted 11 goals in the National Championships to help steer the Allies to their first premiership, with Walter also booting 18 goals from his four Talent League appearances.
The Queenslander is likely to be one of four Suns Academy prospects that get drafted next month and could be the first of three selected in the top 10.
Another to consider:Â N/A
Position: Midfielder-Forward
Height: 189cm
Weight: 79kg
State: Victoria
Club: Foster
North Melbourne will have an enticing decision to make when they're on the clock given they hold a pair of successive selections in the opening four slots.
Their opening selection could be to add Duursma to their emerging list, with the brother of new Essendon recruit Xavier and Port Adelaide's Yasmin an astute pickup for a side likely wanting to bolster its attack while also adding some midfielder support.
Duursma's best position is at half-forward, where he can work up the ground and impact the engine room before flicking the switch and being a lethal presence in attack.
Another to consider:Â Dan Curtin
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76kg
State: Tasmania
Club: Launceston
The Roos' second selection will likely come down to either McKercher or Western Australia's Dan Curtin. While the Roos have been closely tied to the latter, there's every chance they roll the dice on McKercher in a scenario that seems them select the best talent still available.
Although they're home to the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke, George Wardlaw, Jy Simpkin and Tarryn Thomas, the Kangaroos add a new edge to their midfield mix with the addition of McKercher, who has pace to burn and a match-winning attitude like no other in this year's count.
His move into Alastair Clarkson's midfield mix would give the Roos some exciting excite run, much like a Chad Warner or Errol Gulden at Sydney, while allowing Rising Star winner Harry Sheezel to play across half-back or in the forward line.
Another to consider: Ryley Sanders
Position: Defender
Height: 197cm
Weight: 95kg
State: Western Australia
Club: West Coast
The Hawks would like to have one of Curtin or Duursma slide to their opening selection, and in this case, it's the former.
The Western Australian is the most versatile talent in this year's class, able to play key-position roles in defence and attack while also having the ability to be run through midfield as a big-bodied presence.
Curtin would feature at senior level for Claremont this year throughout the end of the WAFL season and during their finals campaign, where he'd show plenty of poise across the backline.
Another to consider:Â Nick Watson
Position: Ruck
Height: 202cm
Weight: 92kg
State: Queensland
Club: Palm Beach Currumbin
The second predicted Suns Academy bid, with the Bulldogs forcing Gold Coast's hand with the pick that was originally theirs prior to this year's trade period.
With the Suns having split that selection into a multitude of picks, they'll have the points to facilitate bids for their trio of top-rated teenagers, and Read is certainly one for the club to get excited about.
At 202cm, the Palm Beach Currumbin ruckman can also play in defence, and flexed his aerobic capacity with a third-place finish in the 2km time trial at October's AFL Combine.
Read took out the Hunter Harrison Medal as the best Academy player from the Talent League's Academy series.
Another to consider:Â N/A
Position: Small Forward
Height: 170cm
Weight: 68kg
State: Victoria
Club: East Ringwood
The Dogs add to their already-lethal front third by swooping on Nick 'The Wizard' Watson at Pick 7, with the electrifying small forward among this year's leading attacking prospects.
Despite his small frame, Watson had a big impact at the National Championships to earn a return of 14 goals from his four matches for Vic Metro.
A great goal sense and his quick feet saw Watson continuously cause headaches for defenders, with a potential pairing alongside Cody Weightman likely to offer the same issue at AFL level.
Another to consider:Â Ryley Sanders
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 86kg
State: Tasmania
Club: North Launceston
The Demons add to their midfield unit after an off-season that saw James Harmes, James Jordon and Luke Dunstan depart.
Sanders is among the best inside ball-winners among the class of 2023, managing to push himself into the contest and come out of it with the Sherrin in hand thanks to his ability to burst through stoppages.
The Tasmanian took out the Larke Medal as the best player at this year's National Championships as he led the Allies to their maiden flag, averaging 35 disposals on the way.
Another to consider:Â Connor O'Sullivan
Position: Key Forward
Height: 193cm
Weight: 92kg
State: Victoria
Club: Yarrambat
After adding Aaron Cadman to their front third with Pick 1 last year, the Giant look to construct an emerging tall attacking unit with the addition of Caddy this November.
The Yarramabat product is closely likened to two-time Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow given his ability to dominate the air despite only stopping the tape at 193cm.
Caddy booted 25 goals for the Northern Knights this year and would show glimpses for Vic Metro at the National Carnival with his six goals.
Another to consider:Â Connor O'Sullivan
Position: Key Defender
Height: 198cm
Weight: 92kg
State: New South Wales
Club: Albury
O'Sullivan is a clean backline prospect who is as damaging on the defensive end as he is with the ball in hand.
While also able to play forward, O'Sullivan took out the Allies' MVP honour in a premiership-winning side under coach Mark McVeigh to be one of eight Allies players to earn a U18 All-Australian selection for 2023.
With the Cats likely looking toward add height to their backline, they won't come across a more fitting option than O'Sullivan.
Another to consider:Â Darcy Wilson
Position: Midfielder
Height: 170cm
Weight: 68kg
State: Queensland
Club: Broadbeach
The third of the Suns' anticipated early Academy bids, Rogers will join the likes of Walter and Read in remaining at Carrara to start to his AFL career.
Known for his defensive pressure and tackling ability in midfield, Rogers averaged 6.3 tackles to go with his 25.5 disposals and 4.3 inside 50s per game for the Suns in the Talent League this year.
The hard-nosed onballer would also feature in three games for Gold Coast's VFL side this year to get an early look at the professional level.
Another to consider:Â N/A
Position: Key Forward
Height: 200cm
Weight: 81kg
State: Victoria
Club: Maribyrnong Park
The Dogs should have the points to match a bid for Croft as early as Pick 10, with their acquisition of the Calder Cannons key forward set to see another tall talent land at Whitten Oval.
Croft emerged as a likely first-round selection and one of this year's most promising tall forwards throughout the course of this year thanks to his 23-goal Talent League campaign, where he'd flex his leading and aerial abilities.
Adding to a forward line that already consists of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton, Croft will be learning from some of the best to start his career.
Another to consider:Â N/A
Position: Key Defender
Height: 200cm
Weight: 85kg
State: Victoria
Club: East Brighton
After forcing the Suns and Dogs into bids, the Bombers finally find themselves on the clock at Pick 13 - four selections later than when they're first scheduled to join the draft.
At this point in the draft the pool of talent begins to open up, and with their opening selection the Bombers may strongly consider Murphy out of the Sandringham Dragons.
Somewhat of a bolter this year, Murphy is among the top line of key defenders for 2023, with Essendon potentially looking to add to their defensive third with the addition of the Vic Metro MVP winner, who is a constant threat in the air and with the ball in his hands.
Another to consider:Â James Leake
Position: Midfielder
Height: 186cm
Weight: 74kg
State: Victoria
Club: Wangaratta Rovers
Wilson sits just outside the top 10 mix but would be high up on the Crows' list as they potentially look to add some outside run to their list.
While able to play through the middle, Wilson's speed and agility is what gives him the upper hand in space, where he can gather the ball and break away from the pack.
After bidding farewell to Paul Seedsman this season and likely seeing captain Jordan Dawson increase his minutes at centre stoppages, Wilson could be the complementing piece to Matthew Nicks' midfield.
Another to consider:Â Caleb Windsor
Position: Midfielder
Height: 184cm
Weight: 76kg
State: Victoria
Club: Lysterfield
Windsor's second half of this year has him right in the conversation as a mid-first-round selection, with his speed and clean hands among the traits that make him so attractive to AFL scouts.
Culminated with a 31-disposal, 16-mark outing against the Lions Academy, Windsor reached new heights to help steer the Eastern Ranges to a grand final finish and stamped his authority as one of the leading outside midfielders in this year's count.
Windsor also offers plenty on the attacking end, having booted at least one goal in his final eight games of the Talent League to offer a X-Factor presence on the field.
Another to consider:Â Koltyn Tholstrup
Position: Defender-Forward
Height: 187cm
Weight: 77kg
State: Tasmania
Club: Launceston
The Tasmanian's best efforts were recognised after the Allies' title-clinching campaign, with Leake earning a sport in the U18 All-Australian side alongside seven of his National Championships teammates.
The medium-sized defender is a balanced backman thanks to his ability to outwork his opponent in the air and at ground level.
Leake managed to transition those traits into the forward half when he swung forward for Tasmania in the Talent League to boot 15 goals in his last five games of the season.
Another to consider:Â Koltyn Tholstrup
Position: Forward
Height: 186cm
Weight: 86kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Newtown Condingup
The livewire half-forward is one of the standout characters in this year's draft thanks to his bouncing locks and on-field antics, but Tholstrup also knows how to have an impact with the ball.
The strong medium-sized forward would play 10 games in Subiaco's senior WAFL side this year, booting 7.10 from an average of 11 disposals, 3.5 marks and 2.4 tackles per game for the Lions as they made a push for the premiership.
If he can settle himself in front of goal and turn around his inaccuracies, Tholstrup can be one of the more damaging prospects in this year's class.
Another to consider:Â Archer Reid
Position: Defender
Height: 185cm
Weight: 75kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Caversham
The captain of Western Australia for their National Championships carnival, Hardeman was among the few standouts for the Sandgropers in their one-win campaign.
The Caversham defender offers plenty of run out of the backline and relies on his accurate, long kicking to get this side back on the front foot from the defensive third.
Hardeman averaged 22.1 disposals for Swans' Colts this season to show off his ball-winning nous.
Another to consider:Â Harry DeMattia
Position: Key Defender
Height: 197cm
Weight: 86kg
State: South Australia
Club: Tanunda
McCabe's confirmed allegiance to Hawthorn is yet to surface, but the versatile key-position talent is expected to be donning the brown and gold from November.
McCabe has quickly emerged as one of the best intercept defenders among the 2023 crop, enjoying a breakout performance for South Australia in their matchup with a combined GWS and Sydney Academy side in May.
The son of ex-Hawk Luke, McCabe is also able to float forward where he can be a tall target and impact the scoreboard.
Another to consider:Â N/A
Position: Forward
Height: 180cm
Weight: 65kg
State: Western Australia
Club:Â North Beach
What's West Coast's loss will be North Melbourne's gain as the Roos bid for the Eagles Next Generation Academy talent Lance Collard in the opening round and prior to the Pick 40 cutoff for matched NGA bids.
Collard steadily built up stocks this year at the WAFL Colts level with Subiaco, booting 32 goals from his 11 games. But it would be his combine testing that pushed him further up the rankings.
The pacey small forward took out the quickest time for the agility test this month ahead of Lions teammate Koltyn Tholstrup and would also finish with the fourth-best time for the 20m sprint.
Another to consider:Â George Stevens
Position: Forward-Midfielder
Height: 177cm
Weight: 69kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Applecross Mt Pleasant
The promising Western Australian would join fellow statesmen in Curtin, Hardeman and Clay Hall in earning a spot in the U18 All-Australian side thanks to a strong National Championships, where Sanchez averaged 17.8 disposals, 9.2 contested possessions and 1.5 goals per match.
Known for his pace and craft ball work in the front half of the field, Sanchez is able to play deep in attack and through the middle of the ground.
With GWS coach Ada Kingsley a big fan of having speed in his side, Sanchez could be a nice addition to a small forward crop that includes the likes of Toby Greene, Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels before adding to the Giants' midfield group.
Another to consider:Â Archer Reid
Position: Key Forward
Height: 203cm
Weight: 94kg
State: Victoria
Club: Inverloch-Kongwak
A key area of focus for North Melbourne at this year's draft will be adding to their key forward depth, with Reid likely the leading tall attacker on offer at the back-end of the opening round.
The aforementioned Caddy is perhaps the only available key forward ahead of Reid, with Walter and Croft tied to the Suns and Dogs respectively.
Reid, the younger brother of Essendon defender Zach, came into the season as a potential top 10 prospect and was still able to piece together a good year, booting 16 goals for Gippsland in a forward line shared with Zane Duursma and West Coast mid-season recruit Ryan Maric.
Another to consider:Â Logan Morris
Position: Defender
Height: 184cm
Weight: 79kg
State: Victoria
Club: Hampton Rovers
Roberts earned a spot at half-back in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year following his strong season in Sandringham's backline, averaging over 20 disposals from his nine appearances in 2023.
Also able to push up the field and work through midfield or in the forward line, Roberts knows how to win the ball and has the tank to see out games in comfort.
With North Melbourne parting with defensive outlets Aaron Hall, Zack Ziebell and Daniel Howe, coupled with Harry Sheezel's potential move into the forward line, Roberts could find a home at half-back at Arden Street.
Another to consider:Â Arie Schoenmaker
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78kg
State: Victoria
Club: Edithvale-Aspendale
A midfield bull might be what the Magpies are after as they plan toward continuously rejuvenating a premiership list for the years to come, with Taylor Adams' departure and the eventual retirements of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Tom Mitchell also add to the need to add to their engine room.
DeMattia is just that with his explosiveness and strength offering plenty of of upside in the Dandenong Stingray midfielder's game.
While not a high accumulator, DeMattia can win the ball and work it to the outside while offering plenty of strengths on the defensive end.
Another to consider:Â Logan Morris
Position: Ruck
Height: 204cm
Weight: 93kg
State: Victoria
Club: Northcote
The Crows may look to add some youthful ruck support behind first-string tall Reilly O'Brien and the fledgling Riley Thilthorpe, with Green arguably the leading ruck prospect available in the first round.
Gold Coast Academy talent Ethan Read claimed the starting role in the National Championships Team of the Year, but Green would feature on the interchange following his strong carnival for Vic Metro.
The Northern Knights ruckman averaged 12 disposals, 24 hitouts and three tackles during the carnival and would record similar figures from his 13 Talent League games this year also.
Another to consider:Â Mitch Edwards
Position: Key Forward
Height: 191cm
Weight: 90kg
State: Victoria
Club: Werribee Districts
St Kilda's second selection at the draft will depend on what they have to work with when they're first on the clock, but one name the Saints might consider is Western Jets forward Logan Morris.
The Werribee Districts attacker impressed with his ability in the air despite standing at just 191cm, with Morris ending his Talent League campaign with 30 goals to rank equal third in the competition.
His standout performance of the year would come for Vic Metro against Western Australia, where Morris booted four goals in a heavy win.
Another to consider:Â Ashton Moir
Position: Ruck
Height: 206cm
Weight: 89kg
State: Western Australia
Club: South Mandurah
After investing in Hudson O'Keeffe earlier this year, the Blues could look toward another ruckman via the National Draft, with fringe tall Alex Mirkov battling health concerns this year to be sidelined for an extended period.
Edwards, a Fremantle NGA talent, is among the top line of ruckmen in this year's draft and would add to the strong WA links at Princes Park if he were to join Carlton.
The WA tall started this as a potential top 10 selection but has since slipped to now be attainable toward the back end of the first round or early into the second.
Another to consider:Â Tew Jiath