AFL Draft 2023: Ethan Read’s rise from talented teen to best ruckman in his class

Three years ago, Ethan Read might have been content watching from the couch as his mates were drafted. Now he’s right there with them, where he belongs. Here’s how it happened.

Ethan Read will be taken early in Monday’s draft. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL Draft is littered with stories of prodigious talents who were touted for greatness from the moment they stepped onto a footy field.

Blessed with the size, talent and athleticism to succeed.

Players like Ethan Read’s best mate, Jed Walter.

Read calls him “a man child”. It’s an accurate if not somewhat inelegant summation of the hulking key forward who was crashing packs in senior footy from the age of 15.

But it was a slower burn for Read – the 202cm, 90kg giant who was overlooked for senior footy while his mates were hailed as AFL stars of the future.

Ethan Read is expected to be one of the first names off the board in Monday night’s AFL National Draft. Picture: Suns Media

Blessed with an 11cm growth spurt two years ago, Read went from talented key position player to superstar ruck capable of tearing a game apart.

He proved as such at the U18 National Championships, where he averaged 22 disposals, 13 hit-outs and eight marks for the Allies – earning All-Australian honours in the process.

He ran a 5m56sec 2km time trial at the draft combine – one of only three players to go under six minutes.

Now Read is considered the top ruck prospect in the draft. Every club in the competition would love to have him on its list.

“He’s come from nowhere, he really has,” former Palm Beach Currumbin QAFL coach Russell Maloney said of Read.

“When I was coaching I didn’t play him in the seniors. I played Jed and Will (Graham) the same year, but those two seemed a bit more mature body wise and football wise.

“Ethan … I thought had potential, but he was a typical big bloke who would take a while to fill into his body.”

While Walter and Graham made names for themselves at senior level, Read continued to play Colts.

The Suns called Maloney one day and asked why he had not given the 16-year-old a senior chance. He told them: “I don’t think he’s ready”.

Read is one of the fittest players in his draft class. Picture: Getty Images

Maloney wasn’t the only one not quite sold on Read’s early output.

“I thought Will and Jed would be drafted, but maybe not myself,” the 18-year-old conceded.

“I probably wasn’t the best player back in the day. But Will and Jed were killing it.

“Looking at it now, it’s pretty cool for three juniors to get drafted out of the same club.”

Not only that, all three Palm Beach Currumbin products could go in the first round on Monday night.

Walter and Read are considered locks to have their names called, while it’s likely Graham joins them among the early selections.

All going to plan, the talented trio will remain on the Gold Coast.

The Suns have spent all off-season stockpiling draft selections to match bids on their quartet of Academy stars, with Broadbeach midfielder Jake Rogers also set to come off the board in the first round.

Having watched Read develop over the past few years, Maloney is now convinced.

“I’ve just loved his determination,” he said.

Read in action for the Allies. Picture: Getty Images

“He was behind the eight-ball early because of his stature. He’s got a really good footy IQ.

He understands the game well, he knows where to run and what to do with it. He looks like a midfielder in a ruckman’s body.

“With his tank he could be anything – he could be the best of the three.

“I knew he had potential, but a lot of kids have potential. He’s just gone bang all of a sudden. But he’s had to work for it. Nothing has been handed to him.”

Three years ago, Read might have been content watching from the couch as his mates were drafted.

Now he’s right there with them, where he belongs.