AFL draft special: Inside look at the 2023 crop of young guns set for the top level

Which state boasts the best young talent on track for the 2023 draft? Check out the Victorian kids who are already on recruiting lists for next year.

Inside look at the 2023 crop of young guns set for the top level.

AFL recruiters are always looking ahead.

Significant time and effort is put into analysing the current year’s draft crop, but one eye is also on the future.

Clubs have the ability to trade future draft picks and therefore need to know what kind of talent is coming through the following year.

Early indications are that there is some serious top-end talent on the horizon in 2023.

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Bendigo Pioneers product Harley Reid is one such player in next year’s draft pool who is already attracting attention.

A member of the NAB AFL Academy this year, the versatile Reid has played as a dangerous goalkicking midfielder-forward but has also impressed in defence as a bottom-age player for Vic Country’s under-18 side this year.

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Harley Reid is one of the top young prospects from across the country. Picture: Getty Images

Reid hails from Tongala, a small dairy farming town near Kyabram in northern Victoria.

A year 11 student at St Joseph’s College in Echuca, he looks up to some of the AFL’s best modern day midfielder-forwards.

“Paddy Dangerfield, Nat Fyfe and Christian Petracca,” Reid said when asked who he models his game on.

“I love the way they play that midfield-forward role and can take a few high-flying marks and kick a few goals.

“I’m quite explosive, I’ve got good vision, I do a bit of contested work and I’m a good contested mark, too.”

Reid doesn’t have any family ties to past or present AFL players, but there are quite a few others players in next year’s draft pool that do.

Zane Duursma is an exciting midfielder or forward who is the younger brother of Port Adelaide young gun Xavier Duursma.

Archer Reid, who is a key forward or ruckman, is the brother of emerging Essendon defender Zach Reid, while Riak Andrew is a key position player who is the younger brother of Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew.

Medium forward Nate Caddy is the nephew of Richmond premiership player Josh Caddy, while fellow forward Sam Frangalas is the son of former Sydney and Richmond star Gary Frangalas.

Eastern Ranges small forward Nick Watson has also excited recruiters this year and looms as a top pick in 2023, putting his enormous potential on show with five goals against Gold Coast in Round 2 of the NAB League this year.

TOP 25 COMPILED BY AFL TALENT AMBASSADOR KEVIN SHEEHAN

Originally published as AFL draft special: Inside look at the 2023 crop of young guns set for the top level