Ultimate guide to every club’s under 23s heading into the 2023 season

Cruelled by injury, this Magpies son of a gun was forced to wait until the end of the trade period for a one-year deal. Can he prove himself in 2023?

Jason Horne-Francis at Alberton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Just how good are your club’s youngsters?

Do you have a group capable of taking you to a flag? Or is the talent still coming up short?

Glenn McFarlane has gone through every club’s under 23s, breaking down the key players and where they stand.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE UNDER 23S

# to be eligible a player has to be under 23 years of age at March 1, 2023

ADELAIDE

HEADLINE ACT

When you are on a three-year $800,000 per season deal, the pressure of expectation is always going to strike. Is Izak Rankine up to the challenge? We’ll soon find out as the Crows will want him to turn those jaw-dropping Suns cameos into something more sustainable on a week-to-week basis.

X-FACTOR

Forget the fact that Josh Rachele trailed off in the second half of the season, he is one of the Crows’ new fan favourites as he heads into his second season. Has a new deal until the end of 2025 and he and Riley Thilthorpe can boost the excitement levels in 2023.

QUESTION MARK

There were queries over his future but it’s now come to a head after Fischer McAsey quit the club earlier this week citing he lost enjoyment at the top level. There was talk the one-time Victorian could be headed back home before the trade period but nothing eventuated. It’s disappointing for McAsey and the Crows given he was originally a pick 6. The fact he hadn’t played a senior game since his 2020 debut season meant the Crows missed the mark with the draft selection.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Adelaide’s first father-son selection Max Michalanney looks like he will be worth the wait. The Swans bid on Michalanney – whose dad Jim was a Norwood star – but Adelaide was always going to match at pick 17. He looks like being a defensive star for a decade or more.

Josh Rachele celebrates a goal during his debut season. Picture: Michael Klein

BRISBANE LIONS

HEADLINE ACT

He hasn’t played a senior AFL game yet but the hype surrounding Will Ashcroft means he will be the box-office ‘must watch’ young talent player for the Lions in 2023. Brisbane has recruited so well with its established players this off-season, but Ashcroft is the young gun who can come in immediately and work with Lachie Neale and co in the middle.

X-FACTOR

Three games, three finals … that’s how much the Brisbane Lions rate Darcy Wilmot. He had the composure to come in and play his role in September when needed and he will only benefit from that experience in 2023. The sky’s the limit.

QUESTION MARK

Brisbane’s list looks to have few worries. One slight area of concern could come if anything happened to Oscar McInerney. Darcy Fort is a solid back-up, but the Lions will be hoping Henry Smith can finally break through for his maiden AFL game. He is contracted until the end of this year. The Lions will be patient, but hopefully he can have a taste of it in 2023.

UNTAPPED TALENT

The Lions didn’t just get one exciting father-son prospect; they got two. And while all the attention has quite rightly gone to Will Ashcroft, don’t discount Jaspa Fletcher making an early impression either. The son of four-club player Adrian Fletcher, he will be given time to find his feet as a midfielder.

CARLTON

HEADLINE MAKER

Sam Walsh is making headlines for the wrong reasons this time around. The star midfielder has undergone pre-Christmas back surgery which will likely keep him out for the early part of next season, possibly even longer. It’s a huge blow for the Blues as he is one of the best young footballers in the game.

X-FACTOR

He’s still a bit raw, but Jesse Motlop has already shown enough in 12 games to suggest he is going to be the sort of X-factor the Blues require. His three goals against St Kilda were the highlight, but his forward tackling pressure (two lots of five in a game) was just as valuable.

QUESTION MARK

Sam Philp hasn’t been able to cut a break with his body in three seasons at the Blues since being pick 20 in the 2019 national draft. Having played two senior games (in 2020), Philp has endured groin issues and stress fractures, making 2023 an important season for him.

UNTAPPED TALENT

The Blues are still counting their lucky stars they landed Ollie Hollands at pick 11. He is a fierce competitor, a two-way runner and a lifelong Carlton fan. Don’t be surprised if he pushes hard for Round 1 selection.

Sam Walsh has established himself as one of the best young guns in the game. Picture: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD

HEADLINE MAKER

Who else but Nick Daicos! The son of a Magpies legend produced one of the great debut seasons in 2022, winning the Rising Star and the admiration of the footy world. Just imagine what he can do with another pre-season under his belt and a move to the midfield. Should we have a sneaky, speculative $5 at big odds to win the Brownlow Medal? Why not?

X-FACTOR

If Jack Ginnivan can kick 40 goals in a season when the pressure of the football world, and even the umps, looked to be against him, what can he do with an extra year under his belt? Possessing an innate ability to find the goals, the 20-year-old could push into the 50-goal bracket with some luck next season.

QUESTION MARK

Will Kelly was forced to wait until the end of the trade period to win a one-year contract, which shows it will be an important season in terms of his future at the club. In fairness, he hasn’t had much luck with his body. Pies fans would love to see him get an even break.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Collingwood couldn’t believe their good fortune when Ed Allan was available when the club’s pick 19 came around. Or that Ed’s father Ben went home to Fremantle after playing 98 games with Hawthorn (two short of the father-son criteria). Allan stands at 194cm and has the balance in that he can play in multiple positions and is at home inside and outside.

ESSENDON

HEADLINE MAKER

Nic Martin was a shining light in the gloom of 2022, as a pre-season supplemental selection. He played 21 games for 19 goals including five on debut against Geelong. How the hell did West Coast let him slip under their guard after he trained with them in the 2021 summer!

X-FACTOR

This pre-season is ‘Operation Build The Tank’ for Archie Perkins as he looks to book more midfield minutes in 2023. Perkins is an excitement machine. That much is certain after 38 games. But you suspect there is another level to go when he starts to mature more.

QUESTION MARK

Where is Nik Cox’s best position? It’s a question new coach Brad Scott will need an answer to as he looks to get the best out of the Bombers’ talent. After playing 22 games on debut, he managed only five in 2022 due to a Lisfranc injury. Cox has played in numerous roles, including the wing. It might be time to send him down back as he prepares for season three.

UNTAPPED TALENT

The fact Essendon repelled all interest from up to five clubs to get their hands on their prized first round pick (four which became five after the Will Ashcroft bid) should tell us all we need to know about Elijah Tsatas. He will bring speed and power to the club’s midfield, but may initially find his feet playing on the wing.

What is Nik Cox’s best position? Picture: Michael Klein

FREMANTLE

HEADLINE MAKER

Rising Star winner and a premiership in his second season; a massive contract offer from Fremantle in his third … Luke Jackson has already made his fair share of headlines. His decision to leave the Demons and return home to Perth on such a lucrative long-term contract means he will again be a major talking point in 2023. Caleb Serong won’t be far behind him in making on field headlines.

X-FACTOR

Heath Chapman is an X-factor capable of providing a team lift when required. He’s done it in defence, but we’d love to see him shift up to the wing at some stage in 2023 and take his game to the next level. Watch this space.

QUESTION MARK

Sam Sturt hasn’t had much luck in four injury-hit seasons with the Dockers. He will enter the final year of his current deal desperate for a change of luck.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Jy Amiss might have the best nickname at the Dockers – ‘Nev’ (as in Nev Amiss). He has only played three AFL matches (for 4.1), including two in the elimination final win over the Bulldogs. Internally, the Dockers are hopeful Matthew Johnson – a 2021 draft slider who was snapped up on night two after Freo knocked back offers – can make the most of his undoubted potential after a frustrating foot injury in his debut AFL season.

GEELONG

HEADLINE MAKER

Now we know why Chris Scott laughed when someone suggested last pre-season Sam De Koning might end up being a back-up ruckman. SDK is now a premiership defender, and he’s got an extra two year extension after rapidly becoming one of the best defenders in the game. Could be a freak.

X-FACTOR

Max Holmes cruelly missed out on a premiership medal after injury cost him his spot in the team. But the speedy, highly-skilled young Cat might be the difference in pushing Geelong to back-to-back success. He is a gamebreaker, and no lesser judge than Patrick Dangerfield believes he has Chris Judd-like capabilities and could yet prove himself as the best player in the league in coming seasons.

QUESTION MARK

If Ollie Henry couldn’t quite push into Collingwood’s best 22 at the business end of 2022, how can he do the same at Geelong? That’s a simplistic statement and it doesn’t take into account Henry’s enormous upside. As good as he was in attack for the Magpies, could he potentially lock in a spot in defence with the Cats?

UNTAPPED TALENT

If a deal is too good to be true, most people believe it is too good to be true. Wrong! Take a look at how Geelong engineered a trade for Jack Bowes and pick 7 from Gold Coast, which turned into Jhye Clark. How does the reigning premier team get a kid dubbed “the next Joel Selwood”? That’s why they are such a great club.

Max Holmes is part of Geelong’s next generation. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST

HEADLINE MAKER

Stuart Dew couldn’t be happier with Ben King’s return from a knee reconstruction, saying Round 1 was the target for his return. King kicked 47 goals from 22 games in 2021, and while he won’t be pushed, if he can conjure a similar return in 2023, it will help propel the Suns towards that elusive first finals series.

X-FACTOR

Can Noah Anderson take his game to the next level and become one of the premier midfielders of the competition? He provides everything the Suns need as far as an X-factor goes. Let’s hope he signs a new deal soon. His good mate Matt Rowell’s inside grunt isn’t necessarily X-factor stuff, but we suspect he will evolve and start finding some easier ball.

QUESTION MARK

Jack Lukosius is a good player, but is he ever going to be better than that? He recommitted to the Suns in the middle of the year, signing a new deal until the end of 2026. But we’d love to see him assert a little more influence and take more of a leadership role. And where’s his best position to play? That’s another debate.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Powerful mid-forward Bailey Humphrey looms as a 10-to-15-year player and insiders believe he can make an impact almost immediately. Gold Coast is stockpiling one of the most talented young midfield brigades in the game. The difference with Humphrey is that he looks to be just at home in attack as he does in the middle.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

HEADLINE MAKER

The Giants wanted Aaron Cadman so much they were prepared to trade for the No. 1 pick. They’ve waited a few years to make it happen, but they see Cadman as the long-term power forward Jeremy Cameron replacement. And the Giants are confident he won’t be a flight risk.

X-FACTOR

He’s more a grunt midfielder than bona fide X-factor, but the fascinating question surrounding Tom Green is whether the Giants can get him to commit for the long-term. He seems invested, but rival clubs will be coming for the out of contract Green, just as they did for Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. For new coach Adam Kingsley’s sake, we hope he stays.

QUESTION MARK

The Giants desperately need a key defender to step up and make a difference. Can the club’s No. 15 pick from the 2021 draft Leek Aleer be the player they drafted him for? Aleer is one of footy’s great stories. He played the last four games of 2022. Let’s hope he can establish himself and can inspire the next generation of kids.

UNTAPPED TALENT

A frustrating foot injury hindered Finn Callaghan’s first AFL season. Let’s hope he gets a decent crack at it soon as the one-time No. 3 pick is a serious footy talent. The Giants need him to reach his potential and are confident he can do so when he finally gets a chance.

GWS traded up for Aaron Cadman. Picture: Phil Hillyard

HAWTHORN

HEADLINE MAKER

Jai Newcombe has freshly inked a new deal with the Hawks that ties him to the club until 2026. He is a star, and Sam Mitchell and the Hawks know it. Hard to believe he couldn’t get a spot with Gippsland Power in the under 16s, 17s and 18s. Newcombe is one of the Hawks’ most important players, having been runner-up in the Peter Crimmins Medal.

X-FACTOR

Josh Ward is the POD of the Hawks’ midfield. Point of difference, that is. Ward, who averaged almost 20 disposals in his 14 games on debut last year, has already become a vital part of the crew. But his point of difference is his pace and gut-running, and his raking left foot. The Hawks and left-footers … I feel like we’ve seen this template before.

QUESTION MARK

Well-regarded defender Denver Grainger-Barras has played 21 games (16 in 2022) in two AFL seasons. He has re-signed with the club until the end of 2024 and has a good future. But can he mature from a floating third defender into a key defender at 194cm? Is he a little undersized to play on the big monsters?

UNTAPPED TALENT

We’d love to see Will Day get a clear run at it for an entire season. His 2021 was ruined by injury, though he did manage to play 17 games last season. But we suspect there is more to come from the young defender. The Hawks are building some sort of defence …

MELBOURNE

HEADLINE MAKER

Can the Demons keep Kozzie Pickett? It’s going to be one of the biggest storylines of the coming season. Back to back hauls of 40-plus goals in his second and third seasons highlight his offensive weapons, but his defence and tackling pressure are just as effective. Port Adelaide will come knocking again – if they haven’t already done so – but the Demons are hopeful he sees the prospect of a second premiership medal looming in the future.

X-FACTOR

It’s hard to believe Jacob van Rooyen didn’t debut last season as Melbourne’s forward line woes remained unresolved. That won’t happen in 2023. He has been earmarked for advancement off the back of Luke Jackson’s departure. The Demons have locked van Rooyen in until 2025, an indication of their keenness. Track watchers have been impressed with the way in which he has attacked the first block of the pre-season.

QUESTION MARK

Could premiership defender Trent Rivers be tempted to return home to Perth like his great mate Luke Jackson was? He has a year to run on his current deal. Rivers played 18 games last season, but was dropped for a period. At his best, he is a walk-up start, as evidenced by his impact in 2021.

UNTAPPED TALENT

We’re going to take a punt on Blake Howes. He was the Demons’ pick 39 in the 2021 national draft and while he didn’t get the chance to play a senior game due a stress fracture, he showed some good talent at Casey. The forward looks to have good potential.

Jacob van Rooyen was close to a debut last year. Picture: Michael Klein

NORTH MELBOURNE

HEADLINE MAKER

Let’s be honest, we could have gone with Harry Sheezel – the Kangaroos’ first pick and overall pick three – in three of these categories. He’s not just a headline maker, he is also the club’s X-factor as well as the untapped talent. The exciting forward, who has modelled his game on Toby Greene, has the reputation of being a game changer. He can score, is deceptively good overhead (at 184 cm) and looks a lock for years to come.

X-FACTOR

What has happened to Tarryn Thomas? The talented mid dealt with some personal and family issues as well as a tough year internally at the club. He managed only 10 games in 2022 after his outstanding season the year before. Clarko not only wants him back in the team, he wants him back to his best, because the Roos need his X-factor qualities again.

QUESTION MARK

It looms as a crucial year for former top three pick Will Phillips, who had two separate bouts of glandular fever last year. While he played 16 games in his debut year, he couldn’t add to that tally in 2023. Still contracted until 2024, Phillips needs to get a clear bill of health and some confidence back to reach his potential.

UNTAPPED TALENT

If it wasn’t for Harry Sheezel, we’d be waxing lyrical about George Wardlaw, who was pick four in the national draft. What a great double act these two new Kangaroos could prove to be in the coming years. Let’s also include Flynn Perez. He hasn’t had much luck since being drafted as pick 35 in 2019 and is heading into the final year of his current deal. He played 16 games in 2022 and there was something in his 24-disposal Round 23 performance against Gold Coast that caught the eye.

PORT ADELAIDE

HEADLINE ACT

Has there been a time when Jason Horne-Francis hasn’t been a headline maker? Fourteen months into his AFL career, he’s had two clubs and more back page headlines than most footballers have in their entire careers. He’s also had some people question how hard he is prepared to work to reach his undoubted potential. He is only 19 and still developing as a player and a person, but Port Adelaide knows he needs to knuckle down.

X-FACTOR

While Conor Rozee is marginally too old to be included as he will be 23 for the start of the season, Zak Butters is still eligible. Butters has often been seen to play second fiddle to the highly talented Rozee, but that’s not the case internally. The coaches love him. He’s brave to his own detriment at times, but he can lift a team in a heartbeat.

QUESTION MARK

Not too many question marks on the Port Adelaide youngsters, but 2023 looms as a big year for one-time top 20 draft pick Dylan Williams. He is about to enter his fourth AFL season with only one game to his name. He has undoubted talent, but needs to make his mark.

UNTAPPED TALENT

He’s 21 now and has played almost 50 games of AFL football, but we’ve got a feeling Mitch Georgiades hasn’t scratched the surface yet. His kicking for goal was a little wayward (23.24) in 2022, but he has the talent and temperament to turn it around.

Jason Horne-Francis joined the Power after one year at North Melbourne. Picture: Brenton Edwards

RICHMOND

HEADLINE MAKER

Toss up here between Josh Gibcus and Maurice Rioli Jr. We’ll go with Gibcus, purely because Rioli is an X-factor. Gibcus was named the Tigers’ best first year player off the back of his 18-game debut season. Gibcus is learning well off Dylan Grimes (31) and Robbie Tarrant (33) and looks to be a Tigers’ defensive mainstay for a decade or more.

X-FACTOR

Just the surname gets us excited. But Maurice Rioli Jr has much more than that in his trick bag. He doesn’t get a lot of the ball (yet), but he is effective when he does. Something always seems to happen when he is around the ball. Let’s add Noah Cumberland and Hugo Ralphsmith into this mix, too, as both showed talent at times in 2022.

QUESTION MARK

Jack Ross is contracted until the end of 2024 and has unquestionable talent, evidenced by his 15 games for a second consecutive season. But the young Tiger might have to find a refashioned role to lock in his spot in 2023 as the addition of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper and the return of Dustin Martin will make competition for midfield spots very tough.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Tyler Sonsie looks to be a serious player of the future. He played seven games in his debut season, holding his spot in the senior side for almost the last month of the season and having 17 disposals and kicking a goal in the elimination final. Will keep developing his craft.

ST KILDA

HEADLINE MAKER

Max King’s shoulder surgery will keep him out of the line-up for a large slice of the season. That’s not the start Ross Lyon wanted. But if St Kilda can find another avenue to goal in the interim, and get King back in the second half of the season, all will not be lost. King kicked 52.41 last season, which highlighted how good he is going to be in the future.

X-FACTOR

We’ve seen enough of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to understand why he is so important to St Kilda. He can do what a number of other Saints can’t – kick with precision. That’s why Wanganeen-Milera remains one of the most important signings, as he comes out of contract at the end of 2023 and the South Australian clubs will come knocking. Let’s hope he stays.

QUESTION MARK

Not much went right for Jack Bytel in 2022. He had injury and concussion issues, managing 12 VFL games without adding to his 16 AFL matches. A crucial season looms for Bytel as he enters the final year of his current deal. Can he turn his strong form in the lower level of the VFL into consistent performances at AFL level?

UNTAPPED TALENT

Marcus Windhager is much more than just a tagger, as good as he was on some leading midfielders at stages of 2022. He can take his game to a new level and win some more of the ball himself in 2023. And we love the confidence that pick 10 draftee Mattaes Phillipou has, knowing he has the talent to back it up. Lyon would be pleased to have access to under 23s like King, Wanageneen-Milera, Windhager, Phillipou and Mitch Owens.

Max King will have a delayed start to 2023. Picture: Getty Images

SYDNEY

HEADLINE MAKER

Chad Warner wears the Swans’ No. 1 guernsey and by the end of 2023, he might well have stamped himself as the club’s No. 1 player. He’s almost there now, having finished runner-up in the 2022 best and fairest. Swans fans won’t ever want to watch last season’s grand final ever again, but if they are silly enough to do it, they might just see the moment Warner went from exciting young star to one of the club’s best on-field leaders.

X-FACTOR

John Longmire tipped Logan McDonald would come back “bigger and better” after being dropped for the grand final, despite playing 17 games for the season. He’s learnt so much already under Buddy Franklin, and will be hungry to make his mark in 2023. McDonald looks ready to turn those painful lessons into something more tangible.

QUESTION MARK

There is no doubt Braeden Campbell has a good future at Sydney, as evidenced by the club’s decision to extend his contract out until 2025. He’s played 25 games in two seasons. But some recruiters have wondered if the Swans went too early in drafting him with pick five in 2020. In fairness, the Swans don’t subscribe to that theory.

UNTAPPED TALENT

Let’s be a little speculative here. Angus Sheldrick has played two AFL games (eight disposals in one and the medical sub in the other) since being drafted at pick 18 in the 2021 draft. But those who saw him in his draft year know he can become a good AFL player.

WEST COAST

HEADLINE MAKER

The Eagles gave up pick two as part of the four-club mega trade, getting two first round picks in return. Part of the reasoning was they wanted Reuben Ginbey, the powerfully built WA midfield talent who was taken at pick nine. He’s a ready-made player with Dom Sheed tipping he could step straight in. He might be eased into defence instead of the midfield.

X-FACTOR

Can we please take Ginbey in this category, too? Or the Eagles’ pick 14, Elijah Hewett? Let’s be honest, the Eagles are in for a very tough time so the eggs will be very much in the basket of the two WA draftees who will be given plenty of opportunities to flourish.

QUESTION MARK

Xavier O’Neill had his best season for the Eagles, playing 11 games in his fourth AFL season since being drafted at 28 in the 2018 national draft. His standout game came against Collingwood in Round 4. But O’Neill needs to keep that upward trajectory given he is out of contract at season’s end.

UNTAPPED TALENT

The Eagles gave their Emerging Talent award to Brady Hough at the best and fairest count. He played 15 games this season and worked hard in defence before getting a bit of midfield and wing time at stages. He’ll learn a lot from those experiences.

Reuben Ginbey has West Coast fans excited. Picture: Getty Images

WESTERN BULLDOGS

HEADLINE MAKER

Bailey Smith made a few headlines in 2022 he could have done without. But he owned them – a two-game suspension for admitting to illicit drugs use in the 2021 off-season – and moved on. We suspect his headlines will be all football-related in the season ahead. He has the potential to become one of the game’s best midfielders, which is a scary thought when the Bulldogs already have one of them in Marcus Bontempelli.

X-FACTOR

Cody Weightman has already shown how much of an X-factor he can be for the Bulldogs. His 21 games in 2022 yielded 36 goals, including two lots of five against North Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney. Just hits the scoreboard with regularity. We suspect you can add Jamarra Ugle-Hagan into this bracket before season’s end.

QUESTION MARK

Key forwards take longer to hit their straps than midfielders. Some have questioned Jamarra Ugle-Hagan‘s progress after being the 2020 No. 1 draft pick. We don’t subscribe to that. His career-best five goals against Melbourne showed he is growing and evolving. More, please.

UNTAPPED TALENT

The Bulldogs must wish there were two of Sam Darcy. The father-son young gun is equally adept in defence and attack and looms as one of the most exciting players from a cracking 2021 draft crop. He played the last four games of the season after overcoming injury and looked like he was something special.

Originally published as Ultimate guide to every club’s under 23s heading into the 2023 season