Outside of the first pick, a significant amount of mystery surrounds Wednesday night’s mid-season rookie draft, with clubs keeping their cards close to their chest.
For clubs to participate in the draft — which will use the reverse post-Round 11 ladder to determine the order — they must have an available rookie list spot by 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday.
Officially as of Monday afternoon, six clubs have free spots on their lists after entering the 2023 season with a vacancy. But that will inevitably increase before the deadline.
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West Coast has indicated it’ll have up to two picks on Wednesday, with the club to make a call on Tuesday as to whether to end Jermaine Jones’ season.
Jones, who injured his knee in the Round 10 loss to Hawthorn, will have surgery on Monday, giving the club one day to determine if he’s likely to be able to play again in 2023.
A season-ending knee injury to Jai Culley has provided West Coast with the first pick. Ironically, Culley was selected by the Eagles in last season’s mid-season draft.
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Eagles coach Adam Simpson said the remainder of the players on the club’s long injury list, still had a chance to play this season.
“We’ll see how (Jones) comes out of that and that’s whether we get the second pick or not,” Simpson said.
“Outside of him, I don’t think anyone else we’ve ruled out for the year, because you’ve got to understand these guys with long-term injuries. They don’t want to be written off yet.”
The Eagles are widely expected to use their first pick to take 193cm Gippsland Power prospect Ryan Maric — widely regarded as the clear No. 1 prospect in the mid-season draft class.
Maric, who’s reportedly been interviewed by up to 10 AFL clubs ahead of the mid-season draft, has excited recruiters with his efficient, natural kick and goal nous. He kicked 2.2 from 15 disposals and eight marks in his VFL debut for Box Hill before booting another 2.0 from 12 disposals against Essendon on the weekend.
The other player strongly linked to the Eagles has been 199cm Claremont forward-ruck Jack Buller, who’s also generated interest from Victorian-based clubs.
Buller, according to The West Australian, was hindered by a calf injury in his most recent WAFL game, but it’s understood the issue is minor.
The Eagles could pick Maric first then opt for Buller with their other pick, if they open that second selection up. There’s also speculation the Eagles could open up a third pick for Wednesday, purely to give them more depth across both the AFL and WAFL teams for the rest of the season.
If Maric isn’t taken by the Eagles, North Melbourne would likely pounce at Pick 2 — although the Kangaroos need to officially move Jack Mahony, who’s been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, to the inactive list to select.
North had initially been linked to Clay Tucker — an athletic 204cm Eastern Ranges prospect regarded as the top ruck prospect of the mid-season draft class — considering the ankle injuries to Charlie Comben and Tristan Xerri, as well as Jacob Edwards’ lack of impact at VFL level. Although rival clubs wouldn’t be surprised if the Roos went elsewhere with their selection.
One player linked to the Kangaroos is Tigers VFL defender James Trezise — a strong one-on-one player that’s improved his intercept ability as the season has gone on.
Trezise had a big game against Geelong’s VFL side a fortnight ago, finishing with 29 disposals, 10 marks, six rebound 50s and four tackles. His performances against Casey (19 disposals) and, most recently, Essendon (16) in the past month have also caught the eye.
Hawthorn is expected to have at least one selection — that could extend to two should it put Max Lynch (concussion) on the long-term injury list — which would be Pick 3 on Wednesday night.
Rival recruiters believe the Hawks will pick one of Tucker — who’s been training with the Hawks — and Box Hill VFL player Ethan Stanley, who’s bolted into mid-season contention.
A 188cm wingman, Stanley has been under the Hawks’ nose all season as he’s been playing for Box Hill — and he had his best VFL game on the weekend, booting 2.0 from 16 disposals.
The Hawks have shown a tendency to pluck players out of their VFL program at this time of the year, taking Jai Newcombe in 2021 then James Blanck last year. It’s why clubs wouldn’t be surprised if they use a second selection on ex-Magpie Callum Brown, who’s averaged 32.3 disposals for Box Hill this season after being overlooked for an SSP lifeline before Round 1. Brown had a season-high 39 disposals and five clearances against Essendon’s VFL side on the weekend.
But if Hawthorn chooses Stanley over Tucker and has a second pick, it could opt for 203cm Oakleigh Chargers big man Will Elliot – the son of former Australian Test cricketer Matthew Elliott — if Tucker is off the board. Foxfooty.com.au understands Hawthorn has interviewed Elliott several times in recent weeks and was one of the clubs in attendance to watch him play for Oakleigh on the weekend, although Elliott was hampered by illness.
Richmond, which holds Pick 4, last week confirmed it has two list vacancies ahead of Wednesday’s mid-season draft due to Jason Castagna’s shock retirement in February and Kaleb Smith’s foot injury, which saw moved to the inactive list. Whether it takes two players on the night, however, remains uncertain
The Tigers could upgrade Trezise from their VFL list to the AFL list. But they’ve also been strongly linked to lively 180cm Subiaco forward Robert Hansen Jnr, who also has big interest from Fremantle.
The Tigers and Essendon also reportedly have interest in Perth forward Jaiden Hunter, who’s exploded into mid-season draft calculations after a stunning three-game stint at WAFL league level. He kicked 4.3 against West Coast, followed by hauls of 2.1 against West Perth and, most recently, 5.1 against South Fremantle.
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The Giants are expected to have at least one selection in the draft, even though they could put two players — Adam Kennedy (knee) and Darcy Jones (knee) — on their inactive list due to season-ending knee injuries. They’ve been strongly linked to Tucker, as well as Williamstown defender Marty Hore — the former Melbourne backman — who’s been in excellent VFL form this season, averaging 22.9 disposals and 10.6 marks from eight matches.
Sydney is expected to have at least one pick — Sam Reid (hamstring) has been ruled out for the rest of the season — but rival clubs wouldn’t be shocked if that increased. The club continues to take an understandably cautious approach with Paddy McCartin following his concussion in early April.
The Swans have also been linked to Trezise, but most rival clubs expect them to look at a key defender considering the McCartin brothers and Dane Rampe remain on their injury list. Ex-Demon and Blues utility Oscar McDonald has been the hot favourite to land at Sydney after his strong start to his 2023 VFL campaign with Williamstown, averaging 16.8 disposals and 8.3 marks per game. But with the Swans now up against it to make finals, could they opt for 24-year-old Lions VFL defender Harry Arnold (194cm) and 19-year-old Northern Bullants backman Baker Smith (197cm), who’s averaging 18.0 disposals and 7.9 marks per outing?
Luckless ex-Swan Sam Naismith is a good chance to get picked up after three knee reconstructions during his stint at Sydney. As reported by foxfooty.com.au earlier this month, Geelong has been heavily linked to Naismith, who’s become one of the VFL’s most dominant rucks at Port Melbourne this season, averaging 15.0 disposals, 5.5 clearances, 3.7 tackles and 40.4 hit-outs per outing this VFL season.
There was some speculation before the weekend the Cats weren’t sure whether they would pick. But veteran list boss Stephen Wells was spotted at the Cats-Borough VFL game on Sunday, in which Naismith had 14 disposals, seven clearances and 37 hit-outs.
The Cats, however, would find it hard to pass up on Stanley if he’s still on the board, while they’ve also been linked to Elliott and 20-year-old Claremont prospect Ben Clarke.
Fremantle footy boss Peter Bell confirmed to The West Australian his club “would like to take a player” on Wednesday for the “long-term future”, but could pass if the players they like are already off the board.
The Dockers will be hoping Hansen Jnr slips to their selection (Pick 8). Otherwise they’ve been linked to fellow WA prospects Buller and Clarke.
Essendon is expected to select at Pick 9, but not open up a second spot. It reportedly has interest in Hunter, but don’t be surprised if former Geelong midfielder Quinton Narkle, who was overlooked by Richmond as an SSP recruit during the summer, gets a look-in.
Narkle has booted 8.4 and averaged 20.0 disposals from nine games for Essendon’s VFL side. Clubs wouldn’t be surprised if the Bombers simply upgraded Narkle from their VFL list to their AFL list — although they could do the same with Narkle’s teammate Jack Cleaver — a 188cm defender.
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The Western Bulldogs, like Fremantle, have a list spot open and aren’t expected to target a key-position player, but won’t select at Pick 10 if the players they like aren’t available. They have been linked to Hore and ex-Magpie Caleb Poulter, who’s averaged 18.1 disposals and 6.3 marks for the Bulldogs’ VFL side Footscray. Ball magnet Lachlan Sullivan, who’s been part of Footscray’s set-up for the past three seasons, would be another option after averaging 27.9 disposals, 7.5 clearances and 6.0 tackles for his side this season.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on Sunday suggested his club would look at picking up another player in the mid-season draft, telling reporters: “Hopefully there’s someone there that can help us and a high-quality person.”
But foxfooty.com.au understands the Power have yet to commit to picking on Wednesday night. If they do select, they wouldn’t enter the draft until Pick 11 and would more likely go for a key-position player — most likely a defender — from a state league.
Seven clubs won’t take part in the draft.
Adelaide chief executive Tim Silvers told ABC Sport his club was unlikely to enter the mid-season draft, despite Paul Seedsman being on the inactive list. The Crows haven’t ruled any player on their injury list out for the rest of the year, with Zac Taylor (foot) and Andrew McPherson (quad) both facing at least nine-week stints on the sidelines.
Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Melbourne and St Kilda don’t have room on their respective lists to pick a player and, therefore, won’t participate in the draft.
