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. 

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. 

16. Pick 16 - Western Bulldogs: Jordan Croft (matched F/S bid) 

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.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 14: Jordan Croft of Vic Metro runs with the ball during the AFL Pathways match between Vic Metro and Queensland at Highgate Reserve on August 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

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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