TOP AFL DRAFT PROSPECTS IN 2023
Harley Reid (Tongala/Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country)
Some recruiters said they would have picked Reid with the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft had he been available. A powerful and versatile 185cm player from the Bendigo Pioneers, Reid showed an ability to play through the midfield, up forward or down back last year. He featured in 12 NAB League games as well as starring for Vic Country during the under-18 national championships. In the final game of the championships against Vic Metro, Reid logged 17 disposals playing in defence during the first three quarters before being thrown forward in the final term where he kicked two goals in the space of seven minutes. Reid is tough, composed, skilful and a strong overhead mark. He trained with Essendon over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Nick Watson (East Ringwood/Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Watson was referred to as ‘The Wizard’ by some commentators after a stellar bottom-age year which left recruiters very excited. A 170cm small forward, he split his time between playing NAB League football with the Eastern Ranges and school football with Caulfield Grammar last year. From seven NAB League matches, Watson averaged 2.6 goals and 6.9 score involvements. In three of those matches he kicked four goals or more, including a bag of five against Gold Coast in Round 2. Watson also caught the eye for Vic Metro in the national championships, including when he kicked 3.2 from just nine disposals on a wet day against South Australia, showing what a high-impact player he can be. He is incredibly quick, agile and smart, which makes him a difficult match up. Watson trained with Hawthorn over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Colby McKercher (Launceston/Tasmania Devils/Allies)
Recruiters believe McKercher is a faster version of Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett. The 182cm midfielder from Tasmania possesses dazzling burst speed from stoppages and has a penetrating left-foot kick. McKercher averaged 22.7 disposals, 3.7 clearances and four tackles from 13 NAB League games last year win the side’s Toby Nankervis Medal as its Rising Star. He also featured in two under-18 national championships matches for the Allies and logged 20 disposals and seven marks to be named among the best for Team Houli in the under-17 Futures game at the MCG on Grand Final day. McKercher trained with Collingwood over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Ashton Moir (Plympton/Glenelg/SA)
Described by recruiters as a “high-level talent”, Moir shapes as the top draft prospect from South Australia this year as well as one of the top prospects across the country. A 186cm half-forward, Moir impressed with his exciting aerial ability and innate goal sense this year. From 10 SANFL under-18 matches, he averaged 15.4 disposals, 5.3 marks, 8.5 score involvements and three goals. Moir booted four or more goals in five of those matches. He has clean hands, is clever in congestion around stoppages and is an effective kick on both sides of his body. Moir was named as South Australia’s best player in its final game of the under-18 national championships against Western Australia last year after he kicked 4.2 from 11 disposals, showing he has plenty of tricks in his bag. He trained with Adelaide over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Ashton Moir is a high level talent from Glenelg. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe
Daniel Curtin (Claremont/West Coast/WA)
A 196cm key defender from Western Australia, Curtin put his name up in lights when he won the best-on-ground medal while playing for Team Houli in the under-17 futures game at the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day last September. He played across halfback and collected 22 disposals and nine marks in that game, but he also showed an ability to have an impact as a key forward for Claremont in the WAFL Colts this year. A nice left-foot kick, Curtin regularly makes good decisions with ball in hand and also has strong agility. He was part of Western Australia’s squad for the under-18 national championships last year but didn’t feature for his state after battling a nasty finger injury during the middle part of the year. Curtin trained with Fremantle over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Will Lorenz (Boroondara/Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
He didn’t win the medal, but some recruiters rated Lorenz as the best player on the ground in the under-17 futures game at the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day last year. He showed good speed and agility that day as he racked up 24 disposals, nine marks and one classy goal on the run in that game. The left-footed midfielder has drawn comparisons to Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli, who also came through Marcellin College. Lorenz comes from good bloodlines, being the grandson of Hawthorn great Graham Arthur who played 232 games for the club and was a premiership captain in 1961.
Mitchell Edwards (South Mandurah/Peel Thunder/WA)
A towering 205cm ruckman/forward, Edwards is hard to miss but he certainly caught the attention of clubs last year. Part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Edwards not only gets his hands on the ball in the ruck but is also extremely athletic and follows up his work well around the ground. He featured in all four matches of the under-18 national championships for Western Australia last year, averaging 11 disposals and 18.5 hit-outs. He was named in Western Australia’s best in two of those matches. Edwards trained with Fremantle over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Nate Caddy (Yarrambat/Bundoora/Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
A 191cm mobile forward, Caddy presents well in attack with strong hands overhead and natural speed. He can be a physical presence, not only with his contested marking but also with his contested possession wins at ground level. Caddy averaged 14.5 disposals and kicked 18 goals from 13 NAB League matches for the Knights last year, while also featuring in two under-18 national championships matches for Vic Metro as a bottom-age player. In the second of those matches, Caddy caught the eye with 3.1 from eight disposals and four marks against South Australia. As well as playing forward, Caddy was used as a tall midfielder at stages last year. He is the nephew of two-time Richmond premiership player Josh Caddy. He trained with Carlton over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Nate Caddy played senior football for Bundoora in the Northern Football League last year. Picture: Hamish Blair
Zane Duursma (Foster/Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
The younger brother of Port Adelaide young gun Xavier Duursma is a very exciting prospect who showed plenty in his bottom-age season last year. The Gippsland Power product averaged 15.5 disposals and 2.2 goals across 14 NAB League matches, while also playing two games of the under-18 national championships for Vic Country. He has “pure ability” and his highlights reel is already quite special. Standing 189cm tall, Duursma is predominantly a forward but has also spent time playing as a taller midfielder. He trained with Melbourne over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Archer Reid (Inverloch-Kongwak/Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
A versatile tall with a great overhead mark, Reid shapes as one of the top key position players in this 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. Reid featured in 12 NAB League games for Gippsland Power last year, averaging 1.4 goals from 9.9 disposals and 4.1 marks. He trained with Hawthorn summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Jed Walter (Palm Beach Currumbin/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Allies)
A 195cm key forward, Walter is a member of the Gold Coast Suns Academy and is one of the leading draft prospects for this year. He is an athletic big man who works hard and has a physical presence in the air which sees him able to take some big contested marks. Walter managed just eight disposals and four marks in the under 17 Futures game on the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day last September, but had averaged 9.3 disposals and 2.3 goals across four under 18 national championships games for the Allies. He trained with Gold Coast over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.
Ryley Sanders (North Launceston/Sandringham Dragons/Allies)
A 185cm midfielder who hails from Tasmania, Sanders relocated to Victoria last year to attend Melbourne Grammar and play with the Sandringham Dragons. Sanders was the top-ranked player on the ground in the under 17 Futures game on AFL Grand Final day, racking up 135 SuperCoach ranking points as he accumulated 29 disposals and five clearances for Team Murphy. A composed player who is good in congestion and generally uses the ball well, Sanders also had a standout game in the under-18 national championships against Vic Metro earlier last year, logging 21 disposals, six clearances and four tackles. He trained with Collingwood over summer as part of the AFL Academy program.