The opening round of the AFL Draft always has the potential to change the trajectory of clubs, for better and worse. Here were the moments that mattered most.
Last night, 21 draft prospects from across the country were selected during the AFL draft’s first round.
The Giants got their (Aaron) Cad-man with Pick 1, while the Lions secured their highly touted father-son and academy prospects amid some late bidding drama.
The AFL draft continues on Tuesday at 7pm, where at the current time, the GWS Giants will start off the night with pick 22.
The Only Sports Show | Latest episode:
The Lions come away with the most promising prospect of the entire AFL Draft
It was what everybody already knew, but on Monday night Will Ashcroft became a Lion. He’s considered by many the best player of the pool – and Brisbane had the acquisition rights via the father-son rule.
In a surprise to some, GWS allowed Ashcroft’s bid to slip to pick two, with North Melbourne the club forcing the Lions to match it. That, in itself, was a win for Brisbane. So too is adding Ashcroft to its list.
RELATED | AFL DRAFT | Why everyone’s talking about stud Draftee Will Ashcroft
Have the Giants secured their long-term Jeremy Cameron replacement?
With GWS experiencing a player exodus during the offseason, it would have been using the night to adapt to the departures. Equipped with pick number one, the Giants chose not to bid on Ashcroft and instead pick key forward Aaron Cadman, who looms as an exciting prospect.
The Giants also covered for the big midfield losses of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, securing academy midfielder Harry Rowston with pick 16 and WA prospect Darcy Jones with 21.
Essendon’s first pick sees intrigue
With the first four picks set in stone, speculation had surrounded Essendon over what the club would do with the fifth pick, with Melbourne reportedly interested in acquiring the selection.
South Australian Mattaes Phillipou was in the frame for the Bombers, however, they decided to keep their pick and opted for a local option, selecting the Oakleigh Chargers’ Elijah Tsatas.
Bids cause slight shake-up to AFL draft order
What started off smoothly in the draft order turned somewhat chaotic as night one neared its end. The Western Bulldogs made the second bid of the night on Lions Academy midfielder Jaspa Fletcher at pick 12, with Brisbane matching the bid.
Things then really started to shift, with the Swans making two consecutive bids and then trading their pick to Hawthorn. The Giants matched a bid for Rowston and the Crows paid up for prospect Max Michelanney, as the Swans were on the board again a few picks later, selecting small forward Jacob Konstanty.
Carlton’s scary combination of Walsh and Hollands
Oliver Hollands’ inclusion for Carlton will be exciting for fans to see. Known to model his game on now-teammate Sam Walsh, Hollands could be set to feature on a wing in his first year.
The Walsh-Hollands duo will certainly be one to watch for Blues fans in 2023.
St Kilda secures enigma Phillipou
Mattaes Phillipou was a top-10 wildcard, the Woodville West-Torrens midfielder reportedly in the mix to be Essendon’s first pick of the night.
He was also in the frame for the other top pick holders but ended up sliding in the draft order as the Saints selected him at pick 10.
Ed Allan a surprise slider
Another slider, perhaps the biggest on the first night.
The West Australian native was predicted by some to be in the top ten, so it came as a surprise when West Coast passed on him for Elijah Hewett.
As the night continued, Allan was still available despite also being linked to the likes of the Hawthorn and the Bulldogs. The Claremont product was eventually picked up by Collingwood.
