With one year of information under our belts, we have decided to have another go at the 2022 National Draft.
GWS selected key forward Aaron Cadman with pick one last year, with Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne), George Wardlaw (North Melbourne), Elijah Tstas (Essendon), Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast), Cameron Mackenzie (Hawthorn), Jhye Clark (Geelong), Reuben Ginbey (West Coast) and Mattaes Phillipou (St Kilda) rounding out the top 10.
Prominent players in year one who fell outside the top 10 include Ollie Hollands, Jaspa Fletcher, Elijah Hewett, Josh Weddle and Bailey Macdonald.
This re-draft is not a ranking of who had the best debut season, though obviously we’re taking it into account.
Naturally key position players take longer to develop and we won’t hold a quiet 2023 against them too much in these rankings.
Unlucky: Max Michalanney (Adelaide), Cam Mackenzie (Hawthorn), Elijah Hewett (West Coast)
See our 2022 AFL Re-Draft below:
1. Will Ashcroft (GWS bids, taken by Brisbane)
Actual pick: Pick 2 to Brisbane
Ashcroft burst onto the scene as a key piece of one of the best midfield units in the AFL.
He already looks like a star of the future and is living up to the pre-draft hype.
2. Harry Sheezel (to GWS)
Actual pick: Pick 3 to North Melbourne
Many expected Harry Sheezel to be an impact medium forward in his first season, but Alastair Clarkson immediately trusted him as the main distributor across half-back.
The Rising Star winner averaged 27 disposals per game and will clearly develop into an incredibly potent inside-outside midfielder.
3. Aaron Cadman (to North Melbourne)
Actual pick: Pick 1 to GWS
Aaron Cadman falls behind what looks like two generational talents, but no further.
Particularly when you read how bullish GWS coach Adam Kingsley is on the teenage key forward.
North Melbourne would be very happy with Sheezel and Wardlaw, but they are still a key forward short.
4. George Wardlaw (to North Melbourne)
Impacted early on by injuries, but showed a ton of promise late in the season.
Draft guru Cal Twomey still rates him as one of the best five midfielders drafted in recent years.
1. Nick Daicos
— AFL Trade Radio (@traderadio) October 16, 2023
2. Harley Reid
3. Will Ashcroft
4. Jason Horne-Francis
5. George Wardlaw
- Cal Twomey's ranking of the top mids to come through the draft over the last few years
Actual pick: Unchanged
5. Bailey Humphrey (to Essendon)
Got his spot in Gold Coast's side in Round 4 and never looked back. Looks like he could become the game-breaking inside midfielder who can hit the scoreboard that Essendon is crying out for.
The Suns would be incredibly happy with Humphrey slipping to them at six.
Actual pick: Pick 6 to Gold Coast
6. Reuben Ginbey (to Gold Coast)
Already looks like an on-ball beast who will be a menace on the inside of stoppages for a very long time.
Ginbey will lead the next generation of West Coast's midfield and hopefully add further strings to his one-wood.
Actual pick: Pick 9 to West Coast
7. Mattaes Phillipou (to Hawthorn)
The youngest player in last year's draft, Phillipou showed signs as a crafty half forward who could one day push through the midfield.
The fact that he played all 24 games in Ross Lyon's side should tell you everything you need to know.
Actual pick: Pick 10 to St Kilda
8. Ollie Hollands (to Geelong)
The best runner in this draft earned his spot in Carlton's side and became a key piece of their team playing on the wing opposite Blake Acres.
He had big moments in finals and will only get better as he matures and gets stronger.
Actual pick: Pick 11 to Carlton
9. Jaspa Fletcher (West Coast bids, taken by Brisbane)
Jaspa Fletcher kicked three goals and was one of Brisbane's best players in a Qualifying Final. That explosion capped off a second half of the season where he clearly broke into Brisbane's best 22.
Two father-son pick-ups in what could be the 10 best players from a draft class. Could they take Brisbane one win further in 2024?
Actual pick: Pick 12 to Brisbane
10. Josh Weddle (to West Coast)
Actual pick: Pick 18 to Hawthorn
Weddle had an excellent debut season for the Hawks in the backline, vindicating their call to trade up to get him.
He averaged 17 disposals, five marks and 2.2 rebound 50s per game this season and will only get better with more opportunities.