AFL national draft 2022 LIVE updates: Ashcroft, Cadman, Wardlaw, Sheezel and Tsatas expected to go early

Key posts

AFL to change substitute rule

By Jon Pierik

In some non-draft-related news, the medical sub is set to go the way of the dodo in 2023.

Marlion Pickett acknowledges Brad Ebert.Credit:Getty Images

West Coast ready to go

The Eagles draft staff could almost field a team of their own!

Dons weigh up deals for pick four

Essendon still not ruling out trading outtheir coveted pick No.4 as the draft draws near.

Why the AFL draft isn’t working

By Jake Niall

Tonight when the AFL’s 18 clubs assemble for the opening night of the national draft, the Richmond Football Club will be only notional participants as the first 20 names are read out.

If the rules permitted, the Tigers may as well stay at home because they will be mere bystanders to whatever unfolds.

Richmond have no first- or second-round pick in 2022, and they don’t have a 2023 first-round choice to trade on the night either.

Click here to read more.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images

How does the bidding system work?

Glad you asked. Click here to check out Michael Gleeson’s explanation of how points are attached to draft picks on a sliding scale, and how clubs can match rival bids to secure father-son and Next Generation Academy players to which they have priority access.

Father-son picks Sam Darcy, left, and Nick Daicos.

Indicative draft order

Cryptic Giants

GWS keeping plans for No.1 (not so) secret.

Ultimate AFL draft preview: Your guide to what every club needs

By Marc McGowan

The AFL’s national draft will be held across Monday and Tuesday, with Essendon set to shape the top 10 depending on which way they go at what is currently pick four.

Click here to check out who your club is believed to be looking at ahead of the last big event on the football calendar for 2022.

Prospective AFL draftees.Credit:The Age

‘Different path, same result’: How the Davey twins became Bombers

By Marc McGowan

Jayden Davey was supposed to make his mark this year.

Alongside twin brother Alwyn jnr, the gifted sons of ex-Bomber Alwyn Davey snr planned to race up AFL draft boards, even though they were always destined to join the red and black as father-son prospects.

But their journeys took a drastic turn when Jayden suffered a second ACL rupture in his right knee, on their 18th birthday of all days.

Click here to read more.

Jayden and Alwyn Davey.

How the first round of the AFL draft might play out

By Marc McGowan

The AFL draft starts with a bang tonight, when the competition’s next batch of budding stars will be selected in the first round.

Here’s how it might play out, based on discussions with recruiters, list managers and player agents, with Essendon then Hawthorn set to shape the top-10 order.