AFL Draft 2022: Who will your club take with its first pick?
The Power and Crows both hold early selections in the draft as it stands — and a local talent looms large. Find out the prospects in the mix for your club.
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While finals footy is heating up, recruiters are looking to the future to select the prospects that could lead your side to its next premiership.
And it’s a midfield heavy draft spearheaded by Brisbane father-son Will Ashcroft, but unfortunately he is off the table.
So, who is in the mix at your club and who should it target early in the piece?
We assess the prospects your side should have its sights set on with its first selection in this year’s AFL Draft.
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ADELAIDE
It’s hard to see Adelaide taking pick 5 into November’s draft, with the Suns likely to ask for it – as a starting point – in a trade to send Izak Rankine home to South Australia. But could the Crows use the top-five selection to slide back down the order and get something else in return? An intriguing trade period looms for the club. Father-son prospect Max Michalanney is viewed as a top-25 talent, so making a selection in front of the skilful defender would be a bonus. Powerful, goal-kicking midfielders Mattaes Phillipou, and Bailey Humphrey would suit the rebuilding Crows’ needs in the first-round, as would the breakaway speed of Elijah Tsatas at the top-end, if they did take that early selection into the draft. – Jordan Pinto
BRISBANE
The Lions will get Will Ashcroft, son of premiership player Marcus, as arguably the best prospect in this year’s draft - that’s locked and loaded. But can they be daring enough to trade up to pick no. 1 before another club bids on Ashcroft to get two inside the top five? It would be an almighty play but just might be the stroke of genius to land Achroft’s Sandringham Dragons teammate Harry Sheezel. Coach Chris Fagan has done this before pairing Western Victorian mates Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry together in the 2016 draft. Ashcroft will bring the ball accumulation while Sheezel is looming as the goalkicking midfielder from this year’s draft class. - Will Hogan
CARLTON
The consolation for the Blues missing finals was a top-10 pick, so they have a good chance of finding a good young talent to add to a list that may be a contender next year. Carlton suffered through a key defender shortage for an extended period mid-season and may look to address this in the draft. Highly touted East Perth backman Jedd Busslinger, a 196cm intercept specialist, could land somewhere near the Blues’ first selection but shoulder surgery cut his season short. But often this early in the draft it is about picking the best player available rather than on needs. – Marc McGowan
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies have clearly set about addressing their key-position shortcomings, with free agent Daniel McStay on the way and Adelaide’s Billy Frampton in their sights as a swingman-ruck option. Small forward Bobby Hill is also likely to request a trade to Collingwood. They won’t enter the draft until the teens, where there is set to be a swag of midfielders up for grabs. At the same time, the Pies are also showing interest in Tim Taranto, so this selection may be used on him if he wants to play in black and white. They could definitely benefit from more help in this area. – Marc McGowan
ESSENDON
The Bombers currently have pick 4 can’t waste it after a tumultous 2022 season and need to take the best available talent. At 188cm, Elijah Tsatas might just be the most suitable option to add to their midfield depth following Ben Hobbs last year. The Dons do have plenty of accumulators but Tsatas has more speed and height than the likes of Darcy Parish, Andy McGrath and Zach Merrett. If Tsatas is off the board then the Dons could look at Cameron Mackenzie who is another taller midfield type who can push forward. And in a line-up that lacks game-breakers, Harry Sheezel has significant appeal with his exciting traits up forward and through the midfield. Or do the Bombers look for support for Harrison Jones and take the best forward prospect in Aaron Cadman? With father-son prospects generally bidded on far later than their standing in the pool, Alwyn Davey Jr — the son of former Bombers forward Alwyn — could slide beyond the first round. - Will Hogan
FREMANTLE
Fremantle targeted Western Australian prospects Jye Amiss and Neil Erasmus in as top 10 picks last year and three local products could come into the equation for its first pick this year, which currently stands at 14. Intercept defender Jedd Busslinger might be off the board by then but would be a nice option with Griffin Logue potentially on the move, while midfielders Elijah Hewett and Reuben Ginbey loom as promising pick-ups to add to an exciting young midfield group. The Dockers lack quality talls up forward, though, and Crows NGA forward-ruck Isaac Keeler may be the best available at that stage. - Dan Batten
GEELONG
The Cats will end up with a late first rounder depending on how far they go in the finals reflecting a similar picture to previous drafts. They’ve had to trade for the top end talent instead of drafting but have made a knack of nailing the draft bolter as shown by Max Holmes and Sam De Koning in recent years. The Cats might get some midfielders through the trade period but still need to add to their depth with the likes of Mitch Duncan, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield in their twilight years. Could Victorian big-bodied tall Henry Hustwaite be an option or will he be gone by then? Others around the mark include Dandenong Stingray’s Mitch Szybkowski and Oliver Hollands, brother of Gold Coast midfielder Elijah. The Cats also have local midfield product Ted Clohesy as part of their Next Generation Academy, who may slide past the top-40 protected zone. — Will Hogan
GOLD COAST
Another young star could be headed to the Suns but they may consider asking around to see if this pick could bring in a quality mature-aged player who wants to move to Queensland. They are ready to play finals next season and already have a brilliant batch of young players. That said, exciting tall forward Aaron Cadman may be available at No.7 and could develop into a great partner for Ben King. Cadman would have time to develop, too, with King due back from his ACL setback and experienced pair Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult on the list as well. – Marc McGowan
GWS GIANTS
The Giants have been the experts of securing the rolls-royce midfielders in past years but it must use its first selection on a key position player. They’ve lost Jeremy Cameron, Phil Davis and Shane Mumford in recent years while Lachie Keeffe has been used as a stop-gap. Matthew Jefferson and Aaron Cadman have been widely tipped as the best key position prospects and unless another club swoops on them, either could be the perfect option at pick no. 3. - Will Hogan
HAWTHORN
Sam Mitchell was clear he wanted a midfielder with the Hawks first pick last year and with their current selection, pick 6, they can go again. It was no secret they were keen on shopping around Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell last year so they clearly want to refresh their engine room and can add to the future mix of Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward and Dylan Moore who shifted in the middle late in the season. There will be class around the Hawks’ first pick. Geelong Falcons midfielder Jhye Clark had an outstanding national carnival while Saints NGA product Cameron Mackenzie is another option. - Will Hogan
MELBOURNE
As of right now the Dees’ first pick is at 35 after they traded their first rounder to Sydney last year but Luke Jackson’s expected departure to Fremantle could open up a world of opportunities for last year’s premiers. It’s clear the Dees will need a replacement for Jackson as well as another key forward. Aaron Cadman if he’s still there will come into calculations as will Matthew Jefferson but it’s all dependent on what picks they get for Jackson and whether they offload at least one for Brodie Grundy. Predicting what the Dees could do in the off-season is near impossible with so many dominoes still to fall. - Will Hogan
NORTH MELBOURNE
Keep the No.1 selection at all costs, or at least drive a hard bargain that delivers two shots at the first round without sliding too much from pick one. The Roos opted not to bid on Nick Daicos or Sam Darcy last year and instead anointed Jason Horne-Francis as the dux of the 2021 draft class. They will have another dilemma this time around, given Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Will Ashcroft is widely viewed as the standout talent. It’s hard to imagine North considering anyone but George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel or Elijah Tsatas, who all offer something different but can each play in the midfield. – Marc McGowan
RICHMOND
Life after Jack Riewoldt and bolstering the midfield should be major priorities at the draft for the Tigers. And they are in a good place to do so with three picks inside the top 30 as things stand, also holding North Melbourne’s second round pick at 19. Aaron Cadman and Matthew Jefferson are the two leading key forwards in the draft pool, but both could be off the board by then, and the Tigers won’t reach for a tall. It means the Tigers may be better placed targeting a midfielder with their first pick, which brings Crows NGA prospect Isaac Keeler — an athletic ruck-forward compared to Paddy Ryder — into the frame at 19. At 12, taller inside midfield options like athletic Western Australian’s Elijah Hewett and Reuben Ginbey, and Dandenoning Stingrays midfield pair Henry Hustwaite and Mitch Syzbkowski shape as excellent additions to Richmond’s onball brigade. — Dan Batten
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power looks set to be a serious player in October’s trade period, with the club linked to Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley and, more recently, showing interest in West Coast’s Junior Rioli. The Eagles small-forward would fill an obvious need, with the transition of Connor Rozee and Zak Butters into full-time onballers almost complete. But pick 8 in this year’s draft could go a long way to filling a similar void – and then some. It could be too late for, arguably, the draft’s best matchwinner Harry Sheezel, and too early early for crafty forward, and top-20 bolter, Olli Hotton. But both would suit. Dynamic local talent Mattaes Phillipou would be hard to pass up as close to the best-available at this point, though. – Jordan Pinto
ST KILDA
The Saints shouldn’t even think about trading pick nine, unless they’re using it to propel even higher. St Kilda needs to bring in the best young talent possible, to add to last year’s first-round selection, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who looks a nice prospect. They could do with more key-position depth at either end and adding another midfielder to ease the load on Jack Steele wouldn’t hurt either. Put simply, position shouldn’t really matter. St Kilda would have to give key forward Aaron Cadman a long look if he was still there, while Jake Lever-clone Jedd Busslinger would add making power in defence. – Marc McGowan
SYDNEY
The Swans’ first pick won’t be until the teens, so they may need to be a bit more targeted than some clubs with earlier choices. They have plentiful key forward options, even if Lance Franklin retired or opted to play elsewhere, but could use some reinforcements down back. The McCartins – Tom and Paddy – are a nice combination but Dane Rampe won’t play forever. Two 192cm defenders who should be available are Josh Weddle and Max Michalanney, but Sydney could also opt for another Tom Papley-type in Brayden George — who suffered an ACL blow over the weekend — with Papley out of contract in 2023. – Marc McGowan
WESTERN BULLDOGS
As things stand the Bulldogs hold pick 11 which put them in a prime position to pounce on a top-10 slider. But most of the prospects in that range are midfielders, which Luke Beveride’s side certainly isn’t short on. The club is in need of key defender and if West Australian tall Jedd Busslinger is still on the board, he would be difficult to resist. Busslinger is the standout key back in the pool, but if he was off the board, could competitive defener Josh Weddle or 197cm interceptor Lewis Hayes enter the frame? Otherwise, a powerful mid-sized forward like draft bolter Bailey Humphrey, a key forward or a silky outside type shape as areas that can bolster the midfield-stacked Dogs. — Dan Batten
WEST COAST
West Coast’s selection at No.2 is an intriguing one given the top WA talents sits in the mid-first round range. Do the Eagles get creative and split their prized selection to get two homegrown talents through the door in Jed Busslinger and Elijah Hewett? Or would they look to the success of Brisbane’s country recruitment plan and take ultra-consistent Geelong Falcons product Jhye Clark with pick two? The Eagles are crying out for young midfielders and any of Clark, George Wardlaw or Elijah Tsatas would be a significant boost. — Dan Batten
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: Who will your club take with its first pick?
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