The AFL national draft has been wrapped up for another year, with the best young talent in the land taken by the 18 clubs as part of the annual regeneration of their lists.
Did the clubs hit their targets? We dive into how they fared.
ADELAIDE
Though they gave up their pick five to get Izak Rankine, the Crows were still active, orchestrating several pick swaps to get back into the draft. They matched Sydney’s bid to secure key defender Max Michalanney (taken at pick17) to be the club’s first father-son selection. The Norwood backman featured in the club’s finals campaign this year, and adds depth to their young key defensive stocks. They traded future second- and third-round picks with Gold Coast to rise from 79 to grab Billy Dowling (43), a midfield ball magnet who has endurance and clean hands. Can he be the one to add class to their midfield? They added another on-baller in Hugh Bond (50), a tough stoppage specialist from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. Interestingly, they chose not to nominate for forward/ruck Isaac Keeler as an academy pick, allowing him to join St Kilda with 44.
BRISBANE LIONS
The question for the Lions was never who they would pick but where the bids would come for their two father-son prospects. List boss Dom Ambrogio could not have asked for a much better outcome. The Giants saved them 386 points by taking Aaron Cadman instead of bidding for Will Ashcroft (2), a gun midfielder who went at two despite being widely seen as the best player in the draft. Jaspa Fletcher (12) could have gone a bit later than 12 but pick swaps with Hawthorn and North Melbourne meant the club would not go into deficit for next year’s draft. Ashcroft is good enough to play round one and strengthens a midfield already bolstered by the arrival of Josh Dunkley. Their performance in this draft should stand the test of time.
Welcome to the pride: Jaspa Fletcher and Will Ashcroft.Credit:Getty Images
CARLTON
In a needs-based phase of their drafting, the Blues made no secret of their desire to add speed and run to their list to complement their core of hard-nosed inside mids – and they delivered. Oliver Hollands (11), the younger brother of Gold Coast’s Elijah Hollands, clocked a sub-six-minute time in winning the two-kilometre time trial at the draft combine. An outside player, he can also win contested ball and push forward. Jaxon Binns (32) is also an endurance beast whose work rate between the arcs could fill a void on the Blues’ list. Lachlan Cowan (30), an intercept defender who competes hard and uses the ball well, is a slider who prompted the Blues to give up a future second to Collingwood to get in at 30. Key forward Harry Lemmey had been seen as a high pick and now gets the chance to develop without the hype behind Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.
COLLINGWOOD
In son of a gun Ed Allan (19), the Pies added speed to their list. The 194-centimetre Allan, whose father Ben Allan played for Hawthorn and Fremantle, clocked 2.81 seconds in the 20-metre sprint and can play in any part of the field. Defender Jakob Ryan (28) had been linked to their first pick but got there in the second round. The Glenelg teenager stands to be a cult figure with his long blond locks but is also a good one-on-one defender who is calm under pressure. They rewarded small midfielder Joe Richards (48) for his perseverance, picking up the 22-year-old from Wangaratta, where he played under former premiership Pie Ben Reid. Strengthened their hand for the highly rated 2023 draft by giving up pick 30 for Carlton’s future second.
ESSENDON
The Dons knocked back some big offers to hold on to their first pick and secure Elijah Tsatas (5), a bigger-bodied smooth moving midfield ball magnet who was not born when the club won their last final, over Mattaes Phillipou. A bid came in late enough for Alwyn Davey (45) for Adrian Dodoro to invest in Lewis Hayes (25), brother of Port Adelaide ruckman Sam Hayes, as a future key defender. Hayes is known for his ability to pick the right time to mark or spoil and has time to add to his 84-kilogram frame to compete with the big boys. The feelgood story is provided by the Davey brothers. Alwyn fell to the third round while Jayden Davey (54), who has come back from two ACL tears, was picked with their last selection.
FREMANTLE
The Dockers had one eye on the future and one on the present with their diluted draft haul. In Hugh Davies (33), they found a young key defender who they hope can develop under senior backs Alex Pearce, Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox. Tom Emmett (41) is a hard-tackling forward – an area the club is strong in. Ruckman Max Knobel (42), the son of Brisbane Lions, Richmond and St Kilda big man Trent Knobel, is a project player under established rucks Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson. The Dockers must have a role in mind for the hard-running Corey Wagner (57), who has been delisted by North and Melbourne but returns to AFL ranks after a strong season for Port Melbourne in the VFL.
GEELONG
The Cats got the cream in the trade period when they won the Jack Bowes salary dump sweepstakes, which came with Gold Coast’s top-10 pick. It was an extraordinary result after they won the premiership only weeks earlier. Geelong Falcons midfielder Jhye Clark (8) was instantly linked to Geelong’s prized selection. That’s exactly how it played out, with the local product already being likened to retired great Joel Selwood. That lofty comparison owes to his stoppage prowess and the intensity with which he operates. The Cats’ only other pick was used on Norwood forward-ruck Phoenix Foster (52). Foster impressed in South Australia’s AFL under-18 championships opener after new West Coast ruckman Harry Barnett was ruled out with COVID-19. He is considered a raw talent with upside.
GOLD COAST
The Suns used just one pick in the national draft but made it count, securing Gippsland Power captain Bailey Humphrey (6). After there was early speculation they were keen on West Australian Reuben Ginbey, Humphrey firmed as Gold Coast’s man in the past fortnight. He will likely start his career as a forward, where he was a difference-maker at junior level, but his toughness and creativity are equally valuable when he goes through the midfield. A knee injury interrupted his season, but a dominant finish sealed his top-10 status. Another young gem for Stuart Dew’s growing collection. The Suns are tipped to add experienced talent in the rookie draft, potentially including Connor Blakely.
No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman is presented with his Giants jumper by Toby Greene.Credit:Getty Images
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Key forward Aaron Cadman (1) headlines recruiter Adrian Caruso’s five-pack of recruits after the Giants scored the top pick in a four-club mega deal in October. Cadman is the long-term target for a GWS team that relies too much on Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene. Academy midfielder Harry Rowston (16) was always bound for the club, but Sydney’s early bid set a cat among the pigeons. Diminutive speedster Darcy Jones (21) boasts the type of attributes that could see him make an immediate impact for new coach Adam Kingsley. They opted not to trade the first pick in the second round, instead using it to draft 193-centimetre swingman Max Gruzewski (22), while forward Toby McMullin (34) will deliver another injection of speed.
HAWTHORN
The Hawks wanted to bring a big-bodied midfielder in to complement their emerging on-ball brigade and chose Cameron Mackenzie (7) over Mattaes Phillipou and Reuben Ginbey. The Sandringham Dragons star earned All-Australian honours and is blessed with neat skills and can burst away from stoppages. They traded for one of Sydney’s first-round picks to nab defender Josh Weddle (18), one of three Oakleigh Chargers they ended up drafting. Hawthorn gave up pick 27 and future second- and third-round selections. Henry Hustwaite (37), from Dandenong Stingrays, was a polarising prospect in the lead-up, but Hawthorn saw great potential in the 194-centimetre utility. Fellow Chargers Jack O’Sullivan (46), a tough midfielder, and Bailey Macdonald (51), a defensive dasher, rounded out the Hawks’ haul.
MELBOURNE
Tall forward Matthew Jefferson (15) was tipped to be the Demons’ first-round pick a long way out, but it wasn’t as straightforward as it seems. List boss Tim Lamb and recruiting manager Jason Taylor were typically aggressive in trying to improve their draft position. Bailey Humphrey was believed to be their target if they were able to prise Essendon’s top pick off them. Jefferson looms as a long-term partner in attack for last year’s first-round pick Jacob Van Rooyen and was a regular goalkicker at every level this past season. Melbourne’s only other pick was used on Peel Thunder key defender Jed Adams (38), who will have time to develop behind Steven May, Jake Lever, Harry Petty and co.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Close to a dream draft for the Kangaroos after the disappointment of losing No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis only one season into his career. Electric forward Harry Sheezel (3) and powerful midfielder George Wardlaw (4) are wonderful additions for Alastair Clarkson’s first season in charge. If they weren’t enough, exciting forward Brayden George (26) slid to North’s third pick. George was considered a top-10 pick – and maybe top five – before suffering an ACL rupture in his left knee in August. They will write off George’s 2023 season to make sure he is right to go for the year after. The Roos added AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey’s son, Cooper Harvey (56), with their final pick.
New North Melbourne players George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel with coach Alastair Clarkson.Credit:Getty Images
PORT ADELAIDE
Tom McCallum was Port’s first selection as they look to add depth in defence after missing out on Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea during the trade period. The tall back from Hobart is a wiry defender who can play on talls or smalls, and is an excellent mark. His father Scott was a legend at Clarence and is in Tasmania’s Hall of Fame. The club then went for two 200-centimetre-plus players in Tom Scully and Kyle Marshall with both speculative picks who have athletic traits.
RICHMOND
Entered the draft after Melbourne’s coaching staff had left the building at pick No.49 having traded in Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto. However, Kaleb Smith can always lay claim to being the Tigers’ first pick in the 2022 national draft. A running defender who can break the lines and was rated higher on many predictions. Steely Green was once a keen sailor but was named after Steely Dan rather than Christopher Cross. He is a small but ferocious midfielder who will add grunt to the Tigers. The Tigers remain confident in the haul they bought through the 2021 draft so have their list in order with another tilt looming.
ST KILDA
Mattaes Phillipou is confident in his ability which is an added bonus for the Saints who are crying out for some brash personalities on their list. He is a tall midfielder with a dangerous left foot who can also take a mark. As a young draft pick he has scope for improvement. James Van Es is an excellent intercept mark who will add depth in that area of the ground that is too reliant on Dougal Howard and Callum Wilkie. Olli Hotton is a forward with the capacity to move into the midfield. The son of former Collingwood and Carlton utility Trent Hotton is sure to make an impact. Isaac Keeler is a ruck forward who spent time in Adelaide’s next-generation academy. The heavy investment in the draft that has occurred in the past two seasons will define the Ross Lyon era.
SYDNEY
The Swans played havoc with their opponents during the draft making surprise bids on the Giants’ academy graduate Harry Rowston and Adelaide’s father-son Max Michalanney in the first round, forcing them down the board. They picked up lively small forward Jacob Konstanty, who was an excellent junior soccer player before he focused on AFL. He knows where the goals are and will enjoy playing alongside Tom Papley. The Swans then entered the second night with a bang grabbing Hawthorn’s next-generation academy graduate and defender Cooper Vickery at pick 27. The Swans nabbed that pick from Hawthorn during the trade period. Caleb Mitchell is an elite runner from country Victoria who shapes as a wingman.
WEST COAST
In a vital draft for West Coast, Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett lead a high-quality crop as the club aims to replenish the midfield that took them to the 2018 flag. Both locals are dynamic players with Ginbey a tough on-baller who can escape congestion to find space. Hewett is explosive and has plenty of improvement left in him as he only announced himself at the national championships before playing senior football with Swan Districts. They then used pick 23 on Harry Barnett, the first ruckman chosen in the draft as they look to replace champion big man Nic Naitanui. Maffra’s Coby Burgiel is another speedster who will have no issue moving across the country and shapes as a potential wingman while Noah Long is a midfield/forward who was the last player chosen in the draft.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs picked former Auskicker-of-the-year Jedd Busslinger to bolster their defence with Sam Darcy and Busslinger potentially forming a strong combination down back in the next few seasons. Busslinger will be given time to develop. However, Charlie Clarke could have an immediate impact as a small forward playing in tandem with Cody Weightman. Clarke is a tough ready-made forward with some cheek who kicked six goals in the national championships and was vital in the Sandringham Dragons’ premiership. Harvey Gallagher is a running defender who was overlooked in last year’s draft before excelling for the Bendigo Pioneers as a top aged player.
New Bulldog Jedd Busslinger.Credit:Getty Images
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