By Roy Ward
All the picks from the 2023 AFL draft. This article will be updated throughout Tuesday night when the second night of the draft commences.
1. Harley Reid, West Coast
What Reid said: “It’s a big relief, good luck to all the other boys out there tonight,” he told Fox Footy. Asked how he handled the hype that came with the talk that he would be taken with pick one, he said: “I was pretty laid back with it all to be honest, I was just super grateful for the people around me … I appreciate all you guys.”
2. Colby McKercher, North Melbourne
What McKercher said: “The future’s bright [at North Melbourne] and I’m excited to be a part of it,” McKercher told Fox Footy.
3. Jed Walter, Gold Coast
The Suns matched North Melbourne’s bid for Walter.
What Walter said: “Couldn’t be more pumped,” he told Fox Footy. He said Carlton star Charlie Curnow was one of his idols.
4. Zane Duursma, North Melbourne
What Duursma said: He told Fox Footy he didn’t barrack for any of the AFL teams as a kid.
“Relieved, really, and looking forward to everything to come,” he said of being drafted.
5. Nick Watson, Hawthorn
What Watson said: “When I was younger I had a lot of people saying I was too small to play AFL … got into my head,” he told Fox Footy. But said advice from North Melbourne great Brent Harvey had given him confidence.
6. Ryley Sanders, Western Bulldogs
What Sanders said: “Had a good inkling [that I would end up at the Bulldogs] … stoked to be there,” he told Fox Footy.
He was a Gold Coast supporter as a kid, and said Gary Ablett jnr was his hero.
7. Caleb Windsor, Melbourne
What Windsor said: “Grateful for the opportunity”, he told Fox Footy after getting the biggest cheer of the night when his name was read out.
8. Daniel Curtin, Adelaide
What Curtin said: “Big surprise,” he said of his move to Adelaide. He told Fox Footy he modelled his game on Fremantle great Matthew Pavlich, with versatility in multiple positions.
9. Ethan Read, Gold Coast
The Suns matched a big from Geelong.
What Read said: “I can play other positions, so I guess that’s why they call me ‘the Unicorn’,” he told Fox Footy.
10. Nate Caddy, Essendon
What Caddy said: “I’m so excited,” he told Fox Footy. “I’m a bit undersized as a key forward so I call myself a power forward.”
11. Connor O’Sullivan, Geelong
What O’Sullivan said: “It’s amazing, Joel’s a legend of the game. To be presented a jumper from him is pretty special,” he told Fox Footy after being presented the No.14 by retired Cats great Joel Selwood. His dad’s advice? “Say yes to everything.”
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