AFL Draft 2023: 10 top prospects to watch, why clubs are excited

The brother of a Power gun and the nephew of a Tigers premiership player are among an exciting 2023 draft crop. Here’s 10 to watch and the top ranked performers.

Harley Reid is a No. 1 draft pick favourite for 2023. Picture: Getty Images

As few as 50 players could be selected in this year’s AFL national draft as clubs increasingly shift their focus to what shapes as bumper crop of draftees in 2023.

Multiple clubs are planning to use just one or two draft selections this year, while there is little willingness to trade out future picks in the early rounds of next year’s draft.

AFL rules state that clubs must use three picks at the national draft, but they are able to re-draft current players or upgrade rookies to meet that requirement.

“Everyone’s thinking the same thing,” one senior recruiter said.

“There might only be 50 picks in this year’s draft and clubs will try to get into next year but no one’s going to want to give up picks for next year.”

Harley Reid is a potential No. 1 draft pick in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

While there is seen to be some depth in this year’s draft pool, the top-end talent is not considered to be as strong as other years and there are a lack of quality key-position players on offer.

Brisbane father-son prospect Will Ashcroft is a clear standout in this year’s draft, after winning the Larke Medal as the best and fairest player in the under 18 national championships last week.

However, fellow No. 1 pick contender George Wardlaw has barely been sighted since May due to multiple hamstring injury injuries.

Dynamic midfielder Elijah Tsatas played his first match of the national championships for Vic Metro only last week after missing a large part of the season with a fractured foot, while livewire small forward Harry Sheezel and agile key forward Aaron Cadman are considered the other top-five contenders.

Clubs are more buoyant about the top-end talent in the 2023 draft though, which includes Harley Reid, Nick Watson and Ashton Moir.

Reid has shown he can be a weapon in multiple positions this year, while Watson and Moir are crafty goalkicking forwards with serious X-Factor.

“Reid, Watson and Moir are unbelievable,” another veteran recruiter said.

That trio all missed last Saturday’s Under-17 All-Stars game – with Reid and Watson having played in the final under-18 national championships match two days earlier – but recruiters left the MCG with high excitement levels about many other prospects in next year’s draft pool.

Western Australia’s Daniel Curtin was named best afield for his work across halfback, but the 195cm tall has also shown he can play as a key forward this year.

Other top prospects for next year’s draft include Tasmanian pair Colby McKercher (who has been likened to Essendon’s Zach Merrett) and Ryley Sanders, along with Zane Duursma (the brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier) and Archer Reid (the brother of Essendon’s Zach).

Will Lorenz – a midfielder-forward who is the grandson of Hawthorn great Graham Arthur – also caught the eye.

Daniel Curtin was best on ground in the Under 17 Futures game. Picture: Getty Images

AFL UNDER 17 ALL STARS GAME SUPERCOACH RANKING POINTS

TEAM HOULI

127 – Alex Holt

125 – Daniel Curtin

104 – Jack Delean

102 – Archie Roberts

91 – Mahmoud Taha

90 – Darcy Wilson

89 – Jack Callinan

87 – Colby McKercher

80 – Kane McAuliffe

78 – Nathan Philactides

76 – Sam Frangalas

68 – Cam Nyko

64 – Luca Slade

60 – Bradley McDonald

57 – Coen Livingstone

56 – Will Graham

48 – Jed Walter

45 – Luamon Lual

38 – Harrison Francis

33 – Connor O’Sullivan

31 – Michael Rudd

26 – Ethan Read

TEAM MURPHY

135 – Ryley Sanders

126 – Caiden Cleary

124 – Will Lorenz

104 – Ben Ridgway

102 – Will Patton

101 – Harvey Thomas

90 – Logan Morris

80 – Cooper Simpson

80 – Jake Rogers

76 – Arie Schoenmaker

76 – Koltyn Tholstrup

73 – Kobe Shipp

72 – Zane Duursma

72 – Billy Richardson

69 – Joe Pike

68 – Lachlan Cabor

68 – Riley Hardeman

38 – Archer Reid

35 – Orlando Turner

33 – Will McCabe

31 – Kynan Brown

26 – William Green

10 TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH IN 2023

1. Harley Reid (Vic Country)

What can’t he do? The 185cm boy from Tongala has played through the midfield, in defence and in the forward line this year and has impacted in every position. He looks up to AFL midfielder-forwards Paddy Dangerfield, Nat Fyfe and Christian Petracca and is a similarly good overhead mark as well as possessing explosive speed and silky skills. Recruiters say he would be ready to be drafted this year if he were eligible.

2. Ashton Moir (South Australia)

A 186cm half-forward, Moir excites both in the air and at ground level. The Glenelg product is described by recruiters as “a star” who is in the mix to be the No. 1 draft pick next year. Moir kicked 30 goals from 10 SANFL under-18 games this year and starred with shot up draft boards when he booted four goals for South Australia as a bottom-age player in the under-18 national championships against Western Australia in July.

3. Nick Watson (Vic Metro)

The Eastern Ranges product is being nicknamed ‘Wizard Watson’, given his incredible abilities around goal. The small forward averaged 2.6 goals from 11.9 disposals across seven NAB League games this season, while also playing three under-18 games for Vic Metro as a bottom-age player and kicking five goals. He only stands 169cm but Watson is quick, agile and can take a mark.

4. Colby McKercher (Allies)

A midfielder from Tasmania with a nice left-foot kick, recruiters describe McKercher as a quicker version of Essendon’s Zach Merrett. While some of his games later in the year were not as good as what he produced earlier in the season, McKercher is still viewed as a top prospect for next year and was among the best players for Team Houli in the Under 17 Futures game on AFL Grand Final Day with 20 disposals and four clearances.

5. Jed Walter (Allies)

A 195cm key forward, Walter has shown plenty in his bottom-age year. A member of the Gold Coast Suns Academy, he is an athletic big man who works hard and has a physical presence in the air. Walter managed just eight disposals and four marks in the Under 17 Futures game, but had averaged 9.3 disposals and 2.3 goals across four under 18 national championships games for the Allies.

Zane Duursma has a serious highlights reel. Picture: Getty Images

6. Zane Duursma (Vic Country)

The brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma is a very exciting mobile forward or midfielder who is a good size at 188cm. The Gippsland Power product averaged 15.5 disposals and 2.2 goals across 14 NAB League matches as a bottom-age player this year, while also playing two game of the under 18 national championships for Vic Country. He has “pure ability” and his highlights reel is already quite special.

7. Archer Reid (Vic Country)

A versatile tall with a great overhead mark, Reid shapes as one of the top key position players in next year’s draft. Standing 201cm, he is the brother of Essendon defender Zach Reid but is much better suited as a forward at the other end. He reads the play well and is good for a big man below his knees.

8. Nate Caddy (Vic Metro)

The nephew of two-time Richmond premiership player Josh Caddy, the 190cm forward looks a handy player of the future. He has strong hands overhead, is athletic and presents well. He averaged 14.5 disposals, 4.5 marks and 1.4 goals across 13 NAB League games for the Northern Knights this year. Good running ability and footy smarts have also seen Caddy used as a tall midfielder at stages this year.

9. Mitchell Edwards (Western Australia)

A 205cm giant, the Peel Thunder product is part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy and shapes as one of Western Australia’s top draft prospects for next year. The athletic ruckman featured in all four games of the under 18 national championships for his state this year, averaging 11 disposals, 1.8 marks and 18.5 hit-outs. He also impressed throughout the year in the WAFL Colts.

10. Daniel Curtin (Western Australia)

A 195cm key position player, Curtin won the medal as the best player on the ground in the Under 17 Futures game on AFL Grand Final day. He played across halfback in that match and showed off his agility and sound decision making, but recruiters have also liked what he has shown as a forward this year with Claremont in the WAFL Colts.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: 10 top prospects to watch, why clubs are excited