AFL 2022 Draft: When, where, how to watch, who is nominated, history

For some of the country's most talented youngsters, the AFL National Draft is the culmination of years of hard work.

The future stars have had the past few years to put themselves in the shop window for AFL recruiters, in the hope of finding their way onto a list. Each club must have at least three selections in the national draft.

GWS hold the prized number one pick after a mega trade involving North Melbourne, West Coast and Port Adelaide.

Despite finishing last, the Kangaroos swapped out the first pick for selections two and three.

MORE: Get summer sport ready with up to 50% off this Black Friday sale at Barbeques Galore

886 players have been deemed eligible for the draft, according to the Herald Sun.

When is the 2022 AFL Draft?

The 2022 National AFL draft will run between November 28-30.

Monday 28 November, 7pm – Round 1 - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting including Father/Son, Academy, NGA Players Bidding

Tuesday 29 November, 7pm – Round 2 to completion - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting

Wednesday 30 November, 3pm - AFL pre-season draft and Rookie draft (online)

Where is the 2022 AFL Draft?

The AFL Draft will be held at Marvel Stadium with all 18 clubs returning to the venue for the first time since the 2019 draft.

How to watch the 2022 AFL Draft?

The AFL Draft is being shown on Foxtel via the Fox Footy channel (504) and is also available to stream on Kayo Sports.

How does the AFL draft work?

All 18 AFL clubs earn draft picks based on where they finish on the ladder that season in reverse order (eg. North Melbourne finished 18th and were awarded with pick one).

These selections can be traded up to one year in advance while some are moved around during the Trade and Free Agency Periods.

However, picks can be traded on the night of the Draft as clubs determine where they'd rather sit in the order.

Father-son and Academy (beyond pick 40) players also add to the complexity of the draft, with rival clubs able to 'bid' on prospects linked to certain teams.

Clubs can match the bid by using their draft points to acquire the young talent.

How does the AFL bidding system work?

The AFL has created a Draft Value Index which allocates points to the first 73 picks in the draft.

The prized pick one is worth 3000 points and gradually declines through the draft order.

This is to ensure that clubs still have to 'cough' something up for Father-son nominations or Academy players that are linked to the team.

If a club does not have enough points to secure the player, they can go into a deficit, meaning the following year their overall draft points will take a hit.

However, clubs linked to players through either Father-Son or Academy are entitled to a discount, where a maximum of 20 per cent is given in the first round.

Then a fixed amount of 197 points for the remaining picks (from pick 18 onwards).

MORE: “Get summer sport ready with up to 50% off this Black Friday sale at Barbeques Galore”

Who are the 2022 AFL Draft prospects?

Here are some of the best prospects in this years draft for the 2022 season:

Will Ashcroft (Midfielder - Sandringham Dragons/Victoria Metro)

Largely touted as the best player in this year's draft, Ashcroft is on his way to Brisbane given the Father-son link.

Likened his game to Carlton's Sam Walsh, the Sandringham Dragons product has been dominant in his draft year and capped it off with both team and individual accolades.

Aaron Cadman (Key forward - Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Victoria Country)

Cadman's 2022 year has shot him into pick one calculations.

His versatility, athleticism and goal sense has recruiters seeing remnants of star forward Jeremy Cameron.

Cadman has an uncanny ability to go up the field and lose his opponent, getting goal side and becoming a dangerous prospect up forward.

George Wardlaw (Midfielder - Oakleigh Chargers/Victoria Metro)

Crippled by soft-tissue injuries, Wardlaw's 2022 campaign wasn't what he expected.

However, in the few games he did manage throughout the year, he impressed recruiters and AFL clubs with his strength and burst out of stoppage.

Possessing similar traits to Clayton Oliver, Wardlaw has rivalled Ashcroft for the number one pick but unfortunately is unlikely to snare it given the limited sample size.

Harry Sheezel (Forward - Sandringham Dragons/Victoria Metro)

Another super talent up that seems to find himself in the right place at the right time.

Sheezel played alongside Ashcroft at Sandringham and Victoria Metro, proving to be the Robin to his Batman.

The goal-kicking forward was dominant in all competitions which is no surprise he is tipped to go high in the draft.

Elijah Tsatas (Midfielder - Oakleigh Chargers/Victoria Metro)

Played alongside Wardlaw, Tsatas had a more consistent season and showed why he is a top five selection.

An excellent combination of inside-outside skills through the centre, the Oakleigh Chargers product has proven his worth in 2022.

Would be a surprise if he doesn't go top 10.

Other notable names would be Jhye Clark, Bailey Humphrey, Cam Mackenzie and Matt Jefferson.

MORE: Get summer sport ready with up to 50% off this Black Friday sale at Barbeques Galore

Eligible Academy and Father-Son prospects

Father-son nominations

Adelaide: Max Michalanney (Norwood, son of Jim)

Brisbane: Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons, son of Marcus), Jaspa Fletcher (Lions Academy, son of Adrian), Darryl McDowell-White Jnr (Brisbane VFL, son of Darryl), Noah Bradshaw (Murray Bushrangers, son of Daniel), Casey Voss (Sturt, son of Michael)

Carlton: Darcy Hogg (Northern Knights, son of Matthew), Dane Whitnall (Calder Cannons, son of Lance)

Collingwood: Nicky Christian (Sandringham Dragons, son of Michael)

Essendon: Alwyn Davey Jnr (Oakleigh Chargers, son of Alwyn), Jayden Davey (Oakleigh Chargers, son of Alwyn), Josh Misiti (Calder Cannons, son of Joe)

Fremantle: Jaren Carr (South Fremantle, son of Matthew)

Geelong: Osca Riccardi (Geelong Falcons, son of Peter)

Hawthorn: Jerome Lawrence (Oakleigh Chargers, son of Stephen)

North Melbourne: Cooper Harvey (Northern Knights, son of Brent)

Port Adelaide: Will Francou (North Adelaide, son of Josh), Harper Montgomery (North Adelaide, son of Brett)

Sydney: Indhi Kirk (Sydney Swans VFL, son of Brett)

Western Bulldogs: Billy Kolyniuk (Western Jets, son of Steven)

Next Generation Academy Nominations (can only be matched from Pick 41 onwards)

Adelaide: Isaac Keeler

Essendon: Anthony Munkara

Collingwood: Yuyu Ashwin

Fremantle: Jasper Scaife, Josh Draper, Conrad Williams, Chase Bourne

Geelong: Ted Clohesy

Hawthorn: Cooper Vickery, Josh Bennetts

Melbourne: Finn Emile-Brennan, Kyah Farris-White

Port Adelaide: Nathan Barkla

St Kilda: Cameron Mackenzie

West Coast: Tyrell Dewar

Northern Academy nominations

Brisbane: Shadeau Brain

Gold Coast: Lloyd Johnston, Brinn Little, Jared Eckersley, Beau Tedcastle

GWS: Harry Rowston, Nick Madden, Luke Lawrence

Sydney: Will Edwards

When was the 2022 AFL Draft Combine?

The annual AFL Draft combine was on October 9 this year. The Combine is where Australia's next potential stars gather to present their athleticism and applicable AFL skills in front of club representatives. 

The participants underwent five gruesome tests that attempts to push their limits: Standing Vertical Jump, Running Vertical Jump, 20-metre Sprint, Agility Test and a 2km Time Trial.

Ollie Hollands (Murray Bushrangers) and Jason Gillbee (Bendigo Pioneers) led from the front in the 2km time trial with splits of 5min and 54 seconds.

Darcy Jones (Swan Districts) broke the Agility Test record with a staggering 7.70 second time, knocking off former Fremantle player Stephen Hill's 7.77 seconds.

Claremont's Edward Allan put his name in the top-five all time 20-metre sprints with 2.81 seconds.

All the results here.

MORE: Get summer sport ready with up to 50% off this Black Friday sale at Barbeques Galore

What is the pick order for the 2022 AFL Draft?

To view all the rounds, including two to four, click here.

The history of the AFL Draft

This year's NAB AFL Draft will be the 37th event, with it first held in 1986. Today, most AFL players has come through the draft system, with the exception of some International rookies.

Port Adelaide is the only club to have not received a number one pick at the AFL draft.

Some famous no.1 draft picks include Hawthorn's Luke Hodge and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt. The full list of AFL draft no.1 picks is below.

Who has been the AFL Draft's no.1 pick?

MORE: Get summer sport ready with up to 50% off this Black Friday sale at Barbeques Galore