AFL mid-season draft 2024: Latest whispers, Brisbane Lions have four spots to fill after injury pain

A WAFL defender has been touted as the No.1 pick in this year’s mid-season draft as winless North Melbourne desperately chases backline reinforcements.

Jack Hutchinson playing against Brisbane

Brisbane has four vacancies in a mid-season draft pool recruiters have described as “light on” for top-end talent following the success of the supplemental selection period.

The fallout from Brisbane’s massive injury toll has continued with two more season-ending ACL injuries at the weekend opening up two more list spots.

It has sent Brisbane’s recruiting team into overdrive with the club scouring the country for potential players to fill the club’s four open list spots.

Small forward Lincoln McCarthy and key forward Darcy Gardiner are both out for the season after suffering serious injuries in the win over Gold Coast.

But recruiters are saying this year’s pool is shallow due to clubs’ strong record at finding AFL players in the SSP periods in the lead-up to the season.

Collingwood’s Jack Hutchinson is widely touted as the top prospect however North Melbourne could be tempted to take West Perth key forward Jasper Scaife or Peel Thunder defender Jacob Blight to bolster their big man options.

Former Port ruckman Brynn Teakle (left) training with Collingwood during pre-season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Oskar Smart tracks Colby McKercher during a Coates League game last year. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Richmond (pick two) and Hawthorn (pick three) have also been linked to a tall player and have done work on Hutchinson who has set alight the Pies’ forward half with his aerial skills and goal kicker power.

Geelong Falcons 203cm ruckman Joe Pike and ex-Port Adelaide mature-age Brynn Teakle, who trained at Collingwood over summer, are the leading ruck options.

Essendon livewire Oskar Smart is also on clubs’ radars after an impressive start to the season with the Bombers.

Adelaide has three vacancies but may not fill them all, while GWS Giants, who passed on their mid-season pick last year, are not expected to take one this year.