Carlton has crowned a former Fremantle midfielder as the No.1 pick in the mid-season draft after his standout season in the WAFL. Who did your club pick? See every mid-season draft selection as a few clubs spring surprises.
Jon Ralph
3 min read
May 27, 2019 - 8:25PM
Carlton has handed ex-Fremantle onballer Josh Deluca his fourth chance at AFL football as Richmond on Monday night provided the shock of the mid-season draft.
Strong-bodied ball winner Deluca is an ideal co-pilot for Patrick Cripps as Brendon Bolton desperately tries to save his job in the second half of the season.
The Blues overlooked Josh Dunkley’s brother Kyle to instead pluck the 23-year-old from state-league ranks as the No.1 overall pick.
SEE EVERY CLUB'S MID-SEASON DRAFT SELECTIONS BELOW
The AFL’s first mid-season draft since 1993 means the three-time WAFL premiership start is eligible to play against Carlton’s arch rival Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
They used the selection brought about by Shaun Grigg’s retirement to back in an excitement machine who had believed his AFL dream might be past him.
Josh Deluca is now a Carlton player. Picture: Getty
Only months after using a summer rookie selection for a recruiting masterstroke as they plucked Sydney Stack from the WAFL, the Tigers repeated the dose on a player set to be out for 8-10 weeks.
But Coburg small forward Sam Lowson was overlooked by the AFL’s clubs after an ankle injury on Saturday that is set to put him out for at least four weeks.
Gold Coast secured Dandenong Stingray Mitch Riordan with the draft’s second selection, before Melbourne took Josh Dunkley’s brother Kyle with pick three.
Sydney took former college basketballer Michael Knoll as ruck backup because of Sam Naismith’s knee setbacks, before North Melbourne used selection five on the SANFL’s leading goalkicker Lachie Hosie (Glenelg).
Footscray selected their own VFL player Ryan Gardner as a versatile key position player at pick six, before Essendon backed in former Port Adelaide midfielder Will Snelling as an elite pressure player at pick eight.
Gardner and Snelling could come into their respective sides in the weeks to come given their ready-made bodies.
New Blue Deluca played only four AFL games with the Dockers and was twice delisted and re-drafted with the club.
Patrick Cripps had played the most minutes of any midfielder to Round 10, which means instead of warehousing a young talent the Blues secured a ready-to-play option.
Blues recruiting manager Mick Agresta said Deluca had scope to play now and also improve in the future.
Marlion Pickett is now a Tiger.
“We think Josh can play inside and outside and also small forward. We think he compliments our group with an age demographic but he also has some scope to improve. He is not just a now pick, he can develop with our team.”
Deluca has this year averaged 25 disposals, 122 ranking points, 11 contested possessions and 5.7 clearances per game.
But his kicking remains a work in progress - going at 65 per cent kicking efficiency including three of his six WAFL games at 50 per cent efficiency or less.
Melbourne secured midfielder Kyle Dunkley, brother of Western Bulldog Josh, after a superb start to the year since being shunned by all AFL clubs last year.
He said last night he was thrilled to get to the club after using that rejection as a spur to drive him this year.
“It is pretty unbelievable. To think six months after that happened last year, it’s bloody unbelievable,” he said.
“Pretty much the following Monday (after missing out) I was back out at Footscray training and put my head down and hoped for the best.
“(Dad Andrew) and Josh have both been massive for me. Josh is in the AFL program and having dad’s experience on the side, after a game they give me some feedback so they have both been good for me.”
SEE EVERY CLUB'S MID-SEASON DRAFT SELECTIONS BELOW
Updates
YOUNGER DUNKLEY HAS POINT TO PROVE
Michael Randall
– JON RALPH
New Melbourne midfielder Kyle Dunkley says he used the spur of being shunned by 18 clubs last November to fuel his mid-season draft dream.
The son of Sydney full back Andrew and brother of Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh is a real chance to make an impact for the Demons this year.
Shattered to be overlooked last year, he moved to the Gippsland Power and has set the NAB League alight with a string of powerful onball performances.
Dunkley has also played two games for Footscray’s VFL team this year, and said last night after being taken with the third pick the mid-season draft was the realisation of years of hard work.
“It is pretty unbelievable. To think six months after that happened last year, it’s bloody unbelievable,” he said.
“Pretty much the following Monday (after missing out) I was back out at Footscray training and put my head down and hoped for the best.
“(Dad Andrew) and Josh have both been massive for me. Josh is in the AFL program and having dad’s experience on the side, after a game they give me some feedback so they have both been good for me.”
The family watched the mid-season draft together in their Melbourne home.
Father Andrew, who played 217 games at full back for Sydney, is even hoping his sons might one day unite on one team.
“It’s well deserved for him and at the end of the day it’s a pretty proud moment for us,” he said.
“Maybe one day they might play together, you wouldn’t know. Kyle’s dream was to get drafted and he has. Now he has a lot of work to do to stay on that list.”
Melbourne recruiting boss Jason Taylor said last night Dunkley fitted the club’s needs as someone with upside and immediate promise.
“He compliments our group with an age demographic but he also has some scope. He is not just a now pick, he can develop with the team.
“We think Josh can play inside and outside and also as a small forward. He will take a while to adapt to our structures so there is no pressure on him selection-wise early.”
Video: What your club had to say
Al Paton
Club recruiters spoke to the media at AFL House after tonight's draft
1. CARLTON: Josh Deluca (Subiaco)
179cm, 80kg, 23 years
A big-bodied midfielder who can provide some real grunt in the midfield, Deluca has had a standout season for Subiaco in the WAFL. The former Docker had 29 disposals in Subiaco’s premiership win last year.
Riordan has played as an overage player for the Stingrays this season after being overlooked in the draft. The midfielder has impressed after a season interrupted by injury last year.
3. MELBOURNE: Kyle Dunkley (Gippsland Power)
185cm, 84kg, 18 years
The son of former Swan Andrew Dunkley and brother of Bulldog Josh, Kyle Dunkley has averaged 18.5 disposals for Gippsland Power this season as a classy half-forward.
4. SYDNEY: Michael Knoll (South Adelaide)
205cm, 103kg, 26 years
Knoll is a former basketballer who took up footy three years ago but has come on in leaps and bounds. He’s impressed in the SANFL with his tap work and ability to win the ball around the ground.
5. NORTH MELBOURNE: Lachlan Hosie (Glenelg)
189cm, 78kg, 22 years
Hosie has been a goalkicking machine so far this season, booting 21 goals from eight matches as a half forward, including two bags of four and two hauls of three.
6. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Ryan Gardner (Footscray)
197cm, 93kg, 21 years
Gardner can play at both ends of the ground but has played the majority of his football as a defender. He fills the need for key position talent at both ends for the Bulldogs. His strengths are his athleticism and competitiveness.
7. ESSENDON: Will Snelling (West Adelaide)
175cm, 70kg, 21 years
Snelling (below) has impressed in the SANFL this season, averaging 29.7 disposals in his seven games. A former Port Adelaide midfielder, he’s quick and has good skills.
8. ST KILDA: Jack Mayo (Subiaco)
192cm, 81kg, 19 years
A developing key position forward, Mayo’s biggest strengths are his marking ability and his long left boot. He still needs to put on some size, at just 81kg, so is likely to be a development player.
9. PORT ADELAIDE: Cameron Sutcliffe (Port Adelaide Magpies)
186cm, 87kg, 27 years
The former Fremantle utility has been playing for the Magpies in the SANFL and will come in as a ready-made player who can play a variety of roles for the Power. He has an elite running ability.
10. HAWTHORN: Pass
11. FREMANTLE: Dillon O’Reilly (East Fremantle)
193cm, 79kg, 18 years
The son of former Fremantle, Carlton and Geelong defender Stephen O’Reilly, Dillon can play at both ends of the ground but his best performances have been as an athletic forward.
12. ADELAIDE: Pass
13. RICHMOND: Marlion Pickett (South Fremantle)
184cm, 84kg, 27 years
Pickett has serious athleticism and could be one of the biggest surprise packets of this draft after winning South Fremantle’s best-and-fairest last year. He broke his finger last weekend and is set to miss at least two months of footy.
14. COLLINGWOOD: John Noble (West Adelaide)
180cm, 72kg, 22 years
The West Adelaide wingman is the son of Brisbane football boss David Noble. He has averaged 21.7 disposals from seven games this season and pushed forward to kick seven goals.
15. GOLD COAST: Pass
16. SYDNEY: Cody Hirst (Eastern Ranges)
180cm, 67kg, 19 years
Hirst has great speed and has been able to use that to influence games from the win this season as an ‘over-ager’ playing for Eastern Ranges. He’s still developing and probably isn’t ready to play this season.
17. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Pass
18. ESSENDON: Pass
How much do the recruits get paid?
Al Paton
Sam Landsberger is in England following Australia's cricket world cup prospects, but he's been tracking the draft today (it's 10.30am over there!)
Handy paydays coming for AFL mid-season draft picks. Base salary of $50,000 plus a $20,000 exit fee if not retained in 2020. Think match payments are about $4500 on top. pic.twitter.com/VE2pT11VPz
— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) May 27, 2019
SuperCoach watch
Al Paton
The 13 new players will be added to SuperCoach in coming days. We will watch their prices with interest!
Josh Deluca (Carlton), Kyle Dunkley (Melbourne) and bolter Will Snelling (Essendon) look to be the #AFLDraft players to watch in #SuperCoach over the coming weeks. Dons see the former Power listed player as a short-term replacement for Devon Smith 👀
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) May 27, 2019
Every pick in the mid-season draft
Al Paton
1. CARLTON: Josh Deluca (Subiaco)
179cm, 80kg, 23 years
A big-bodied midfielder who can provide some real grunt in the midfield, Deluca has had a standout season for Subiaco in the WAFL. The former Docker had 29 disposals in Subiaco’s premiership win last year.
Riordan has played as an overage player for the Stingrays this season after being overlooked in the draft. The midfielder has impressed after a season interrupted by injury last year.
3. MELBOURNE: Kyle Dunkley (Gippsland Power)
185cm, 84kg, 18 years
The son of former Swan Andrew Dunkley and brother of Bulldog Josh, Kyle Dunkley has averaged 18.5 disposals for Gippsland Power this season as a classy half-forward.
4. SYDNEY: Michael Knoll (South Adelaide)
205cm, 103kg, 26 years
Knoll is a former basketballer who took up footy three years ago but has come on in leaps and bounds. He’s impressed in the SANFL with his tap work and ability to win the ball around the ground.
5. NORTH MELBOURNE: Lachlan Hosie (Glenelg)
189cm, 78kg, 22 years
Hosie has been a goalkicking machine so far this season, booting 21 goals from eight matches as a half forward, including two bags of four and two hauls of three.
6. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Ryan Gardner (Footscray)
197cm, 93kg, 21 years
Gardner can play at both ends of the ground but has played the majority of his football as a defender. He fills the need for key position talent at both ends for the Bulldogs. His strengths are his athleticism and competitiveness.
7. ESSENDON: Will Snelling (West Adelaide)
175cm, 70kg, 21 years
Snelling (below) has impressed in the SANFL this season, averaging 29.7 disposals in his seven games. A former Port Adelaide midfielder, he’s quick and has good skills.
8. ST KILDA: Jack Mayo (Subiaco)
192cm, 81kg, 19 years
A developing key position forward, Mayo’s biggest strengths are his marking ability and his long left boot. He still needs to put on some size, at just 81kg, so is likely to be a development player.
9. PORT ADELAIDE: Cameron Sutcliffe (Port Adelaide Magpies)
186cm, 87kg, 27 years
The former Fremantle utility has been playing for the Magpies in the SANFL and will come in as a ready-made player who can play a variety of roles for the Power. He has an elite running ability.
10. HAWTHORN: Pass
11. FREMANTLE: Dillon O’Reilly (East Fremantle)
193cm, 79kg, 18 years
The son of former Fremantle, Carlton and Geelong defender Stephen O’Reilly, Dillon can play at both ends of the ground but his best performances have been as an athletic forward.
12. ADELAIDE: Pass
13. RICHMOND: Marlion Pickett (South Fremantle)
184cm, 84kg, 27 years
Pickett has serious athleticism and could be one of the biggest surprise packets of this draft after winning South Fremantle’s best-and-fairest last year. He broke his finger last weekend and is set to miss at least two months of footy.
14. COLLINGWOOD: John Noble (West Adelaide)
180cm, 72kg, 22 years
The West Adelaide wingman is the son of Brisbane football boss David Noble. He has averaged 21.7 disposals from seven games this season and pushed forward to kick seven goals.
15. GOLD COAST: Pass
16. SYDNEY: Cody Hirst (Eastern Ranges)
180cm, 67kg, 19 years
Hirst has great speed and has been able to use that to influence games from the win this season as an ‘over-ager’ playing for Eastern Ranges. He’s still developing and probably isn’t ready to play this season.
17. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Pass
18. ESSENDON: Pass
A 193cm key forward from East Fremantle is the son of former Geelong, Fremantle and Geelong player Stephen O'Reilly.
Stephen played 98 games for the Dockers, two games short of qualifying his sons for the father-son rule, but Dyllon gets there via the mid-season draft.
The Pies take the son of Brisbane's footy manager David Noble.
He's a 22-year-old who has been starring for West Adelaide in the SANFL.
Al Paton
What did you think of the first mid-season draft in 26 years? Matthew Pavlich is a fan.
Like this @AFL mid-season draft business! Are we ready for a mid-season trade period as well? ….I think so.
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