With pick 53 in the 2023 AFL Draft, we welcome Brisbane Lions Academy and Allies representative, defender Patrick Snell.

Snell is a developing key position utility from the Brisbane Lions Academy who spent some time in the Northern Territory.

At 194cm Snell originally played forward but went down back this season and earned a State Draft Combine invite off the back of some good form in defence.

A member of the 2023 championship winning Allies team, he was coached by former QBE Swans Academy Coach Mark McVeigh (now Swans Senior Assistant Coach) who provided some good intel and positive feedback to the Swans recruiting team.

Sydney Swans National Recruiting Manager Simon Darymple said:

"Patrick was someone who we were impressed with during his National Championships, we see him as a key defender. That was a need we were looking at through the whole period. His speed and competitiveness is great and we had good insight into his character (through Mark McVeigh) and we think he will be a really good long term key defender."

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