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. 

24. Pick 24 - Collingwood: Koltyn Tholstrup

Tholstrup's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Pick 17 (St Kilda)
Collingwood's 1st Mock Draft Selection: Harry DeMattia

Position: Forward
Height: 186cm
Weight: 86kg
State: Western Australia
Club: Newtown Condingup

Tholstrup is the big slider in this Mock Draft after being taken by the Saints in the first edition at Pick 17, with his drop a big win for the reigning premiers.

The Subiaco young gun is a match-winner in his own way, with his explosiveness and smarts in the front half of the field seeing him rise to first-round contention.

While DeMattia was the one selected by Collingwood in the first draft, expect the Magpies to have a preference for Tholstrup if both are available at their first pick.

FULL PROFILE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Koltyn Tholstrup of the Team Murphy Squad looks on during the 2022 AFL Futures match between Team Houli and Team Murphy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

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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