Essendon and their list boss Adrian Dodoro loom as the wildcards in this year’s AFL draft who could dramatically change the order of the top 10.
The Bombers provisionally hold pick four, which will slide to No.5 once Greater Western Sydney or more likely North Melbourne place a bid on Brisbane Lions father-son prodigy Will Ashcroft.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels key forward Aaron Cadman is as good as certain to be the No.1 selection, with the Kangaroos – who have the next two picks – set to pair George Wardlaw with Harry Sheezel after an Ashcroft bid.
Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro has a big draft call to make.Credit:Getty Images
Essendon are linked to Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Elijah Tsatas, but also South Australian Mattaes Phillipou, whose confidence during draft interviews has become a significant talking point.
Rival clubs believe the Bombers are open to trading down the order, knowing big-bodied midfielder Phillipou could still be available outside the top 10.
St Kilda, who have the 10th pick, are known to be keen to move up but would have to give up next year’s first-round selection to do so – and that is a steep price, given the excitement about the 2023 class.
Tsatas, who greatly impressed either side of suffering, then recovering from, a foot fracture that interrupted his season, is on record as wanting to stay in Victoria, which adds further complexity. Gold Coast, with the pick after Essendon, appear to be honing in on Gippsland Power captain Bailey Humphrey after early links to Western Australia’s Reuben Ginbey.
Midfielders Jhye Clark and Cam Mackenzie are believed to be on Hawthorn’s radar, although Tsatas would be strongly considered if he slid that far.
What the Hawks decide on Clark, who starred for the Geelong Falcons and Victoria Country this year, may also impact the Cats’ decision.
(from left) Elijah Tsatas, Will Ashcroft and Mitch Szybowski are all set to join AFL clubs in the upcoming draft.Credit:AFL Photos
Claremont midfielder Ed Allan, son of ex-Hawk and Docker Ben, is among the other players Geelong are considering, along with another West Australian, Jedd Busslinger, a 196-centimetre defender.
West Coast will take Ginbey or Allan if they make it that far, while St Kilda and Carlton continue to be raised as potential homes for Mackenzie – a Saints next generation academy product – and Ollie Hollands, respectively.
Hollands, Busslinger and Phillipou are also of interest to the Western Bulldogs. Phillipou or even promising key forward Matt Jefferson may also tempt St Kilda, while Allan, Busslinger and Elijah Hewett – despite some behavioural concerns – are local options for the Eagles’ second pick.
Melbourne are keen on Jefferson, Brayden George, who will likely miss next season recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and Allan, the bolter in this year’s group. George is not expected to make it out of the first round, with Sydney and the Giants having four of the last five picks, while the latter also start the second round.
Josh Weddle, Jacob Konstanty, Lachie Cowan, Henry Hustwaite and Charlie Clarke are others who could be snapped up in this region, with Collingwood wedged between the NSW clubs.
Essendon will secure the Davey twins, Alwyn jnr and Jayden, sons of ex-Bomber Alwyn snr, who played 100 games for the club between 2007 and 2013.
Alwyn jnr joins Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane) and Max Michalanney (Adelaide) as coveted father-son prospects who should attract bids between the first and second rounds.
Jayden, who sustained an ACL setback playing touch rugby in March, is more likely to be a late draft selection.
Essendon’s second pick is at 22 but the Eagles (20) and Bulldogs (21) are potential bidders on Alwyn jnr, so the Bombers may look to offload that selection.
INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER
ROUND 1
1. Greater Western Sydney
2. North Melbourne
3. North Melbourne
4. Essendon
5. Gold Coast
6. Hawthorn
7. Geelong
8. West Coast
9. St Kilda
10. Carlton
11. Western Bulldogs
12. West Coast
13. Melbourne
14. Sydney
15. Greater Western Sydney
16. Collingwood
17. Sydney
18. Greater Western Sydney
