AFL Draft 2023: Indicative draft order and all the latest news from around the country
Carlton’s climb up the ladder over the past four weeks is bad news for Collingwood. Plus, your club’s current picks and all the whispers.
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With the under-18 national championships now done and dusted, clubs across the country are beginning to get to work on their draft boards ahead of November’s national draft.
Here’s the latest draft news from around the country in our weekly Draft Intel column.
FATHER-SON BOOSTS HIS STANDING
Melbourne father-son prospect Kynan Brown boosted his standing in this year’s draft pool with some strong performances for Vic Metro across the under-18 national championships.
The Oakleigh Chargers co-captain played predominantly through the midfield and averaged 22.8 disposals, 4.5 clearances, 4.8 tackles and 6.5 score involvements from his four matches.
“He was really consistent and I think his contest work really stood up through each of the games,” Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said of Brown.
“Even when we were challenged by some of the stronger midfields in the nationals, he stood up really well through those games.
“Melbourne has been working with him over the past couple of years and they would have been really excited by what they saw over the past few weeks.”
Brown – who is the son of former Melbourne defender Nathan Brown – has also spent time across half-forward with the Chargers in the Coates Talent League this year.
Along with his strong contest work, the left-footer also brings quick hands, sharp vision and strong creativity in his game.
TOP PROSPECT SLIDES
After a brilliant bottom-age year, recruiters considered South Australian Ashton Moir a top-three prospect entering this season.
However, the X-Factor forward has so far struggled to live up to those expectations.
Moir was hampered by a hip injury early in the year but got himself fit again and played in all four of South Australia’s under-18 national championships games.
The Glenelg product had 17 disposals in the second of those games against Vic Metro and kicked two goals against Vic Country in his side’s third game but was otherwise fairly quiet across the tournament.
“The talent’s unquestionable,” South Australia under-18s coach Tony Bamford said.
“It wasn’t a great championships for Ashton but we’re hopeful that he can settle back into life at Glenelg and go about showing why he is such a high potential draft choice.
“He is the kind of player that puts a fair bit of pressure on himself and he needs to learn to alleviate some of that external noise and pressure and just play the game on instincts a bit more often.
“I’m sure he’ll have a good AFL career wherever that may be.”
Moir is a beautiful kick on either foot and can take a nice mark, making him highly dangerous in the forward half.
Some clubs still believe Moir could be a top-25 selection if he has a solid finish to the season in the SANFL.
SUCCESSFUL SWITCH FOR MURPHY
An off-season positional switch has proven a boon for Sandringham Dragons key defender Ollie Murphy, who has firmed as a first-round lock in this year’s national draft.
Before this season, the 200cm tall had been playing as a forward and ruckman.
However, he was identified by Dragons coach Rob Harding in the off-season as a player who could develop nicely at the defensive end of the ground.
Murphy was a consistent performer down back for Vic Metro during the under-18 national championships and was rewarded when he was named the side’s MVP last weekend.
Harding, who also coaches Vic Metro, said Murphy’s development had been extraordinary.
“He’s gone from strength-to-strength this year,” Harding said of Murphy.
“He hadn’t really played as a key defender prior to the start of this year. His ability to read the play and intercept stands out but even his pure one-on-one defensive work has been excellent.
“As he goes to the next level, he’s clearly going to have to fill out a little bit in his body size to be able to compete with the Max King’s and Joe Daniher’s of the world. But he’s progressed so well throughout this year and I don’t think there’s an AFL club in the land that wouldn’t like to have him on their list next year.”
A St Kilda fan, Murphy looks up to Saints intercepting defender Callum Wilkie as well as Brisbane key back Harris Andrews.
“This has been pretty new to me down back this year,” Murphy said.
“But each game I’m progressing to get to a better player and the aerial contest is what I pride myself on. I’m just getting better with that every day.”
2024 DRAFT CLASS ON SHOW
Clubs in search of gun midfielders will be hoping to get their hands on early selections in the 2024 national draft as a strong crop of on-ballers already begins to emerge.
While a range of different types of players are represented at the pointy end of this year’s draft, many of next year’s top prospects look set to be midfielders.
Vic Metro trio Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith and Josh Smillie all produced standout performances as bottom-age players in the recent under-18 national championships.
South Australia’s Sid Draper won his side’s MVP award as a bottom-age player this year and shapes as another exciting prospect for next year, while Vic Country’s Finn O’Sullivan and Sam Lalor were among others to catch the eyes of recruiters.
Ashcroft is a father-son prospect for Brisbane next year, where his father Marcus won three premierships and his brother Will is playing this year.
“There’s about six or seven of those bottom-age midfielders who are really nice players,” one recruiter said.
“If you’re after those types, it’s a pretty good year to be in.”
Another father-son prospect to impress in a different role during this year’s championships was Tyler Welsh, a power forward who is the son of former North Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Bulldogs forward Scott Welsh.
The younger Welsh – who is only father-son eligible for the Crows – booted seven goals across two matches for South Australia, including a haul of five majors in the side’s match against Vic Country.
“We knew Tyler was an elite talent after the under-16s last year,” South Australia under-18 coach Tony Bamford said of Welsh.
“He’s a power athlete and he’s very unpredictable, which makes him hard to defend.”
CATS, BLUES RISES COSTING RIVALS
Geelong’s rise up the ladder in recent weeks has been bad news for Brisbane.
The Cats have climbed back to fifth spot on the table, after sitting 10th and looking in danger of missing finals just five weeks ago.
The rise means two of Brisbane’s picks in this year’s draft are quickly being pushed back, with the Lions holding second and third-round picks linked to Geelong.
Similarly, Carlton’s climb from 14th to 9th on the ladder over the past four weeks is bad news for Collingwood, which holds the Blues’ second-round pick.
That was sitting at pick 23 a month ago, but has now pushed out to pick 28 and could drift further if Carlton surges into September.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Indicative draft order and all the latest news from around the country
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