By Peter Ryan and Michael Gleeson
Injury ravaged Essendon plunged on key forwards and a ruckman in the mid-season rookie draft, taking the son of Dermott Brereton’s partner as well as Carlton’s VFL captain, who was once drafted to Collingwood, among their haul of tall reinforcements.
With 10 players 190 centimetres or above on their injury list, the Bombers needed urgent back-up to get through the season, so they took 198cm tall forward Archer May with their first pick. May’s mother, Julie, is the long-term partner of Brereton, who through his storied career with Hawthorn was the long-term tormentor of their arch-rivals, the Bombers.
Archer May has landed at Essendon, a club his mother’s partner, Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton (inset), long tormented in the 1980s. Credit: X / Getty
The Bombers also took ready-to-play 203 cm tall ruckman Lachlan Blakiston, who has been playing for East Fremantle in the WAFL with their second pick. They took medium forward Oskar Smartt from their VFL program and, with their last pick, selected Liam McMahon, who is co-captain of Carlton’s VFL team. He has kicked 24 goals for the Blues in the VFL this season.
McMahon was taken by Collingwood with pick 31 in the 2020 national draft and lasted two years on the Magpies’ list. Given the injuries the Bombers are carrying, he could even now find himself playing against the Blues as soon as next round.
Blakiston, a mature-age recruit, is expected to fill the holes left by injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan. He is almost certain to make his debut with the Bombers next month as they will need to give veteran Todd Goldstein a break. Smartt has shown the Bombers he is an accurate goalkicking forward has a good leap in his time playing VFL for the club.
Emotions were high for the 18 footballers chosen, and their families, on Wednesday night, as shown by the best mates who were taken two picks apart.
Werribee’s VFL side again proved it is a fertile development ground for AFL clubs, with Flynn Young and Zac Banch selected out of their team this year, both of whom played in last year’s VFL premiership team. Previous recruits from the club include Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh and Melbourne’s Aidan Johnson.
With their only selection of the night, Carlton chose quick left-footer 22-year-old Flynn Young, who previously played at Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Newtown. “Oh my god,” Young cried as his name was read out.
Young’s exuberance at finally getting his shot at the AFL was matched by that of his brother in Bali.
North Melbourne had earlier taken Young’s best mate, small forward Banch, who has kicked eight goals in his past five VFL games and who was originally out of the Ovens and Murray League. North looked in their own backyard with their second pick taking Cooper Trembath out of their VFL program, but he has also played at Blackburn this season.
Collingwood added steel to their midfield by recruiting Roan Steele, a 183cm midfielder originally from Frankston who played three years for Casey in the VFL before moving west to play with West Perth this year. He played as a forward but has shown versatility in recent seasons.
The Magpies were tracking key forwards leading into the rookie draft and moved on 19-year-old Noah Howes from South Adelaide, a 196cm target who booted three goals in his SANFL debut this season.
With the first pick of the night, West Coast took running defender Tom McCarthy, the 24-year-old Richmond VFL player who was widely regarded as the best readymade midfielder in the pool.
Originally from Highett in Melbourne’s south, he put terms requiring a minimum 18-month contract on his head before the draft to ensure the certainty of a long-term deal as he now moves across the country.
He is the sixth player from the Tigers VFL program to make his way to an AFL list. His selection was met with wild celebrations at the family home, including someone dressed up as the Eagles’ mascot.
The Bulldogs picked up 21-year-old running half-back Michael Sellwood from WA’s Peel Thunder with pick five on the night and followed up with Gippsland Power over-age player Zac Walker, a mid-range player who is an excellent mark and reads the play well.
He is expected to take time to develop into an AFL player, but he has progressed well this season.
Richmond VFL footballer Tom McCarthy has landed at the Eagles.Credit: AFL Photos
Ironically, a former Saint was secured by Gold Coast at pick seven. The Suns swooped on delisted Saints key defender Oscar Adams only days after Saints coach Ross Lyon made a provocative comment that the Suns were the “AFL nepo baby” and chock-full of talent.
Adams was a standout defender and premiership player with Glenelg in the SANFL.
The Suns also took Caleb Lewis who has been playing for the Dingley Dingoes this year. He is a dashing player who has shown exciting traits.
West Coast took Jacob Newton, a tough pressure forward from Norwood in the SANFL, at pick nine.
Wild scenes erupt as Tom McCarthy’s friends and family celebrate his selection as the No.1 pick in the 2025 AFL mid-season draft.Credit: afl.com.au
Port took Harry Ramm – a tall the Bombers considered – with their first pick then added small forward Ewan McKinlay with their second pick before adding a third player – 23-year-old Mani Liddy, a Central Districts midfielder who won the Fos Williams medal as best player in the SANFL state game this month.
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