Your club’s plans for AFL mid-season draft and best mature-age performers

There were hits and misses in the first mid-season draft. Who will strike gold this year? See if your club is expected to be involved.

Will there be another Marlion Pickett success story in this year’s mid-season draft? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The mid-season draft is a little more than a month away and clubs are starting to nut out plans.

After a low number of picks were used in last year’s national draft, there is plenty of talent on the table that clubs are eyeing in search of the next Marlion Pickett success story.

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We’ve taken a look at which clubs have vacant list spots to use — and what they are thinking.

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Tasmanian Oliver Davis could move to Adelaide to pursue his AFL dream. Picture: Anthony Corke

ADELAIDE

The Crows have a spot to fill after coming to an agreement for Tyson Stengle to depart the club after his third off-field incident in less than a year.

There are a number of players the Crows are understood to be considering but one to monitor is the status of Tasmanian Oliver Davis.

Extremely unlucky to miss out on the draft last year, Davis is on the way to Adelaide to become a SANFL development player.

An official agreement has not been struck, and the mid-season draft could come too soon for Davis, but the Crows definitely like the prolific midfielder.

BRISBANE

The Lions don’t have a vacant list spot, leaving them unlikely to take part in the mid-season draft barring any serious long-term injuries.

The club does have the option to put Cam Rayner on the long-term injury list and pick up another player in the mid season draft, which will be discussed by Brisbane hierarchy in the coming weeks

Zavier Maher trained with Carlton during the pre-season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images

CARLTON

The Blues don’t have any list vacancies, but could create one by moving Caleb Marchbank (knee) to the inactive list given he has been ruled out for the season.

Carlton has kept a close eye on Murray Bushrangers midfielder Zavier Maher, who was invited to train at Princes Park during pre-season but was overlooked for selection during the AFL’s Supplementary Selection Period.

Maher was included on Carlton’s VFL Development List this year.

Maher finished top-five in the 20-metre sprint test at the Victorian draft combine last year.

COLLINGWOOD

The Magpies have two vacant list spots and given their current ladder position they could land a high pick in the pre-season draft to fill one of those.

Max Heath is a player Collingwood might look at as a 204cm ruckman from Sandringham Dragons who missed selection in last year’s draft.

Given the Magpies look set to head down the rebuilding path, expect them to select a young player if any, rather than a mature-aged product from a state league.

Alec Waterman earned a late call-up to Essendon’s list. Picture: Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/Getty Images

ESSENDON

The Bombers look well stocked with young talent as it stands, but do have one list spot that they can fill in the mid-season draft.

It will be a case of best available for the Bombers, whose rising ladder position might see them with a later pick.

The Bombers filled their other list spot with forward Alec Waterman through the AFL’s Supplementary Selection Period in March.

FREMANTLE

The Dockers don’t have any list vacancies and have ruled out an early retirement for veteran Stephen Hill.

Only a long-term injury and reallocation of that player to the inactive list would create an opening.

GEELONG

There are no list openings at the Cattery, meaning it’s highly unlikely Chris Scott’s side will get involved in the mid-season draft.

Geelong won’t be placing superstar Patrick Dangerfield (ankle) on the inactive list, but a long-term injury to another player could create an opportunity.

GOLD COAST

Gold Coast currently have no spots available on their list. However they do have the option to add someone to their long-term injury list – players such as Jarrod Witts and Connor Budarick who are both out for the season with ACL injuries – and recruit another ruck through the mid season draft. Back up tall timbers Zac Smith and Sam Day are tracking well to return from their own knee injuries so the club will be weighing up their options in the coming weeks.

GWS GIANTS

The only way the Giants will be a mid-season draft participant is if they shift a long-term injured player onto the inactive list. A tight salary cap makes this a highly unlikely scenario and they weren’t involved in the previous one of these drafts in 2019, so don’t expect it this time.

Jacob Koschitzke had a day out in Round 6. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

HAWTHORN

Tom Scully’s unexpected retirement opened the door for explosive outside runner Lachlan Bramble to join Hawthorn, and the recent retirement of fellow No. 1 pick Jon Patton has given the Hawks a pick in the mid-season draft.

Birth certificates will be central to Hawthorn’s talent order with the club set to simply take the best, young player it can find.

Another midfielder would help add depth although the club is suddenly OK for tall forwards, given the emergence of Jacob Koschitzke and the VFL form of 197cm rookie Emerson Jeka, who has booted eight goals in two weeks.

Ned Moyle was the sole over-ager to take part in last weekend’s AFL Academy match. Picture: Michael Klein

NORTH MELBOURNE

The Kangaroos must plan for life after All-Australian Todd Goldstein, who turns 33 in July, given Tristan Xerri and journeyman Tom Campbell are unlikely to make it and Charlie Comben is so injury-prone.

The Roos are set to secure the No. 1 pick in the mid-season draft, where they can look at Victorian giants Jacob Edwards and Ned Moyle.

Edwards – a 202cm prospect from Sandringham Dragons – has long been linked with the No. 1 mid-season pick, however some talent experts believe Moyle would be an even wiser choice.

The 205cm boy from Xavier College will require more patience, but he has the potential to become a very capable AFL ruckman.

Edwards is a beautiful kick for his size and could play as a key forward while Moyle is a monster.

Either way, the Kangas appear certain to take the best teenager, getting a head start on November’s national draft, and so don’t expect their player to be anywhere near ready to make an impact in Round 12.

That’s probably not what the AFL designed the mid-season draft for.

MELBOURNE

The Demons will probably have two of the final picks in the mid-season draft, however there is every chance they don’t use both of them.

Season-ending knee injuries to Marty Hore and Aaron Nietschke have opened up the list spots, despite the Demons listing Majak Daw and Deakyn Smith in the pre-season.

Coach Simon Goodwin’s game plan is now born out of chasing, tackling and harassing, with the Demons ranked No. 1 in the AFL for pressure.

Who is the best mature-age pressure player who could walk into this premiership contender

Another small forward to sit in behind Kysaiah Pickett, Charlie Spargo and Alex Neal-Bullen wouldn’t be the worst result.

Werribee wingman Kye Declase is a player they’ve followed this year.

Tyson Stengle is vying for another AFL lifeline. Picture: Morgan Sette

PORT ADELAIDE

The Power have a list spot free, but given the depth at Alberton and the low pick they are expected to have it wouldn’t surprise at all if they pass up the opportunity to add a new player to the group.

But if Port decide to indeed fill the list spot that is available, it is expected they will go local and there are three or four players they are understood to be looking at.

The Power look well stocked for talks in attack, so they might instead look for depth in the midfield and with small forwards.

AFL recruiters are asking about Woodville-West Torrens’ pair of former Crows, Riley Knight and Tyson Stengle.

RICHMOND

The Tigers don’t have a vacant list spot, leaving them unlikely to take part in the mid-season draft barring any serious long-term injuries.

Richmond filled two vacant list spots through the AFL’s pre-season Supplementary Selection Period, relisting Derek Eggmolesse-Smith and giving Rhyan Mansell a chance.

Jade Gresham can be moved to St Kilda’s inactive list. Picture: Michael Klein

ST KILDA

The Saints were left with one spare list spot, even after signing ruckman Paul Hunter and forward Mason Wood through the AFL’s pre-season Supplementary Selection Period.

They could also open up further spots if they elect to move Ben Paton (broken leg) and Jade Gresham (Achilles) to the ‘inactive’ list, with both players ruled out for the season.

While the club is struggling in the early part of the season, there are no particularly glaring holes that need plugging.

However, the Saints could land a high pick if they do not significantly climb up the ladder in the near future, saving them potentially being pushed down the order at the national draft later in the year.

Highly-rated players who attracted draft interest last year but ultimately missed selection could come into consideration, including 204cm Sandringham Dragons ruckman Max Heath, Geelong Falcons defender Charlie Ham and Tasmanian devils midfielder Oliver Davis.

Could the Swans look to the mid-season draft for ruck reinforcements? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/Getty Images

SYDNEY

The Swans have one spot to fill and are leaving their options open.

They selected Michael Knoll and Cody Hirst in the mid-season draft two years ago, but neither player is still on the club’s list.

It wouldn’t surprise to see Sydney take a chance again, with a project ruckman a possibility, given Sam Naismith’s injury history and Tom Hickey and Callum Sinclair both being 30 or older.

WEST COAST

The Eagles don’t have a vacant list spot, leaving them unlikely to take part in the mid-season draft barring any serious long-term injuries.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs don’t have a vacant list spot, leaving them unlikely to take part in the mid-season draft barring any serious long-term injuries.

The club signed midfielder Anthony Scott during the AFL’s pre-season Supplementary Selection Period.

Former St Kilda midfielder Nathan Freeman has a hot start for Frankston in the VFL. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images

MID-SEASON DRAFT SUPERRANKINGS

Players who nominated for last year’s draft who have had big starts to the year.

VFL

Ranking, Player, Club, CD Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Matthew Hanson (Werribee), MID, 2 games, 142 points

2. Nathan Freeman (Frankston), MID, 2 games, 128 points

3. Brayden Crossley (Southport), RUCK, 2 games, 124 points

4. William Fordham (Frankston), MID, 2 games, 120 points

5. Jackson McLachlan (Geelong), FWD, 1 game, 119 points

Mitchell Duval tested at last year’s South Australian draft combine. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

SANFL Seniors

Ranking, Player, Club, CD Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Jack Hayes (Woodville-West Torrens), FWD, 4 games, 148 points

2. Tom Lewis (Sturt), MID, 4 games, 116 points

3. James Tsitas (Woodville-West Torrens), MID, 4 games, 106 points

4. Hayden Sampson (South Adelaide), MID, 4 games, 94 points

5. Mitchell Duval (West Adelaide), DEF, 4 games, 93 points

Sam Fisher was rookie-listed with Sydney in 2017. Picture: Justine Walker/AFL Media

WAFL Seniors

Ranking, Player, Club, CD Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Jye Bolton (Claremont), MID, 3 games, 133 points

2. Samuel Fisher (Swan Districts), MID, 3 games, 130 points

3. Luke Strnadica (East Fremantle), RUCK, 3 games, 129 points

4. Bailey Rogers (Claremont), MID, 3 games, 124 points

5. Frank Anderson (Swan Districts), MID, 3 games, 117 points

Ewen Macpherson has started strongly for the Northern Knights. Picture: Michael Klein

NAB League

Ranking, Player, Club, CD Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Cody Raak (Western Jets), DEF, 3 games, 163 points

2. Joel Trudgeon (Northern Knights), MID, 3 games, 139 points

3. Patrick Parnell (Murray Bushrangers), DEF, 3 games, 132 points

4. Oliver Davis (Tasmanian devils), MID, 2 games, 129 points

5. Ewan Macpherson (Northern Knights), MID, 3 games, 123 points

WAFL Colts

Ranking, Player, Club, CD Position, 2021 Games, 2021 Ave. KFC SuperCoach Points

1. Jack Avery (Perth), DEF, 2 games, 181 points

2. Brodie Kitchingman (Peel Thunder), MID, 2 games, 126 points

3. Kobe Farmer (Peel Thunder), FWD, 1 game, 124 points

4. Jed Kemp (Subiaco), MID, 3 games, 120 points

5. Edward Curley (East Fremantle), FWD, 1 game, 113 points

Originally published as Your club’s plans for AFL mid-season draft and best mature-age performers