The state of play ahead of 2025 AFL mid-season draft

The 2025 AFL mid-season draft is here! See what every club is planning, the full order, all 338 nominations and more in this mega preview.

Collingwood tragic Archer May will play a nervous waiting game on Wednesday night to see if a rival pounces on the big 198cm ruck-forward before Craig McRae’s Pies.

The Pies are desperate to secure May and have moved heaven and earth to give the 2023 premiers a chance for him to fall down the mid-season draft pecking order.

Collingwood not only told May that he should avoid playing this week, they also suggested he put an 18-month contract demand on his head.

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May, 20, played at Brighton Grammar and Richmond’s VFL team before moving west to Subiaco this year and has been told the Pies will take him on Wednesday night.

But Essendon met with May for the first time on Wednesday and rival clubs believe North Melbourne, with the No.2 overall selection, are also keen.

May grew up supporting Collingwood, with his mother Julie the long-term partner of AFL legend Dermott Brereton.

He has kicked 12 goals in six games in the WAFL as he studies and works in finance.

Hawks five-time flag hero Brereton, who played 15 of his 211 games at the Pies, has helped tutor May in football tactics while his son Devlin has helped him bulk up in recent years in the home gym.

West Coast will secure Richmond VFL half back Tom McCarthy with the No.1 overall pick, with the former Woolies assistant dairy manager telling the Herald Sun on Sunday the Eagles had indicated they were keen.

“I have had a couple of chats to Matty Clarke and he’s sounding pretty positive about where it’s going to go. Hopefully when the time comes they are going to pick me,” he said.

“I watched (West Coast-Adelaide) closely and if I did get my name called out by them on Wednesday it would be an honour so I am getting familiar with the club just in case it happens.”

North Melbourne has two picks including the second overall selection after moving Darcy Tucker (back) and Miller Bergman (ACL) onto the inactive list.

Their West Australian scout has interviewed May but recruiting boss Will Thursfield has not met him in person in recent weeks.

Richmond, third-last on the ladder, does not have a mid-season selection, while Port Adelaide, set to clear a list spot to secure a pick, is not interested in May.

Archer May (C) is likely to become an AFL player on Wednesday. Picture: WA Football/Supplied.

But Essendon has four mid-season picks and spent time with May on Wednesday in a development that will make the Pies even more nervous.

Carlton has been linked to Jacob Newton, a small forward from SANFL club Norwood, as they try to boost their offensive goal power.

Gold Coast can clear two list spots with Elliott Himmelberg and Charlie Ballard out for the season and has been linked to high-flying Dingley forward Caleb Lewis and ex-Saints defender Oscar Adams.

The Dogs have also cleared a spot with Cody Weightman (knee) out for the season.

Ex-Cat Brandan Parfitt, playing in the WAFL for Perth, has drawn very limited interest in recent weeks.

Essendon’s need for key talls has been well advertised with Claremont’s Oliver Eastland and East Fremantle’s Lachie Blakiston both ahead of Southport’s Brayden Crossley.

AFL clubs have doubts that Crossley has the tank for senior football despite his dominant form in the VFL.

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Subiaco key forward Archer May has been strongly linked by clubs to North Melbourne’s pick-two after kicking 12 goals in six games at WAFL level and another two majors for the WA state side in their win over the SANFL.

Like McCarthy, May did not feature at state league level over the weekend which is often an indication they are AFL bound.

The 20-year-old has also been linked to Carlton (pick four), Essendon (pick 6) and Collingwood (pick eight).

Port Adelaide’s selection at three will shape the draft with the Power linked to a host of players, including SANFL forwards Ewan Mackinlay and Jacob Newton, Peel Thunder rebounder Michael Sellwood and Glenelg key back/ruck Harrison Ramm.

The Power may need to nab Ramm with their first selection with Essendon keen on the developing defender who was overlooked in last year’s draft.

Carlton appears to be on the look-out for a small forward, rebounding defender or developing tall.

The Blues have shown interest in Newton, lively Richmond VFL forward Sam Toner, Werribee VFL dasher Zac Banch, Sellwood, overage Murray Bushrangers ruck Zac Harding, Ramm and May.

The Blues watched Toner play for local footy for Narre Warren on Saturday but rivals believe Newton is their likely target.

The Western Bulldogs are fans of Richmond VFL forward Massimo Raso, with Raso and Sellwood both completing medicals with the club.

Raso played under former Western Jets talent lead Luke Williams, who joined the Bulldogs recruiting team this year.

The Bulldogs have also tracked Mackinlay and Werribee VFL small forward Flynn Young.

Essendon has been linked to Ramm with their first selection and has put late work into lockdown key defender key defender Ryan Eyres.

Ready-made WAFL rucks Oliver Eastland and Lachie Blakiston, Southport cult figure Brayden Crossley and Bombers VFL half-back Matt Foley are other potential options for the Bombers.

Foley was a member of the Bombers’ NGA program and has flourished this year as a defender, averaging 25.4 disposals from five matches.

Matt Foley from the Essendon Bombers

As revealed by this masthead in April, Dingley local footy bolter Caleb Lewis looks Gold Coast-bound and has not played at any level since for several weeks.

The Suns are also keen on former St Kilda key defender Oscar Adams, who has spent the past two seasons at Glenelg.

Athletic Eastern Ranges defender Rod Ali has featured for Collingwood’s VFL side and could end up as a Magpie in the mid-season draft, capping a meteoric rise for the basketball convert after joining the Ranges program in the off-season.

Collingwood VFL key forward Riley Mason has had a medical with the Pies and also has interest from the Bombers.

Mason’s VFL teammate Josh Browne, a former West Coast Eagles WAFL midfielder, is also being considered by the Pies.

North Melbourne promoted Finnbar Maley from their VFL program in last year’s rookie draft and could look internally again with Cooper Trembath a potential smokey after a three-goal haul in his Roos debut.

Creative forward Banch is another potential option for the Roos with their second selection.

If Banch, Young or Eyers are taken, it will continue a remarkable run for Werribee. The Bees have produced five draftees since the 2023 VFL grand final: Shaun Mannagh, Sam Clohesy, Riley Bice, Aidan Johnson and Jack Henderson. All have appeared at AFL level.

Former North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins will be in Port Adelaide’s thinking after training with the Power for an SSP spot during the pre-season.

He has had a strong season with the Port Adelaide Magpies, where he has averaged 30 disposals, and represented South Australia at state level.

Central District midfielder Mani Liddy, who won SA’s medal as their best player in the state game, is another consideration for the Power.