AFL 2022: Club by club guide to the mid-season draft
What does your list need? We outline the areas that your club will look to bolster in both the mid-season and national drafts, and which prospects fit the bill.
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The mid-season draft is fast approaching and list managers and recruiting teams are working overdrive to decipher which prospects can help them achieve success, both in the long and short-term.
We’ve seen the mid-season draft used in different forms by clubs in recent years, from recruiting an experienced player like 2019 grand final hero Marlion Pickett to a project player in the mould of last year’s top mid-season draft selection Jacob Edwards.
A host of options have pressed their claims to AFL clubs at under-19 and state league level over the past two months.
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What are the holes in your club’s list, and who are the best options on offer in the mid-season and national drafts?
We put our recruiting hats on to work out what your club needs.
ADELAIDE
Current ladder position: 15th
List spots currently available: 2
What they need: Midfield depth, goalkicking on-ballers, half-forwards.
The Crows have moved captain Rory Sloane and concussion victim Paul Seedsman to the inactive list, opening up two spots for mid-season draft selections.
Adelaide might look at more midfield depth given Sloane’s absence.
It has also been wanting to improve its finishing skills.
Adelaide has been linked with Glenelg mature-ager Brett Turner, who booted five majors from 38 disposals against it earlier this season.
Goalkicking midfielder Josh Carmichael, from West Adelaide, also might appeal, while tall Dandenong Stingrays on-baller Jai Culley (192cm) would fit nicely in an engine room lacking a bit of height.
Last year the club snared speedster Patrick Parnell mid-season.
- Matt Turner
BRISBANE
Current ladder position: 2nd
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Outside midfielder, young midfielders, key defensive depth, ruck depth.
The Lions didn’t have any spare lists spots entering the season and don’t have any long-term injuries that would allow them to free one up.
They have a host of players in their sights for the draft at the end of the year, most notably being possible No. 1 pick and Brisbane father-son prospect Will Ashcroft. The prolific Sandringham Dragons midfielder has been likened to Carlton’s Sam Walsh and has played some VFL football for the Lions this year but is yet to make a decision on whether he will nominate for the club where his father Marcus won three premierships.
Brisbane also has a second father-son prospect in Jaspa Fletcher, who is the son of former Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions player Adrian Fletcher. Unlike Ashcroft, Fletcher is still living in Queensland and is a very nice player who is much more likely to nominate as a father-son for the Lions.
Brisbane overlooked another father-son prospect last year in Noah Bradshaw, the son of former champion forward Daniel Bradshaw. The 19-year-old has returned to the Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League this year and has impressed. Brisbane’s draft strategy for November will depend a lot on Ashcroft’s decision, as well as whether key forward Dan McStay stays or explores his free agency options.
- Chris Cavanagh
CARLTON
Current ladder position: 3rd
List spots currently available: 2
What they need: Key defender, ruck depth, midfield speed.
The Blues left themselves with a vacant list spot entering the year, and could create a second spot by moving Oscar McDonald to the inactive list after the key defender was last week ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury.
The Blues have midfielder Zavier Maher under their noses, who is seen as some chance of selection. Maher is playing for Carlton’s VFL side and captained the Colgate Young Guns in their two exhibition matches.
A hardworking midfielder who has also shown an ability to kick goals in the VFL this season, recruiters believe the 20-year-old has improved his kicking this year, which had been the knock on him previously.
- Chris Cavanagh
COLLINGWOOD
Current ladder position: 10th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Key forward, ruck depth, key defender.
The Magpies recruited four small-medium types in last year’s national draft headlined by father-son prodigy Nick Daicos, so you would suspect it will be looking at a tall for the mid-season intake.
Collingwood-season recruit Nathan Kreuger is sidelined for the season, which can open up a mid-season slot, but the Magpies still appear short of a key forward with him in the side.
An instant hit of a mature-age forward may not suit their list build, but if they want to make a genuine shot at finals while just outside the eight, a player like former Brisbane Lion forward/ruck Connor Ballenden or powerful 28-year-old tall Zac Strom — who trained with Fremantle in the pre-season and stands 198cm and 108kg — could appeal.
Alternatively, the Pies can wait until the national draft where South Australian duo Harry Lemmey and Tom Scully, and Victorian prospect Aaron Cadman could be on offer.
The club’s key defensive stocks is an area of need with Jordan Roughead turning 32 this year. They plucked Charlie Dean from Williamstown VFL last year and now 23-year-old Seagulls tall defender Kallan Dawson is in mid-season calculations. Collingwood’s ruck depth has been exposed by a long-term injury to Brodie Grundy and they could turn to a developing ruckman. While they took recent debutant Aiden Begg in last year’s mid-season draft, Sandringham Dragon Max Ramsden looms as an exciting project ruckman if still available.
Murray Bushrangers 200cm forward-ruckman Toby Murray, the brother of former Magpie Sam, is another prospect to watch at the Pies’ selection after impressing for Collingwood’s VFL side against the AFL Academy on Saturday.
- Dan Batten
ESSENDON
Current ladder position: 16th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Key forward, small-medium forwards, key defender, tall midfielder.
The Bombers didn’t enter the year with a vacant spot on their list. However, they can now use a pick in the mid-season draft if they choose after the retirement of livewire forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti last week.
Given its lowly ladder position, Essendon would be in the frame for classy 193cm midfielder Jai Culley, which recruiters view as the best player on talent in the mid-season draft pool.
A Dandenong Stingrays product, Culley dominated the first Colgate Young Guns game with 22 disposals, seven inside-50s, three clearances, four score assists and four goals.
A mid-sized lead-up marking forward like Hugo Hall-Kahan would also fit in well at the Bombers. Hall-Kahan is 188cm tall and has a lovely kick and great footy smarts.
- Chris Cavanagh
FREMANTLE
Current ladder position: 4th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Key forward, medium forward, midfield depth.
The Dockers have one vacant list spot that they are able to fill in the mid-season draft. Clubs are often reluctant to pick interstate talent for a short six-month contract, which is likely to be the case with the Dockers.
However, they have one player right under their noses who has caught the attention of clubs with his early-season performances in the WAFL. Peel Thunder’s Wade Derksen was initially denied an exemption to nominate for the mid-season draft but was later added to the list of approvals.
The 195cm key position player has shown an ability to play in both key forward and key defence posts over the past two years. West Coast Covid top-up player Jake Florenca is another player in the mix for the West Australian clubs, with the South Fremantle midfielder having a huge year and impressing at AFL level in round 8.
- Chris Cavanagh
GEELONG
Current ladder position: 6th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Ruckman, midfield depth, outside speed.
The Cats have one vacant list spot that they can use, but their top-eight ladder position means they might not have a great deal of options.
Ideally, the Cats would be interested in a player like talented Sandringham Dragons ruckman-forward Max Ramsden, but he is seen as one of the top handful of prospects on talent in the mid-season draft so is unlikely to still be available when Geelong’s pick rolls around.
In regards to the end of the year, the Cats love picking Geelong locals and there are a few talented prospects running around for the Geelong Falcons this year, headlined by midfielder and AFL Academy member Jhye Clark and 195cm key forward and Vic Country squad member Olivier Northam. The Cats will also have access to father-son prospect Osca Riccardi, who is the son of former Geelong champion Peter Riccardi and is also playing for the Falcons this year.
- Chris Cavanagh
GOLD COAST
Current ladder position: 12th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Midfielders, tall forwards, ruck depth.
Moving star forward Ben King to the inactive list would open a draft pick for the Suns.
They are much improved this season but may still want more on-ball depth or avenues to goal, being one of the lowest-scoring teams in the competition.
Tall Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Jai Culley might be one consideration, along with in-form North Adelaide medium forward Jacob Bauer.
Culley registered 22 touches and four goals in the Young Guns versus Vic Metro match this month. Bauer has kicked 15 goals from five SANFL games.
It would not surprise to see the Suns opt for ruck support for Jarrod Witts.
- Matt Turner
GWS
Current ladder position: 14th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Key forwards, small forwards, elite kickers, lockdown defender, midfield speed.
It comes with a sense of irony that the often injury-stricken Giants do not have any long-term injuries ahead of the mid-season draft, which means they are likely to be denied a top-five pick. Casting our minds to the national draft, the forward 50 should be a major focus.
Before their big win over the cellar-dweller West Coast, the Giants ranked in the bottom six for scores and scores once inside 50. A player like Harry Sheezel fits the ball perfectly as a dangerous forward with plenty of tricks.
Or could a side lacking a powerful marking presence look to West Adelaide key forwards Harry Lemmey and Tom Scully with their first selection? All three shape as top 10 picks at this stage and suit their needs.
They are well stocked in the ruck department, but Giants Academy product Nick Madden is one to keep tabs on as a competitive 204cm, 110kg ruckman in the mould of Shane Mumford.
- Dan Batten
HAWTHORN
Current ladder position: 13th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Ready-made ruckman, inside midfielders, key defender, midfield speed.
In the short-term, the Hawks’ ruck stocks are wearing thin with the club facing the prospect of naming a non-recognised ruckman this weekend due to rotten injury luck. Max Lynch (concussion) and Ned Reeves (shoulder) should be back soon but co-captain Ben McEvoy (neck, seven weeks) faces a long stint on the sidelines.
Delisted 200cm Lion Connor Ballenden has burst onto the mid-season draft radar as a forward/ruck in the SANFL, while WAFL tall Brynn Teakle and Frankston VFL’s Liam Reidy present as other ready-made ruck options.
Box Hill key position defender James Blanck, who trained with Hawthorn throughout the pre-season, is one to watch for the Hawks after receiving a late exemption to be nominated for the mid-season intake. The 21-year old tall has a ready-made frame and would help fill an area that has been shaky for the club at times this season.
But the Hawks’ glaring weakness is at the contest, ranking dead last for clearance differential and 14th in the competition for contested possession differential in 2022. Jai Culley has been linked to the club and suits them nicely as a bullocking 193cm inside midfielder who uses the ball well by foot and can hit the scoreboard, but will he be there at Hawthorn’s selection? Overlooked 2020 draft chance Zavier Maher’s burst from stoppages would give the Hawks’ same-same midfield a point-of-difference.
If they want to look to an experienced body, could West Coast top-up Jake Florenca, who has averaged 21.5 contested possessions and 10 clearances in the WAFL, be on the cards after his impressive debut for the Eagles?
- Dan Batten
MELBOURNE
Current ladder position: 1st
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Ruck depth, lockdown small defender.
How do you improve the clear frontrunner for the flag, who possesses the best depth in the competition? The Demons won’t have to worry about that next week, with the club not having capacity for a selection in the mid-season draft at this stage.
The one area where they could become vulnerable is in the ruck if Max Gawn or Luke Jackson went down, with no other recognised ruckman on the list.
Melbourne does not have a first-round pick in this year’s national draft due to a pick swap last year, but could AFL Academy member Jackson Broadbent, one of the leading ruck prospects in the pool, be available in the second round?
The Western Australian impressed for the AFL Academy against Collingwood’s VFL side on the weekend. Otherwise, it will be a case of taking the best available prospect which will add to a list already stacked with top-end talent.
- Dan Batten
NORTH MELBOURNE
Current ladder position: 17th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Running defenders, key defenders, good ball-users, key forward, midfield speed.
You would expect North Melbourne to open up a list spot for the injured Miller Bergman while currently holding the second pick of the mid-season — and that could become pick one with a heavy defeat this weekend.
The Roos got in early with developing ruck/forward Jacob Edwards last year, and it should have plenty of options at the pointy-end.
Prospects like tall inside midfielder Jai Culley, forward-wingman Hugo Hall-Kahan and Massimo D’Ambrosio would all be good fits, particularly the latter with his elite footskills. North Melbourne is crying out for quality ball-users all over the ground but particularly in defence, where Aaron Hall’s injury has highlighted their struggles.
North Melbourne’s forward line lacks pizzazz, and SANFL excitement machines Jacob Bauer (191cm) and Jye Menzie (180cm) shape as a players who can turn games with their forward half x-factor.
Looking ahead to the national draft, a key forward should be in their sights after stacking up on midfielders in recent years.
West Adelaide key forwards Harry Lemmey (199cm, 94kg), who has been dubbed ‘Riley Thilthorpe Mark II’, and Tom Scully, (204cm, 89kg) who is rising faster than the cost of living after 37 goals in seven SANFL under-18 matches, are the leading talls in the crop.
Both present as top-five selections, but if the Roos opt for the best available talent, midfielders Will Ashcroft, George Wardlaw and Elijah Tsatas are arguably ahead in the pecking order.
Tsatas is the one of this trio that could offer a greater point-of-difference for the Roos midfield with his electric speed.
- Dan Batten
PORT ADELAIDE
Current ladder position: 11th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Key defender, key forward, ruck depth, ready made midfielders.
The Power have opened up a list spot after Jake Pasini’s ACL injury.
But Port Adelaide will come into the mid-season draft with a very short list of players they will consider selecting and won’t make a selection just for the sake of it.
They took small forward Jed McEntee last year after copping several injuries in that part of the ground.
The word is this year the Power are looking at tall options.
Pasini’s injury, as well as Trent McKenzie, Aliir Aliir and Tom Clurey also dealing with injuries at point this year, could force the Power to look at another tall defender.
Sam Durdin at Glenelg and Jack Maibaum at Coburg have both had a taste of AFL.
East Fremantle’s Brynn Teakle looms as an interesting ruck option if the Power seeks to add to Scott Lycett, Sam Hayes and Dante Visentini.
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
RICHMOND
Current ladder position: 8th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Inside midfielder, key forward, wingman, lockdown defenders.
Leading mid-season contender Massimo D’Ambrosio has been under the Tigers’ watch for their VFL side throughout the pre-season, linking back with their program last week and winning 25 disposals — the second-most disposals on the ground — in the Dreamtime at the ‘G curtain raiser against Essendon. The Tigers drafted running playmakers Tom Brown and Sam Banks last year but the 178cm D’Ambrosio, who has elite footskills and decision making, would compliment Richmond’s outside run.
Wingman Lachie Carrigan, another member of its VFL side, has also attracted mid-season interest from clubs. Tall midfielders Jai Culley and SANFL product Josh Carmichael would be sound additions to the Tigers on-ball brigade, but will both be off the board by the time the Tigers make their choice?
Meanwhile, the leaky Tigers have been the easiest side to score against per inside 50 this season and the club could look to address this area.
Richmond appears set to have two picks inside the top 25 in this year’s national draft, nabbing North Melbourne’s 2022 second round selection as part of the Callum Coleman-Jones/Robbie Tarrant trade last year. With the upcoming draft pool stacked with midfield talent, it may decide to take an on-baller at the end of the year instead, or a key forward to replace 33-year-old Jack Riewoldt.
- Dan Batten
ST KILDA
Current ladder position: 5th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Running defenders, outside midfielders, key defender, classy ball-users.
St Kilda is yet to open a list spot but sidelined duo Nick Coffield and Jack Hayes can be placed on its inactive list.
While the Saints have been a surprise packet this year, its ball movement remains a concern, ranking third last in the competition for generating an inside 50 from a defensive 50 chain. This is where a player in the mould of Massimo D’Ambrosio, an elite kicking outside player, would suit perfectly, and form a dangerous distributing duo with talented first-round pick Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in time. If he is off the board, could Casey Voss, the son of Michael, be a chance?
The SANFL playmaker won the medal for best-afield against the WAFL in their showcase game and would suit the Saints’ needs. Forward-wingman Hugo Hall-Kahan would add speed, while runner Lachie Carrigan is another who could appeal.
The Saints could use a ready-made tall to bolster their defence, where Callum Wilkie regularly has to play as an undersized key defender, with Williamstown’s Kallan Dawson and Mutaz El Nour, an athletic interceptor, presenting as potential options.
SYDNEY
Current ladder position: 7th
List spots currently available: 1
What they need: Inside midfield, midfield depth, ruck depth, medium forward.
The Swans were one of the teams to have a list spot available before the season had started.
Well stocked for tall defender and forward options, with Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney playing a lot of time forward the Swans could look for some more inside midfield depth.
Dandenong Stingrays’ Jai Culley and West Adelaide’s Josh Carmichael are the two frontrunners out of the draft pool for this but could likely be off the board by the time the Swans pick.
Claremont’s Bailey Rogers and Werribee’s Oliver Hanrahan could be still around by the times the Swans are up and would be two that could hit the ground running.
Sydney are one of multiple clubs who are interested in the Western Jet’s 178cm Massimo D’Ambrosio, who has elite kicking and decision making.
The Swans could address some ruck depth with Brynn Teakle and Max Ramsden attracting interest from other clubs.
North Adelaide’s Jacob Bauer was previously part of the Swans academy, but could give them another marking target in attack to free up Heeney.
South Adelaide’s Jye Menzie could also give the Swans an option in attack.
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Current ladder position: 9th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need:
At this stage, the Dogs do not look like having a mid-season draft selection.
The club has been able to bring in top-end young talent, such as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy, the past two years while competing for premierships.
Although Darcy had shown promise as an intercepting key defender, the Bulldogs might want to boost their backline stocks come the national draft.
West Australian Jedd Busslinger would be well suited but the top-10 prospect might be off the board by the time the Dogs pick.
- Matt Turner
WEST COAST
Current ladder position: 18th
List spots currently available: 0
What they need: Young midfielders, ruckmen
Long-term injuries to Oscar Allen and Luke Edwards can ensure two list vacant spots for the Eagles.
West Coast would want to look to the future after entering a rebuild this season and that might mean replenishing its engine room.
The club has been linked with 25-year-old South Fremantle on-baller Jake Florenca, while Victorian midfielder Jai Culley might also appeal.
Florenca had 41 disposals and two goals on the weekend and was averaging 32.8 touches this season.
With thin ruck stocks, might they opt for Sandringham Dragons’ ruckman Max Ramsden?
- Matt Turner
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Originally published as AFL 2022: Club by club guide to the mid-season draft
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