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
21. Pick 21 - Hawthorn: Will McCabe (matched F/S bid)
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.
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.