AFL Mid-season Draft 2024: The six Geelong prospects in the mix to be taken

There were only a few prospects taken from Geelong in last year’s national draft, but there’s a handful in contention to join AFL clubs in the mid-season intake. Get the latest.

Joe Pike is among the Geelong prospects in the mix for the mid-season draft. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Three players were taken from the Geelong region in last year’s national draft.

Six month later, double that amount are in the mix to join the AFL ranks through the mid-season intake.

Three of those come directly from the Geelong Falcons program, two from Geelong’s VFL side and one Geelong export who is plying his trade in South Australia.

See all the Geelong products who have attracted AFL interest.

Will McLachlan (Colac/Geelong Falcons)

McLachlan showed signs of his talent in the Falcons’ finals run last year and at Geelong Football Netball League level for Colac, but he has gone to another level this season. The 185 centimetre forward started the Talent League with a bang, booting 20 goals in five games – including three consecutive hauls of five or more (5.3, 6.2 and 5.0). His overhead marking and strength in 1-on-1 contests has been a feature of his game, allowing him to play taller than his listing suggests. He was a little more subdued in the Young Guns series but pushed up to play on a wing in the second game, where he kicked a goal and had 13 touches and two score assists. Looks to be one of the most promising 19-year-old prospects available and it is understood around 10 clubs have met with McLachlan over the past month, with Fremantle, Carlton and Brisbane among them.

Will McLachlan celebrates a goal for the Young Guns. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Joe Pike (Barwon Heads/Geelong Falcons/Geelong VFL)

An eye-catching VFL debut for Geelong last weekend showed just how far Pike has come since missing out in last year’s draft. The ruckman Pike clunked two big contested marks which resulted in goals, the second of those coming at a crucial stage in the last quarter when Coburg were coming. He finished with two goals, 30 hit-outs (10 to advantage), 11 disposals and 119 SuperCoach points in a performance that impressed recruiters. Pike has been interviewed by three clubs in the market for a developing tall in the lead-up to the mid-season draft. A 203cm ruckman with a basketball background, Pike trained with Geelong’s VFL program over the summer and shaved half a minute off his 2km time, which had been one of the concerns over him last season. His forward-half impact has also been more pronounced, booting three goals in the second Young Guns clash. The Barwon Heads big man has dominated in the Talent League as an over-age player, averaging 24.4 hit-outs, 15.2 disposals, 5.2 clearances and 135 SuperCoach points. Geelong doesn’t have a free list spot at this stage but the Cats showed interest in Pike late last year.

Joe Pike at least year’s state draft combine. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Ajang Kuol mun (Anakie/Geelong VFL)

What a story this would be. Playing soccer growing up, Kuol mun decided to have a run around with Geelong & District club Anakie last year – his first season of footy in a decade. As they were thumped most weeks, Kuol mun was a shining light, with his impressive campaign leading to a VFL opportunity with Geelong. All it has taken is a few VFL outings for the 206 centimetre big man to pique the interest of clubs, with Kuol mun among the players undergoing medical testing ahead of the mid-season intake. Essendon and West Coast have met with the raw ruckman, with the Eagles’ interest stretching back further, and he will have a final audition with the Cats this Saturday. His rise is even more incredible given the South Sudanese talent spent the first four years of his life in a Kenyan refugee camp. The 22-year-old has huge upside given his limited exposure, having already improved rapidly in the space of 18 months.

Ajang Kuol mun in action for Anakie this year.

Tobyn Murray (Colac/Geelong VFL)

Not on the draft radar last year despite a promising season for the Geelong Falcons, Murray burst onto the scene with six goals in his first two VFL games for Geelong, including a scintillating four-goal haul. The highlight of that was an incredible goal from 40m on the boundary. He impressed in the Young Guns games, tallying 24 disposals and booting a goal and kicking two goals in the second clash playing primarily up forward. Murray was among the 24 players to undertake medical testing with the AFL. The Colac product has showcased his forward craft against men and also has the potential to be used through the midfield in time.

Tobyn Murray impressed for the Young Guns. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Matthew Ling (St Mary’s/Norwood)

Ling was taken as a first-round pick by Sydney out of the Geelong program back in 2017. He played just four games in an injury-riddled four seasons at the Swans before being delisted. After a season at Geelong VFL in 2022 before moving to Norwood, Ling is in contention to earn an AFL lifeline at the age of 25. He undertook an AFL medical ahead of the intake and has had a promising season to date at SANFL level, averaging 19.2 disposals, 6.6 intercepts per game. That included 24 disposals and seven intercepts against Adealide’s reserves side in round six.

Matthew Ling is back on radar of AFL clubs. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Liam Kershaw (St Joseph’s/Geelong Falcons)

Kershaw wasn’t among the list of mid-season prospects to complete a medical, but clubs have been impressed with the tall wingman-defender’s start to the season for the Falcons. He has averaged 16 disposals, six marks and 4.6 intercepts at Talent League level, including 11 intercepts and five intercepts marks on GMHBA Stadium against GWV Reveks. Kershaw pressed his claims further in the Young Guns Series, where his pinpoint 18-disposal performance against Vic Country was particularly strong.

Originally published as AFL Mid-season Draft 2024: The six Geelong prospects in the mix to be taken