Getting ahead? The clear long-term approach taken by AFL recruiters at the mid-season draft

There was a school of thought the mid-season draft would be about nothing more than plugging holes when it was introduced. As Chris Cavanagh writes, it’s becoming anything but that.

There is always plenty of talk about how clubs can use the AFL mid-season rookie draft to fill injury holes in the second half of the season.

Former Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt – who turned 27 last month – was one such player who had his name bandied around over recent months as a potential ready-made prospect after some good form in the WAFL.

Ex-Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney key defender Adam Tomlinson – who turns 32 in August – was another experienced campaigner to lodge a draft nomination in search of one last chance.

But there was a clear long-term approach taken by recruiters on Wednesday night as 18 players were plucked from state league and under-18 competitions around the country.

Only five of those players selected had nominated for longer term contracts until at least the end of 2026 — Tom McCarthy, Ewan Mackinlay, Archer May, Zac Walker and Harrison Ramm.

Tom McCarthy became an Eagle.

New Bomber Oskar Smartt playing for Vic Country

But clubs clearly had an eye to the future, even for other players who don’t currently have a contract beyond this October.

The average age of those selected was just 21.7 years old.

There were six teenagers chosen to realise their AFL dreams, among a total of 12 players aged 22 or under.

McCarthy, who found his way to West Coast with the No.1 pick, turns 25 in July and is one of just a few draftees who looks capable of making a senior debut in coming weeks.

While he was playing Division 2 suburban football for Highett in Melbourne’s Southern Football League just two years ago, the attacking half-back has shown enough playing for Richmond’s VFL side this year to suggest he could feature for the struggling Eagles in the second half of the season.

No. 1 pick Tom McCarthy in action in the VFL

“I think I’m ready-made and I’ve got the fitness, got the skills,” McCarthy told Fox Footy’s AFL360 after having his name read out.

“So I’m definitely confident that if the opportunity came up I’d be ready to play in a few weeks, hopefully.

“My game is to run and carry and break lines off half-back and really take the game on – sort of like a Bailey Dale or in the midfield a bit of a Will Day-type player.”

Former Magpie Liam McMahon was drafted by Essendon.

Zac Banch was taken with the second pick by North Melbourne.

The oldest player to be drafted — 26-year-old East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston — is another who could be called on in the back half of the year by his new club Essendon.

The Bombers were searching for big man back-up for veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein, after losing Sam Draper and Nick Bryan to season-ending injuries in the first half of the year.

Blakiston may be their ‘break glass in emergency’, having returned to senior football in the WAFL over the past month after himself missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury.

But most of the other young draftees are going to need to work hard for more opportunities at state league level before they even contemplate an AFL appearance.

New Western Bulldogs defender Zac Walker is yet to play a VFL game and was lining up for Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League just two weeks ago.

The Bombers swooped on Archer May from Subiaco

North Melbourne draftee Cooper Trembath has been playing local football for Blackburn in the Eastern Football League this year despite being on the Kangaroos’ VFL list, while new Gold Coast Suns forward Caleb Lewis has played at local level for Dingley in addition to one appearance for Casey in the VFL.

Ramm – who joined Port Adelaide at pick 3 – is an emerging 203cm tall but is still very raw and doesn’t turn 19 until December.

There is therefore much still to prove for the 2025 intake of the mid-season draft, but clubs will hope they have found some more long-term gems like Jai Newcombe, John Noble, Sam Durham or Massimo D’Ambrosio.

Originally published as Getting ahead? The clear long-term approach taken by AFL recruiters at the mid-season draft