Recruiting AFL Draft Watch 2023

[Lore]

Quick links: Player Contract Status | Trade & Draft Thread | JHA Father/Son and NGA | Adrian Dodoro | AFLW Draft, Trade & Sign

Spoiler: LIVE DRAFT ORDER (2023 Draft Order)

 

[Yoda_]

Why does every mock draft have us taking a KPD (more often than not O'Sullivan)

baffles me how little people know our list

 

[eDPS]

Why does every mock draft have us taking a KPD (more often than not O'Sullivan)

baffles me how little people know our list

Still beats drafting a smaller mid lol

 

[Yoda_]

Still beats drafting a smaller mid lol

id love a runner that appears likely available at our pick

 

[ant555]

Why does every mock draft have us taking a KPD (more often than not O'Sullivan)

baffles me how little people know our list

Best player at that spot in the draft. Has played forward and kicked goals and has even had some midfield minutes. Is also much further developed than some of of pervious picks . It is not as dumb as it sounds . Yes we need a CHF . We could use some more class at half back for sure but long term I do not think the defense is in tip top shape. Reid can not get on the park. Cox is looking more like a tall half back than a KP player. Gregory Hayes is too early to say. McKay is our hope at FB . Ridley intercept half back and Laverde could be upgraded. Comes down to if you want to take an inferior player to simply fill a spot.
I like him. I have no issue if we pick him .

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Gregory is too early to say.

He hasn't been part of Essendon's crew since about 2014.

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

Any thoughts on the reason for the lack of consistency?

Had a fractured leg/fibula at the start of the year and came back too early, then got chickenpox which apparently really knocked him about.

 

[ant555]

He hasn't been part of Essendon's crew since about 2014.

Do not know why I always think Hayes and end up with Gregory. Hope it is not a sign

 

[ant555]

Some of the O'Sullivan reviews

Connor O’Sullivan is among the rare group of 198cm players who can ply their trade in any role asked of them, having swung up either end of the ground and even through midfield in 2023. He moves super well for his height and can rack up possessions like a mid-sized player, but bases his game on impacting aerially from contest to contest before mopping up at ground level. The Albury native was MVP of the title-winning Allies squad and is yet another tall in this crop who has accelerated his development after a bottom-age campaign of nice glimpses.

O'Sullivan is a no-nonsense key defender that can peel off his man, intercept and kickstart transition with good ball use. His flexibility to play on different types of forwards, kick goals as a forward and also run through the midfield has been impressive and added to an alluring package for clubs. O'Sullivan is in that top-10 frame with his mature body giving him scope to play senior football early next year.

There’s a long queue of clubs interested in O’Sullivan, whose remarkable rise across 2023 has put him in the top-10 mix. He was named the Allies’ MVP – a big honour considering his team’s famous undefeated carnival campaign – after averaging 18 disposals and a competition-high eight marks. O’Sullivan started the Coates Talent League season as a forward but quickly settled down back, averaging 20 disposals and seven marks across nine games. A competitive and hard-working beast with a terrific set of hands – both in the air and at ground level – O’Sullivan is a genuine tall utility who can play inside either arc or even in the midfield – although he’s thrived this year playing predominantly as a key defender. He knows when to stay on his man and when to peel off and intercept – and he’s equally adept at both arts. Likely to come into the mix from Geelong’s first pick.

O'Sullivan is a stretchy, versatile key defender who has also had stints in attack and even the midfield this season. The Bushrangers tall is especially adept at reading the ball in the air and taking intercept marks, cutting off the opposition's forward forays time and again. He was a standout for the Allies at the under-18 championships and has shown he can find the ball as a backman – he's averaged 20 disposals this year for Murray.

Nate Caddy.

It has been an up and down month for Caddy, who showed his high-end talent with a barnstorming game for the Knights in round 16, when he kicked 4.3 from 20 disposals and 11 marks in a dominant display. It was everything Caddy is capable of: strong marks, long kicking, force, power and some of the unexpected. Unfortunately, the next week he had a head knock that saw him miss the Knights' wildcard round game with concussion. Caddy's talents as a forward, and potential as a taller midfield option, makes him an appealing prospect. He finished with 25 goals from nine games for the Knights in an interrupted year.

Could be a bit higher than No. 10 on club draft boards, such is the growth left in him — both in his game and in his body. Caddy – the nephew of dual premiership Tiger Josh Caddy

22

Josh Caddy

Age

33

Ht

186cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.5

5star

CL

2.5

4star

D

13.5

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

6.0

3star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.7

3star

D

14.0

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.8

4star

– is a unique goalkicker in that he has strong high-marking ability and plays with key-forward like power, dynamism and presence, but isn’t as tall as some of other key forwards in this year’s draft class. To make up for that, he’s shown ominous explosiveness when pinch-hitting at centre bounces. There were three Coates Talent League games this year where he kicked at least four goals from 20-plus disposals. He competed hard without much scoreboard reward for effort for Vic Metro, kicking six goals from three national carnival games. Likely to first come under consideration when it’s the Giants’ turn to pick – and the sense is he won’t slide too far past that pick.


Caddy is a bullocking forward that attacks the ball full-chested and creates shots at goal through a variety of avenues. The nephew of premiership Tiger Josh, his physicality and marking is his biggest strength, but he's also shown flashes as a big on-onballer and has had high possession games. Clubs will draft Caddy as a forward, with his draft year and style of play bearing similarities to Charlie Curnow

30

Charlie Curnow

Age

28

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

. The draft combine could see Caddy garner top five consideration if those athletic glimpses translate to great testing results.

If the name sounds familiar, Nate Caddy is the nephew of two-time premiership Tiger, Josh. He’s a bit taller than his uncle at 192cm and plays like a genuine key position option against his peers, but has the dynamism to develop in other roles. Caddy’s athleticism and aerial ability are pillars of his game and traits which have him pegged as a genuine high-end prospect, despite any conjecture about where he may best fit in at the elite level.

 

[Razzle Dazzlers]

Best player at that spot in the draft. Has played forward and kicked goals and has even had some midfield minutes. Is also much further developed than some of of pervious picks . It is not as dumb as it sounds . Yes we need a CHF . We could use some more class at half back for sure but long term I do not think the defense is in tip top shape. Reid can not get on the park. Cox is looking more like a tall half back than a KP player. Gregory Hayes is too early to say. McKay is our hope at FB . Ridley intercept half back and Laverde could be upgraded. Comes down to if you want to take an inferior player to simply fill a spot.
I like him. I have no issue if we pick him .

Agree. If you want to take an inferior player on your talent board then you should absolutely trade back. We have to still take best talent at our pick regardless of position

 

[Godzke]

After the top 8 selections, is there much of a gap between 9 and 19 in the draft? Thinking splitting 9 into two picks in the teens (ie North's picks) would be better.

 

[ant555]

After the top 8 selections, is there much of a gap between 9 and 19 in the draft? Thinking splitting 9 into two picks in the teens (ie North's picks) would be better.

Not sure there is a huge gap between 3 and 15 or so despite the top 8 seeming pretty stable opinion wise .

 

[Godzke]

Not sure there is a huge gap between 3 and 15 or so despite the top 8 seeming pretty stable opinion wise .

So if we can't get up into 3 to nab Duursma, then what's the point of holding 9?
Trade for a future 1st rounder or split picks into two in the teens

 

[Old Campaigner]

So if we can't get up into 3 to nab Duursma, then what's the point of holding 9?
Trade for a future 1st rounder or split picks into two in the teens

trouble is you are trading with clubs who have largely the same view of the draft as you, why would they give anything up for pick 9 if they're happy with their later first round picks?

 

[Yoda_]

trouble is you are trading with clubs who have largely the same view of the draft as you, why would they give anything up for pick 9 if they're happy with their later first round picks?

We should have been all over North for 15 + end of first compo when it was first given for pick 9

 

[jdstorm]

So if we can't get up into 3 to nab Duursma, then what's the point of holding 9?
Trade for a future 1st rounder or split picks into two in the teens

With the draft there seems to be a top 8
Then a next 4 then it flattens out.

Also most drafts a team goes early on someone they like and one of the top 8 slips.

Rumours are GWS and Geelong both like Leake so if true one of the top 8 will fall to 9

The way the draft is with Fs/academy picks splitting picks wil take you from 11 (after bids) to 20+ fast and in that range there’s minimal chance at high level talent

 

[Godzke]

trouble is you are trading with clubs who have largely the same view of the draft as you, why would they give anything up for pick 9 if they're happy with their later first round picks?

not necessarily, some mind want to bundle picks.
from a North POV, they might think #2 + #9 might be of more interest to WCE for #1 than #2 + 2x late first rounders

 

[ant555]

So if we can't get up into 3 to nab Duursma, then what's the point of holding 9?
Trade for a future 1st rounder or split picks into two in the teens

I do not think Dursma is massively in front either.
As far as what’s the point . I am on the fence . Taking two picks in the teens may just be better than using one at 9 and two in the thirties.
I actually like O’Sullivan but I am pretty much on my own as far as us taking him .

 

[Razzle Dazzlers]

One thing I will say is hope we draft someone with durability. Top picks not playing just kills you. Availability is the best ability which is why when you look at reid Cox perk.. I would say Perkins is the most valuable right now mainly because he has played and developed his game a fair bit.

 

[eDPS]

One thing I will say is hope we draft someone with durability. Top picks not playing just kills you. Availability is the best ability which is why when you look at reid Cox perk.. I would say Perkins is the most valuable right now mainly because he has played and developed his game a fair bit.

It’s impossible to draft for durability, Selwood had an injury concern for his draft year and went on to be very durable. Gumbletons draft year went smoothly but his AFL career sure didn’t

 

[Old Campaigner]

not necessarily, some mind want to bundle picks.
from a North POV, they might think #2 + #9 might be of more interest to WCE for #1 than #2 + 2x late first rounders

I mean that's pure speculation and from the fact it hasn't yet happened one might conclude that one of those clubs decided that wasn't actually going to be in their favour.

 

[Old Campaigner]

We should have been all over North for 15 + end of first compo when it was first given for pick 9

Maybe we were and maybe Norf said "lol no, wtf"

 

[Bjchan13]

I do not think Dursma is massively in front either.
As far as what’s the point . I am on the fence . Taking two picks in the teens may just be better than using one at 9 and two in the thirties.
I actually like O’Sullivan but I am pretty much on my own as far as us taking him .

I think Melbourne will/should take O'Sullivan if there.

 

[Razzle Dazzlers]

It’s impossible to draft for durability, Selwood had an injury concern for his draft year and went on to be very durable. Gumbletons draft year went smoothly but his AFL career sure didn’t

I’m sure now they have data on body types, make up etc and be able build some predictions around likely hood of soft tissue injuries and such. Obviously impact injures can’t predict that.

Money is poured into sport science and talent identification if this is not something that is done or no one has been able to solve this yet maybe i need to tackle it

 

[ant555]

I’m sure now they have data on body types, make up etc and be able build some predictions around likely hood of soft tissue injuries and such. Obviously impact injures can’t predict that.

Money is poured into sport science and talent identification if this is not something that is done or no one has been able to solve this yet maybe i need to tackle it

Ask for a government grant

 

[Yoda_]

I really like the sound of Kane Mcaulife, sounds like one that could slide to our picks in the 30's