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. 

19. Pick 19 - North Melbourne: Lance Collard 

Collard's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 19 (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Lance Collard

Position: Forward
Height: 180cm
Weight: 65kg
State: Western Australia
Club: 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.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Lance Collard (Subiaco) participates 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 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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