AFL Draft 2022: 10 players ready to make instant impact in 2023
Which of this year’s draftees will debut in round one, 2023? And how many will have slipped into the second draft round?
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The AFL national draft is just three weeks away and while recruiters look for long-term prospects, some players are ready to go right away.
The likes of Collingwood’s Nick Daicos (25 games), Hawthorn’s Connor Macdonald (20 games), Richmond’s Josh Gibcus (18 games) and St Kilda’s Marcus Windhager (18 games) showed that as they played the majority of their debut seasons this year.
Here are 10 of this year’s top AFL draft prospects who are ready to make an instant impact in 2023.
1. WILL ASHCROFT (Draft Range: 1-3)
He’s not quite at Nick Daicos levels of 2021, but Ashcroft sits comfortably as the early Rising Star favourite for next year. A good-sized onballer who is headed to Brisbane as a father-son, the oldest son of three-time premiership player Marcus has done it all this year. Not only did Ashcroft dominate underage football, but he also stepped up and played three VFL games against men for the Lions. From those three matches, the 18-year-old averaged 29.3 disposals, five clearances, 8.7 score involvements and 7.3 tackles. Brisbane is a good side but expect the Lions to find a spot in their best 22 for Ashcroft fairly early in the year.
2. REUBEN GINBEY (Draft Range: 4-8)
A draft bolter this year, the West Australian has emerged into a top-five pick who looks capable of playing some early senior football next season. A big-bodied inside midfielder who can also be deployed across halfback, Ginbey measures 189cm and is a solid 85kg. Hailing from West Perth, he impressed across four games for Western Australia at the under-18 national championships and also featured in four senior WAFL games. In the last of those games against West Perth, Ginbey racked up 15 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five clearances and nine ground ball gets. There is interest in Ginbey from Essendon and Gold Coast, who hold top-five picks.
3. JOSH WEDDLE (Draft Range: 15-25)
As far as the talls go in this year’s draft pool, Weddle looks the most ready to make an immediate impact next year. While the Oakleigh Chargers defender did not play any VFL football this year, he boasts an outstanding athletic profile and a level of physicality and competitiveness that will allow him to make leap to the AFL. Measuring 191cm and weighing in at 87kg, Weddle came with a bullet in the second half of the season to sit as a potential first-round or early second-round prospect. He is slightly undersized for a key defender, but has all the tools to be able to play on taller opponents.
4. ELIJAH HEWETT (Draft Range: 15-25)
A powerful midfielder from Western Australia, Hewett has some fans among clubs with top-20 picks in this year’s draft and looks a ready-made option. A strong body who measures 185cm and weighs in at 84kg, Hewett has good speed and ball-winning ability and possesses a good balance between his inside and outside game. The Swan Districts product has already shown it he can match it with the men, playing nine senior WAFL games this season and averaging 13.8 disposals. He also caught the eye in the under-18 national championships where he averaged 19.5 disposals and 4.5 tackles across four games for his state.
5. GEORGE WARDLAW (Draft Range: 2-4)
One of the three players pegged as potential No. 1 picks at the start of the year – alongside Will Ashcroft and Elijah Tsatas — Wardlaw is a midfield “animal” who has already shown he can compete against men. The AFL Academy member was named best afield for the Australian under-18 side in its exhibition match against Collingwood’s VFL side back in May, catching the eye with 18 disposals that day. The tough-nut models himself on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver, who was himself a top-five pick who managed to play 13 games in his debut season in 2016. The only question mark on Wardlaw’s ability to impact next season is his body. The 18-year-old suffered a series of hamstring injuries which sidelined him for a large chunk of this year.
6. HARRY SHEEZEL (Draft Range: 2-4)
A clear top-five talent in this year’s draft, the crafty forward has what it takes to kick some goals at AFL level next year. Sheezel models his game on Greater Western Sydney forward Toby Greene and while he does not have the same physical size just yet, he does show similar footy smarts at the attacking end of the ground. Favoured to join North Melbourne, Sheezel looks a strong chance to play some senior football next year and is capable of having a similar impact to what Adelaide’s Josh Rachele did on debut this year. Across four under-18 national championships matches for Vic Metro, the Sandringham Dragons livewire averaged 14.5 disposals and kicked eight goals.
7. JHYE CLARK (Draft Range: 4-8)
Some are referring to Clark as ‘Jhye Selwood’, in reference to his similar traits to recently-retired Geelong champion Joel Selwood. A midfielder who is as tough and as brave as they come, Clark showed enough this year to suggest he could quickly make the step up to AFL level. The Geelong Falcons product is expected to join the Cats with their top-10 pick, which would be a tough midfield to break into next year. But you wouldn’t dare to put anything past this year’s Vic Country captain, who starred in the under-18 national championships and was also one of the standouts for Australia’s under-18 team in its match against Collingwood’s VFL side in May.
8. ELIJAH TSATAS (Draft Range: 2-7)
A genuine speedster with line-breaking and ball-winning abilities, Tsatas models his game on GWS midfielder Josh Kelly and is similarly expected to be a very high pick on draft night. Tsatas looks to be an outside midfield for now and might start on a wing at AFL level, but recruiters see him as a player who could become an inside midfielder when he adds some more size to his body. Injuries this year — namely a persistent foot injury — limited Tsatas to one match of the under-18 national championships for Vic Metro. However, if he can get his body right the 18-year-old — who is in the mix to join Essendon — could put his wheels on show at the top level in 2023.
9. LACHLAN COWAN (Draft Range: 15-25)
The top draft prospect from Tasmania this year, Cowan is a rebounding defender who can provide some real speed out of the back half. He tied for the Morrish Medal — the NAB League equivalent of the Brownlow Medal — and was named at halfback in the All-Australian team after a strong under-18 national championships series for the Allies. Sydney and Collingwood are both believed to be closely tracking the 188cm Cowan, who is one of the younger players in this year’s draft pool given his December birthday. However, age won’t hold him back and at the right club he could earn opportunities next year.
10. MAX MICHALANNEY (Draft Range: 25-35)
Adelaide fans who are hanging out for a glimpse of father-son prospect Michalanney may well have their wish granted next year. The son of former Norwood champion Jim, the 18-year-old looks capable of playing some senior football for the Crows next season. A 192cm defender, Michalanney played some senior SANFL football for Norwood this year, including in the Redlegs’ semi and preliminary finals. He’s still got some work to do in his game but looks a promising prospect for Adelaide, which has nominated Michalanney as a father-son.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: 10 players ready to make instant impact in 2023
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