CLUBS appeared to be gearing up for the 2023 draft across the recently concluded trade period, as future picks were traded for in 22 of the 33 different transactions.<\/p>\n
AFL Media\u2019s draft expert Cal Twomey said that\u2019s due to recruiters having additional information on next year\u2019s crop who were able to play their underage campaign without COVID interruptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the luxury of this year is that we\u2019ve seen 17-year-old players play,\u201d Twomey said on AFL Trade Radio<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last couple of years we haven\u2019t seen that, this year\u2019s draft in the 2022 pool is a bit of an unknown draft.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t see them [this year\u2019s crop] much at under 16s level, we barely saw them as well at under 17s level in a national form.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s really difficult to get weight on and I think there\u2019s probably tax that\u2019s been associated with that as well in terms of that lack of development over the previous couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n Twomey highlighted one teenager as the player to watch of 2023 draft-eligible players, with Bendigo Pioneers midfielder Harley Reid the cream of the crop.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s a big reputation to live up to, Twomey dared to say Reid is Dustin Martin-like with the way he goes about his footy.<\/p>\n \u201cNext year\u2019s very exciting, there\u2019s a guy called Harley Reid,\u201d Twomey said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you haven\u2019t seen his highlights, go and find them because if he was in this year\u2019s pool, he\u2019d be challenging Will Ashcroft as the number one outright pick, even as a 17-year-old.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of Dustin Martin about him and the way he plays, and clubs are going to go \u2018ga-ga\u2019 over him next year.\u201d<\/p>\n While Reid is the current standout, Twomey mentioned multiple other names that could feature at the pointy end of the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s one of only a few that are very exciting,\u201d Twomey said. \u201cZane Duursma, the younger brother of course of Xavier.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Wizard, we love Nick \u2018The Wizard\u2019 Watson, he\u2019s a star, Ashton Moir, so there\u2019s a lot of players in that basket.\u201d<\/p>\n While the 2023 crop will have to wait another 12 months, the 2022 group will hope to have their names read out shortly with this year\u2019s National Draft set for 28 and 29 November.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n