Top AFL draft prospect Harley Reid's reign as the No.1 name in the 2023 draft class remains steadfast, but his standing hasn't kept a "trailing pack" of prospects from at least shortening the gap between themselves and the Tongala native at this year's National Championships.
Reid entered 2023 as the unbackable favourite to land atop the draft board later this year thanks to a stellar bottom-age campaign with the Bendigo Pioneers and Vic Country, where he has only continued to stamp his authority as this year's leading teenager across recent months.
The versatile and powerful midfielder took home Vic Country's MVP honour after four games at this year's carnival, which was capped off with a strong finish against Vic Metro last weekend.
Following a busy period where he featured for the Pioneers, Vic Country, the AFL Academy and Carlton's VFL side, Reid will earn a break before making a likely Talent League return in early August for Bendigo.
While Reid has only continued to put his best foot forward each time he's stepped onto the field, with thousands of eyes watching from near or afar, some of 2023's finest draft-focused footballers have built themselves a strong case as top-five picks.
Among them is Gold Coast key forward Jed Walter, who kicked 18 goals in his four appearances for the Suns' Academy in the Talent League prior to a successful carnival with the Allies, who would end the National Championships undefeated and title holders for the first time in their existence.
Walter would kick a further 11 goals in his four matches for the Allies, thanks to the silver service of Tasmania midfield pairing and fellow top-five draft chances Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders.
Between Walter's year-long dominance and McKercher's exceptionally consistent seasons for the Allies and Devils, the pair has closed the void on Reid with several months left before draft night.
"The gap's shortened. For me, Walter and McKercher are the two challengers for Reid," Rookie Me Central draft analyst Michael Alvaro toldย Zero Hanger TVย this week.ย
"They're probably the main guys up there. Nick Watson's right up there. Whether he, as a small forward at 170cms, is a genuine top five player or draft pick remains to be seen, but he's up there for sure.
"Among the next few it'd be Ethan Read, Dan Curtin, Sanders and (Zane) Duursma, they're probably all in the (top five) mix.
"All of them have their plusses and reasons why you would want to have them in your top five."
While spots among the pack that is chasing Reid have become heavily congested come the cessation of the championships, Alvaro noted Reid has done his own stocks no harm in recent months.
The teenager endured a spell on the sidelines after suffering a concussion during an appearance for the AFL Academy in May, with the fearsome talent entering the National Championships "underdone" and commencing his highly-anticipated carnival in a different role.
Alvaro said Reid's standing as the "generational talent" AFL scouts have come to know remains strong, with the likely No.1 pick still seen as the leading man for this year's draft.
"We focus on the trailing pack, but on him himself, he had to deal with a little bit throughout his championships," Alvaro said of Reid.
"He came in pretty underdone, had that head knock about a month away (from the opening match) and had to be camped at full forward while he was playing the first game.
"Eventually he got his midfield minutes up and we see in the final and fourth game a really solid effort. Even against WA he was fantastic. For me that's why he's still No.1, that generational talent, that midfielder you can build a team around.
"He can play anywhere and he's the real difference maker. He's the standout still."
With the National Championships drawing to a close, this year's prospects will now go their separate ways to strengthen their respective cases further ahead of the November draft.
The Coates Talent League will kick back into gear next weekend with 12 Victorian clubs set to feature after a week's break, with four rounds remaining in the 2023 season. Northern Academy clubs wrapped up their campaigns prior to the carnival, with their top names potentially in line for VFL stints.
Gold Coast's star trio of Walter, Read and Jake Rogers could earn selection spots for the VFL ladder leaders, with the latter already making one appearance for the Suns' reserves this year in Round 14.
Talent from Western Australia and South Australia will also look toward returning to their respective state league clubs, whether at junior, reserve or even senior level across the coming months.
"They're going to build towards the end of the season, they've got the Wildcard Round in finals after about four more rounds," Alvaro said of the Talent League prospects. "That's coming around pretty quick.
"In terms of the state leagues, players will be making the jump to the VFL if they don't have any Talent League (games). There's some good possibilities there, particularly for the Northern Academy prospects, because otherwise they'd be playing QAFL or AFL Premier, which isn't the highest level.
runs with the ball during the round seven VFL match between Carlton Blues and Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park on May 06, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
"Then in the SANFL and the WAFL you've got guys, even (bottom age prospect) Sid Draper, making their league debuts. Will McCabe has made his reserves debut for Central Districts.
"So there'll be guys rolling through the senior grades in the SANFL and WAFL as those seasons round out to a close."
You can watch the entireย Zero Hanger TVย draft special episode here.
