The 2023 AFL National Draft is just around the corner with clubs preparing to navigate a complicated system.
Gold Coast is set to match bids for its four top academy talents, while a number of father-sons will also shake up the order.
Each club has its own needs and strategy, with a crop of Australia's best young footballers to choose from.
The Sporting News has every club's picks, needs, and projected selections in its AFL draft guide.
MORE: When is the AFL National Draft 2023? Dates, schedule, selection order, players
AFL Draft 2023 projections
Adelaide
Picks: 10, 14, 20, 89
Though Adelaide's playing list isn't far off contention, they've still got a need for more young talent in their rebuild, particularly in the midfield department.
Three picks in the first round should allow them to restock on top talent across multiple positions.
Midfielders Caleb Windsor and Darcy Wilson are in the range of pick ten, while Adelaide could also look at key forward Nate Caddy or defender Connor O'Sullivan with the selection.
Adelaide may package its picks to land slightly earlier in the draft, where onballers Ryley Sanders and Colby McKercher are likely to be taken.
Brisbane
Picks: 30, 39, 51, 54, 67, 97
Brisbane is without a first round pick, having traded the selection in the Josh Dunkley deal last year.
As a result, the Lions will need to find talent in the later stages of the draft, with key position stocks potentially in their sights.
South Australian captain Will Patton will be around the mark, with the key defender impressing with his aerial work in his National Championships campaign.
If the Lions get lucky, Tasmanian Arie Schoenmaker could fall into the late second round. The 194cm defender missed the first ten games of the season with suspension but has since caught recruiters' eyes with his penetrating left foot and excellent positional versatility.
MORE: AFL Phantom Draft 2023
Carlton
Picks: 22, 28, 70, 78, 96
Carlton will be in the market for key positions and ruck stocks, with the club also potentially on the lookout for some outside class.
Arie Schoenmaker is one who could fit both playmaking and aerial roles, while half back Archie Roberts likes to take the game on from the backline and would be a good fit at the Blues.
The Northern Knights' Will Green looms as a top ruck prospect that should fall within Carlton's range.
Collingwood
Picks: 19, 33, 80, 98
Collingwood has the luxury of an excellent list and a premiership flag in the rear-view mirror — there are no immediate needs for the club in the draft.
However, with Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom nearing retirement and Taylor Adams departing to Sydney, a young midfielder would be a valuable investment.
Harry De Mattia is a strong choice at pick 19, with the long-haired midfielder showcasing a mix of on-ball craft and outside speed.
Victorian midfielders Charlie Edwards and George Stevens have both risen up draft boards and should be also available at Collingwood's first selection. Edwards has the polish and dash, while Stevens is a hard-working clearance midfielder.
MORE: AFL delisted free agents: The best players currently without a club for 2024
Essendon
Picks: 9, 31, 35, 61, 88
Another top-ten AFL prospect is set to arrive at Essendon, which added Elijah Tsatas to its list with pick 5 last season.
Key position players Nate Caddy and Connor O'Sullivan are the most likely to land at the ninth selection, while the Bombers could also look at Will Patton with its second-round choices.
Caddy seems the likely option with Essendon's top pick, with the youngster rated as the second-best key forward in the draft. Ollie Murphy is also a chance at the spot, with the tall defender seen as a high-potential backline project.
Fremantle
Picks: 34, 46, 60, 64, 85
With Lachie Schultz out the door, Fremantle will be tempted to look at the draft's small forward options.
Western Australian Lance Collard has attracted interest from the club, though West Coast will be keen on nabbing the draft bolter with pick 23.
If the Dockers can't trade up in the draft, they could take one of talented South Australians Jack Delean or Ashton Moir at the position or opt for local prospect Koen Sanchez.
MORE: AFL Best and Fairest winners 2023: Every club champion and top 10 leaderboard
Geelong
Picks: 8, 25, 76, 87, 94
With most clubs expected to pass on selections over 60, it's likely that Geelong only uses its top two picks in this year's draft.
A midfielder is a top priority, and Ryley Sanders could fall into the position if the Cats are lucky. Sanders is the top contested midfielder in the pool, earning the Larke Medal as the best-performing player at the National Championships.
Windsor is the next onballer in the frame, though Geelong could instead elect to take skilful small forward Nick Watson at pick 8.
Gold Coast
Picks: 24, 26, 27, 32, 36, 38, 66, 71, 74, 84
Gold Coast enters the draft with a simple strategy: match bids for all four Suns Academy in the top half of the draft.
That includes key forward and projected No.2 pick Jed Walter, aerobic ruckman Ethan Read, and Jake Rogers, who earned U18 All-Australian honours this season. All three are expected to land in the first 15 selections.
Medium defender Will Graham is the fourth player linked to the Gold Coast Academy and has risen up draft boards after an impressive National Combine.
MORE: AFL trade 2023: The best five deals in the player movement period
GWS
Picks: 7, 16, 43, 59, 77, 79, 95
Another club that would have eyes on the Northern Knights' Nate Caddy, with the key forward looming as a potential partner to last year's No.1 pick Aaron Cadman.
The Giants could also hope to snag Western Australian Daniel Curtin, who has the potential to slip lower in the draft if the Eagles don't take him with the first pick.
GWS Academy player Charlie McCormack played well in the Allies' attack this season, and at a whopping 198cm height, will be a long-term project if the Giants enlist him.
Hawthorn
Picks: 4, 44, 47, 49, 62, 63, 83
Hawthorn is poised to make a double-play for a premium talent at pick 4 and father-son Will McCabe.
Pick 4 means skilful midfielder-forward Zane Duursma and damaging accumulator Colby McKercher are in frame. Either will be an immediate boost to the Hawthorn midfield or forward line.
McCabe has been the standout South Australian prospect this season. The 18-year-old impacts games with his intercept marking in defence and should straight into the Hawks' backline.
Melbourne
Picks: 6, 11, 42, 93
Melbourne is one of two clubs targeting West Coast's No.1 pick but may have to settle for two top-end selections instead.
Goalkicking small Nick Watson would be a handy choice for the Demons, with the 170cm "Wizard" set to be a dangerous forward line presence in the AFL.
Tasmanian James Leake is a strong option at pick 11, with the young utility a standout at both half-back and in attack.
North Melbourne
Picks: 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, 57, 82
North Melbourne has the most enticing draft hand of them all, with sights set on snatching the Eagle's pick 1 and Harley Reid.
If not, the Kangaroos will likely trigger a bid for Gold Coast's Jed Walter, before considering Zane Duursma and Daniel Curtin at picks 2 and 3.
Tasmanian midfielder Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders are also strong possibilities for the club, with the latter training at Arden Street as a Next Generation Academy talent.
Port Adelaide
Picks: 73
Port Adelaide will likely sit this year's draft out, with only pick 73 in hand after a busy trade period.
Still, the Power could take a winger or small forward with the pick to make up for the departures of Xavier Duursma and Orazio Fantasia.
Sturt forward Luca Slade fits Port Adelaide's needs and should fall toward the end of the draft.
MORE: Port Adelaide back in risky trade strategy, question 2023 draft depth
Richmond
Picks: 29, 41, 65, 68, 86
Richmond will be dealing in the latter stages of the draft, having given up their first-round pick in last year's Jacob Hopper deal.
The Tiger could look at ambidextrous forward Ashton Moir with its first selection, but may also opt to boost its defence with the likes of Tew Jiath.
Should the Tigers target a tall forward for the future, marking forward Logan Morris looks like a strong option. The Western Jets spearhead kicked 29 goals in the Talent League this season.
St Kilda
Picks: 13, 21, 40, 92
The Saints could look to target some midfield class through the draft, with the likes of Darcy Wilson and Caleb Windsor available around its first selection.
Both players suit outside midfield roles with their speed and endurance but have the capacity to switch on-ball or forward when needed.
Harry De Mattia could suit St Kilda's needs better and should fall around the 20-30 mark of the draft. The Dandenong Stingrays captain has a burst of speed but is comfortable getting in and under to win clearances, too.
Sydney
Picks: 12, 45, 55, 91
Sydney added four players to the mix in the trade period but still has the luxury of its first round pick.
With a barebones defence, Connor O'Sullivan or Ollie Murphy would be ideal options around their top choice, while WA captain Riley Hardeman could play a medium defender role at the AFL level.
The Swans could also consider mid-sized utility James Leake or hardworking midfielder-forward Koltyn Tholstrup.
West Coast
Picks: 1, 23, 37, 58, 81
Speculation builds around West Coast's No.1 pick.
Will the Eagles move down a spot and secure extra first-round selections, or will it hold firm and add the best available prospect to its list?
Harley Reid is the obvious choice at pick 1, though West Coast could also consider local defender Daniel Curtin for the position. There's little doubt that Reid has the star-factor and huge potential in the draft, and he's already suggested he could wear the iconic No.9 at the club.
Western Australians Lance Collard and Riley Hardeman could be available to the club at pick 23, with local talent a priority for the Eagles.
Western Bulldogs
Picks: 5, 48, 50, 52, 53, 56, 69, 72, 75, 90
Midfielder Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders should be in play at pick 5, which the Western Bulldogs snagged from Gold Coast in the trade period.
A midfielder appears to be top priority for the club with star Bailey Smith potentially on his way out next season.
Even so, Nick "The Wizard" Watson would be an exciting addition to a Bulldogs' forward line that could use an injection of pace and goalkicking nous.
A host of later picks will also allow the club to match an early bid for father-son forward Jordan Croft, who kicked 20 goals in the Talent League this season.
MORE: Offseason signings: Orazio Fantasia, Sam Naismith find new homes
