(From left to right): Connor Blakely, Daniel Howe and Jake Stein all found new AFL homes in the rookie draft.
The 2023 AFL rookie draft took place on Wednesday with a limited number of lifelines dished out to delisted AFL players, overlooked youngsters and mature-age state league players.
In all, a maximum of 41 picks could have made up the rookie draft, but only 28 picks were used, and of those just 16 were ‘live’ picks with 12 delisted players being redrafted by their clubs.
And for the first time in four years, the pre-season draft did not take place. Despite as many as 21 picks being able to be had in the increasingly archaic mode of recruiting, every club opted against featuring in it.
Three discarded AFL players found new homes on Wednesday as former Fremantle midfielder Connor Blakely was picked up by Gold Coast, ex-Hawthorn on-baller Daniel Howe reunited with former coach Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne, and delisted GWS tall Jake Stein also made his way to the Suns.
A well-known Geelong name has also returned to league ranks with Geelong Falcons product Osca Riccardi, the son of former Cats star Peter, heading to Kardinia Park after being selected with pick 32.
The top pick of the rookie draft was Oakleigh Chargers Blake Drury who was selected by the Kangaroos.
A small forward/midfielder, he averaged 19 touches a game this year playing for Oakleigh and Vic Metro, and also kicked 10 goals.
He is small in stature at 176cm and 73kg, but has the potential to cause havoc in the Kangaroos’ forward line.
And a host of mature-age players got their first crack at the big time too with Central District defender Rhett Montgomerie (Essendon), Frankston ruckman Liam Reidy (Fremantle), Richmond VFL key defender Tylar Young (Richmond) and South Fremantle ruckman Hamish Free (North Melbourne) all joining AFL lists.
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There were also 15 Category B rookies who were automatically added to club lists after being overlooked in the national draft.
Anthony Munkara (Essendon), Josh Draper (Fremantle), Conrad Williams (Fremantle), Ted Clohesy (Geelong), Josh Bennetts (Hawthorn), Nathan Barkla (Port Adelaide), Angus McLennan (St Kilda), Jordyn Baker (West Coast) and Tyrell Dewar (West Coast) all get their chance via the Next Generation Academy.
Meanwhile, Brisbane acquired Queensland zone player Shadeau Brain and Daryl McDowell-White Jr, the son of triple premiership champion Daryl White Sr, Lloyd Johnston (Gold Coast), Nick Madden (GWS) and Will Edwards (Sydney) made their way onto lists via the northern academy program, and the Giants also snapped up Jason Gillbee as a NSW zone selection.
As for the ‘dead’ picks, Phil Davis (GWS), Ed Curnow (Carlton), Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Ryan Lester (Brisbane Lions), Kayne Turner (North Melbourne), Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane Lions), Andrew McPherson (Adelaide), Zane Trew (West Coast), Isiah Winder (West Coast), Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn), Cooper Murley (Collingwood) and Dylan Williams (Port Adelaide) were all re-drafted by their clubs after being delisted at the end of the season.
2023 AFL pre-season draft
No selections
2023 AFL rookie draft
Round one
1. Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers) – North Melbourne
2. Isiah Winder (West Coast) – West Coast
3. Phil Davis (GWS) – GWS
4. Rhett Montgomerie (Central District) – Essendon
5. Andrew McPherson (Adelaide) – Adelaide
6. Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn) – Hawthorn
7. Connor Blakely (Fremantle) – Gold Coast
8. Dylan Williams (Port Adelaide) – Port Adelaide
9. pass – St Kilda
10. Ed Curnow (Carlton) – Carlton
11. pass – Western Bulldogs
12. Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils) – Richmond
13. Liam Reidy (Frankston) – Fremantle
14. Will Verrall (South Adelaide) – Melbourne
15. Ryan Lester (Brisbane) – Brisbane
16. Cooper Murley (Collingwood) – Collingwood
17. Cameron Owen (Tasmania Devils) – Sydney
18. Oscar Murdoch (Geelong Falcons) – Geelong
Round two
19. Hamish Free (South Fremantle) – North Melbourne
20. Zane Trew (West Coast) – West Coast
21. Paul Seedsman (Adelaide) – Adelaide
22. pass – Hawthorn
23. Jake Stein (GWS) – Gold Coast
24. pass – St Kilda
25. pass – Western Bulldogs
26. Tylar Young (Richmond VFL) – Richmond
27. pass – Fremantle
28. Oliver Sestan (Mansfield) – Melbourne
29. Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane) – Brisbane
30. pass – Collingwood
31. Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide) – Sydney
32. Osca Riccardi (Geelong Falcons) – Geelong
Round three
33. Daniel Howe (Hawthorn) – North Melbourne
34. pass – Gold Coast
35. pass – Richmond
36. pass – Melbourne
37. pass – Brisbane
38. pass – Geelong
Round four
39. Kayne Turner (North Melbourne) – North Melbourne
40. pass – Gold Coast
41. pass – Gold Coast
