AFL mid-season mock draft: Find out who your club could pick
Our draft experts take on the challenge of completing their own mock draft — with a few surprises. See the top prospects on offer and get the best intel on the contenders.
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More than 200 AFL prospects will be hoping to hear their name called out in Wednesday’s AFL mid-season draft.
Our draft expects Chris Cavanagh and Dan Batten have been watching the top junior and mature-age footballers across the country, and have put their recruiters’ hats on to nominate the players they would select for each club.
See every pick below.
REPLAY: WATCH THE MOCK MID-SEASON DRAFT LIVE ABOVE
ROUND 1
1. West Coast – Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder, 193cm, 87kg
Chris says: Widely regarded by recruiters as the No. 1 talent in the mid-season draft pool, it will be little surprise if West Coast reads out Culley’s name to kick off the draft on Wednesday night. The big-bodied Dandenong Stingrays midfielder with the dreadlocks has an AFL-ready frame at 193cm and 87kg and has shown an ability to both rack up the footy through the middle and kick goals. He dominated the first Colgate Young Guns game earlier this month with 22 disposals and four first-half goals. The 19-year-old had worked on his speed this year, which was a key knock on him ahead of last year’s draft.
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2. North Melbourne – Massimo D’Ambrosio (Western Jets/Richmond VFL)
Defender, 178cm, 80kg
Dan says:The word is that North Melbourne is after a key defender, and that is certainly a need, but they are also crying out for elite ball-users, with Aaron Hall’s injury exposing this even more. That’s why I’ve taken D’Ambrosio here. The running defender is a unique prospect in this intake as the best distributor available and has impressed in the NAB League, in the Young Guns representative game and at VFL level for Richmond, where he tallied 25 disposals in the Dreamtime at the ’G curtain raiser. He suffered a shoulder injury in his last match for the Tigers, but he is still worthy of an early selection in the draft.
3. Essendon – Josh Carmichael (West Adelaide)
Midfielder, 189cm, 89kg
Chris says: The Bombers have been searching for a big-bodied midfielder for some time and Carmichael might just be a ready-made solution. The 22-year-old was playing country football in the Sunraysia Football League last year but has starred for West Adelaide in the SANFL this season and models his game on Dustin Martin. At 189cm and 89kg, he is exactly the type of midfielder that Essendon could do with and he is also averaging 1.1 goals a game this year – with scoreboard impact not being something the current crop of Bombers on-ballers are known for.
4. Adelaide – Jacob Bauer (North Adelaide/SANFL)
Forward, 191cm, 80kg
Dan says: The Crows secured Josh Rachele in last year’s draft and I’ve opted for another forward-50 excitement machine in Bauer. A former Swans Academy product, Bauer’s stocks have risen significantly after starting in the reserves for North Adelaide this season, booting 16 goals in six matches. The 191cm forward has an incredible leap which allows him bring down pack marks and he is also nimble at ground level, with Bauer able to add some extra spark to the Crows’ forward line.
5. GWS – Connor Ballenden (Woodville West Torrens)
Forward/Ruck, 200cm, 100kg
Chris says: A former Brisbane-listed key forward, Ballenden has attracted plenty of interest for another opportunity at AFL level after a strong campaign for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL this season. A former pick 43 in the 2017 national draft, the 200cm big man was delisted by the Lions at the end of last year but has gone on to average 16.9 disposals, 19.6 hit-outs, three clearances and one goal from seven SANFL games this year as a forward/ruckman. The 23-year-old is the type of player the Giants could do with to add some depth to their key forward and ruck stocks.
6. Hawthorn – James Blanck (Box Hill/VFL)
Key defender, 195cm
Dan says: The Hawks recruited Jai Newcombe from their VFL side last year and I am taking another Box Hill product in Blanck. The mature-age 195cm key defender can slot in right away and give the Hawks backline support, with opposition key forwards often getting away from them this season. Blanck trained with the club during the pre-season and looms as a possible addition for former Box Hill coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday night.
7. Gold Coast – Max Ramsden (Sandringham Dragons)
Ruckman/Forward, 202cm, 86kg
Chris says: Ramsden is still quite raw and is considered a long-term project player by recruiters, but is an athletic freak who has some X-factor about him and shapes as an exciting future prospect. The 19-year-old has averaged 14.3 disposals, 17.5 hit-outs and 6.7 score involvements from six NAB League games for the Dragons this season and the Suns would be looking for a future No. 1 ruckman beyond Jarrod Witts, who turns 30 this year.
8. Port Adelaide – Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle/WAFL)
Ruck-Forward, 203cm, 97kg
Dan says: I could have also looked at a mature-age key defender here, but I feel a ruckman is a more pressing need for the Power. When Scott Lycett went down with injury, it became clear their ruck stocks were slim after the departure of Peter Ladhams, with Sam Hayes and developing tall Dante Visentini the only other options on the list. While Hayes is a pure ruckman, Teakle is a ready-made prospect who has shown he can have an impact up forward, averaging a goal per game and 5.8 score involvements for East Fremantle in the WAFL.
9. Collingwood – Kallan Dawson (Williamstown)
Defender, 194cm, 78kg
Chris says: I’d be surprised if Dawson got this far down the order on draft night, but the Magpies would be licking their lips if he does. A mid-sized intercept defender, the 23-year-old was playing B Grade footy in the VAFA last year but has developed nicely in the VFL this year and has produced some big performances patrolling the backline. He reads the play well, has good speed and works hard up the ground. With Jordan Roughead’s retirement and Charlie Dean still sidelined, the Magpies could do with some more options in the key defensive posts.
10. Richmond – Hugo Hall-Kahan (Sandringham Dragons/NAB League)
Forward-wingman, 188cm, 78kg
Dan says: Richmond’s most pressing need is a key forward, but it would be best served waiting until the national draft for an exciting tall. Otherwise, it lacks medium forwards and wingmen, with Hall-Kahan having the potential to cover off either of these areas with his versatility and strong overhead marking. The Sandringham Dragons product has turned heads in the NAB League, averaging 14.8 disposals, 4.5 marks and two goals per game to stamp his authority as one of the best prospects available.
11. Sydney – Ethan Grace (GWS Academy)
Forward, 181cm
Chris says: A crafty small forward, Grace was overlooked in last year’s draft but has impressed with his work in the NAB League and at VFL level this season. He has averaged 17.8 disposals and 2.3 goals from four NAB League matches as well as being a great pressure and tackling player. A GWS Academy product, you would think that Grace would fit in nicely at the Swans.
12. Geelong – Oskar Faulkhead (Bendigo Pioneers/Geelong VFL)
Midfielder/forward, 182cm, 76kg
Dan says: Geelong loves picking players from its own backyard and while he isn’t a homegrown product, Faulkhead has been under the Cats’ nose with their VFL side. Faulkhead has averaged 13 touches, five tackles and booted three goals in the past two VFL rounds for the Cats, having dominated previously in the NAB League as a hard-nosed midfielder. The 182cm prospect has shown he can play on the inside, the outside or up forward.
13. Carlton – Lachlan Carrigan (Richmond VFL)
Wing/Defender, 191cm, 78kg
Chris says: The Blues don’t have a dominant wingman as it stands, but have had an eye on Carrigan. A former Sandringham Dragons product, the 19-year-old had a rough run with injuries over the past two years which meant he was virtually unsighted by recruiters. However, Carrigan has shown some good signs this year in both of the Colgate Young Guns games after earning a spot on Richmond’s VFL list over summer.
14. St Kilda – Mutaz El Nour (Northern Bullants/VFL)
Defender, 192cm, 83kg, Northern Bullants
Dan says: The Saints have been the surprise packets of 2022, but their key defenders can be stretched. While he isn’t the height of a key defender, El Nour has the ability to play on talls and smalls thanks to his athleticism. The Northern Bullants product has come on in leaps and bounds this year and is viewed as a prospect with considerable upside. He also has a nice kick, which could help the Saints improve their transition from defensive 50.
15. Fremantle – Wade Derksen (Peel Thunder)
Forward, 195cm, 90kg
Chris says: There have been a few clubs with interest in Derksen, but the Dockers will be hoping he falls to them. Fremantle invited Derksen to train with them during pre-season, but that request was denied and he has instead been left to play for the Dockers’ WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder. From three senior WAFL matches, the 20-year-old key forward has averaged 15.7 disposals, 4.7 marks and 2.3 goals. He starred with 22 disposals, nine score involvements and four goals against West Coast in Round 3.
ROUND 2
16. West Coast – Jake Florenca (South/Fremantle/WAFL)
Midfielder, 184cm, 86kg
Dan says: The Eagles could get the best talent in the draft at pick 1, and one of the most dominant state league players in the country with their second pick. Florenca, who showed he is up to the level in an impressive 19-disposal debut for the Eagles as a top-up player in round 8, has been tearing the WAFL to shreds this season. Try these numbers on for size: 34 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 10 clearances, seven tackles and a goal per game. The 25-year-old is one to watch for KFC SuperCoach players after averaging a whopping 181 points in the WAFL to go with his ton on AFL debut. Can step right in as soon as this week if taken by the Eagles.
17. North Melbourne – Will Reinhold (Port Melbourne)
Defender, 194cm
Chris says: The Kangaroos have conceded 100 points or more seven times this season and could do with some added strength in defence. A former GWS Giants Academy member, Reinhold has impressed at VFL level for the Borough this season, averaging 10.9 disposals and 3.8 marks. He also happens to be the cousin of Brisbane key forward Joe Daniher.
18. Essendon – Jye Menzie (South Adelaide)
Forward, 180cm, 81kg
Chris says: An electric small forward, Menzie would fit in nicely at a host of clubs but the Bombers could do with some firepower after the retirement of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. A Tasmanian product, with X-factor, good speed and a strong football IQ, the 19-year-old joined South Adelaide this year and has averaged 10.9 disposals, 5.8 score involvements, 3.5 tackles and 2.5 goals from eight senior SANFL matches.
19. Adelaide – Brett Turner (Glenelg/SANFL)
Midfielder, 185cm, 88kg
Dan says: Turner has been linked to the Crows since a monster performance against their reserves side, registering 38 disposals, 27 uncontested possessions, 14 score involvements and four goals – that’s a good way to attract AFL interest. Adelaide is short on goalkicking midfielders and Turner can help fill the void.
20. Hawthorn – Patrick Dozzi (Northern Knights/Carlton VFL)
Midfielder, 185cm, 81kg
Dan says: Hawthorn is one of the worst sides in the competition for clearance differential and Dozzi, who can play on the inside and outside, can help improve this area in time. Dozzi enhanced his mid-season draft chances with a standout showing in the second Young Guns game, finishing with 34 disposals, 10 inside-50s, nine clearances and a goal. The midfielder played for Carlton’s VFL side on the weekend, winning 10 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency.
21. Collingwood — Toby Murray (Murray Bushrangers)
Ruckman/forward, 200cm, 92kg
Dan says: Brodie Grundy’s injury has uncovered Collingwood’s shaky ruck depth, while it is also sort of key forwards. It’s why the Pies could look to Murray, the brother of former player Sam, who played for Collingwood’s VFL side against the AFL Academy a fortnight ago. He impressed in that display in limited gametime, and has been putting up some big performances in the NAB League for the Murray Bushrangers, where he has spent more time in the ruck as the season has gone on.
22. Carlton – Sam Durdin (Glenelg)
Defender, 198cm, 95kg
Chris says: The Blues are searching for key-position options down back, especially after the shoulder injury to Jacob Weitering which will sideline him for six weeks. A former North Melbourne defender, Durdin was delisted by the Kangaroos at the end of 2020 following 21 AFL games. However, he is still just 25 years old and has been solid for Glenelg in the SANFL this season. He could be a ready-made addition to the Blues’ depleted backline, which is also missing Mitch McGovern.
23. Fremantle — Zac Strom (South Fremantle)
Key forward/defender, 198cm, 103kg
Dan says: Strom trained with the Dockers during the supplemental selection period and is in the mix to join them through the mid-season draft. The 28-year-old is a plug and play option who can be used at both ends, having kicked eight goals in five WAFL matches this year.
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