GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) traded and recruited shrewdly at this year’s AFL Draft, sticking true to its draft order and welcoming a versatile crop of fresh faces boasting exciting talent and athletic upside. We recap the Giants’ draft haul, which included three products of New South Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>> UPDATED:<\/strong> Every Pick in the 2023 AFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n NATIONAL DRAFT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 12. Phoenix Gothard<\/a> ROOKIE DRAFT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 14. Adam Kennedy (re-listed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRE-LISTED ROOKIE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nathan Wardius<\/p>\n\n\n\n >> ANALYSIS:<\/strong> Big winners, bolters & sliders<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Having identified their targets, the Giants went into night one with a clear plan of who they wanted and Phoenix Gothard<\/a> was top of the list. Second was James Leake<\/a>, so to end up with both players after a couple of shrewd trades was a terrific result for Adrian Caruso<\/em><\/strong>‘s recruiting crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gothard was one of the stories of the draft, attending night one to support his mates, only to hear his name called out a pick after Murray Bushrangers teammate Connor O’Sullivan<\/strong>. The reaction was loud and full of elation as you’d expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The daring, creative small forward is a prospect who suits the Giants’ style of play with his speed and effortless talent. GWS did the groundwork to get him, trading back to help Adelaide secure Dan Curtin<\/strong>, while still being able to nab Gothard and collect value to use in its next live trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
17. James Leake<\/a>
44. Joe Fonti<\/a>
59. Harvey Thomas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n