West Coast have added running defender Tom McCarthy to their list with the first pick in the mid-season rookie draft.
The 24-year-old Richmond VFL player is regarded as a readymade player having joined the Tigers from Highett. He had put terms requiring a minimum 18-month contract on his head for any club taking him, wanting the certainty of the long-term deal for him to move across the country.
Richmond VFL footballer Tom McCarthy has landed at the Eagles.Credit: AFL Photos
He is the sixth player from the Tigers VFL program to make his way to an AFL list.
McCarthy is the Eagles third No.1 mid-season draft selection after Jai Culley, who is now on Melbourne’s list, and Ryan Maric.
North Melbourne selected Zac Banch, a small forward from Werribee. He has kicked eight goals in his past five VFL games. He is from the Ovens and Murray League originally.
Port Adelaide chose Harrison Ramm from Glenelg, jumping in ahead of the Bombers who were keen on the versatile tall.
Carlton has been looking to get speed forward of the ball and were able to secure Flynn Young a pacy left footer who has been playing well at Werribee. At 22 and coming out of the highly rated Werribee system the 185cm mid-sized forward is ready to play.
The Bulldogs secured 21-year-old running half back Michael Sellwood out of Peel Thunder.
Ironically, a former Saint was secured by Gold Coast at pick seven, the move to take the delisted Saints key defender Oscar Adams only days after the provocative “AFL nepo baby” comment by Ross Lyon at the weekend that they were chock-full of talent. He was a standout defender with Glenelg in the SANFL in the past two seasons. He played in a premiership with Glenelg.
Collingwood selected Roan Steele, a 183cm midfielder originally from Gippsland. He played at Casey before moving west to play with West Perth this year. He played as a forward but has shown versatility in recent seasons.
West Coast opened the second round of selections by taking Jacob Newton, a tough pressure forward from Norwood in the SANFL, at pick nine.
North looked in their own basckyard with their second pick taking Cooper Trembath out of their VFL program, but he has also played back at Blackburn this season.
Port took small forward Ewan McKinlay out of the SANFL, who at 21 is ready to play. He is a small forward but has the sizer and speed to rotate through the midfield. Having taken a tall in Ramm with their first pick they complemented with the small forward with their second pick.
The Western Bulldogs took Gippsland Power over-age player Zac Walker, a mid-range player who is an excellent mark and reads the play well with pick 12. He is expected to take time to develop into an AFL player but he has progressed well this season.
Essendon added mature-aged East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston 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.
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.
Collingwood had been wanting a key position player and found one in the SANFL with 19-year-old key forward Noah Howes from South Adelaide.
With pick 16 Port took midfielder ready to play 23-year-old Mani Liddy also out of the SANFL where he has been averaging 23 touches and five clearances a game for Central Districts.
Oskar Smartt is an accurate goalkicking forward from Essendon’s VFL side. He is clever around goals and has a good leap.
Carlton lost its VFL captain for this season when Liam McMahon was snapped up by the Bombers with the 18th and final pick of the night.
How the mid-season draft unfolded
- Tom McCarthy (Richmond VFL) – West Coast
- Zac Banch (Werribee) – North Melbourne
- Harrison Ramm (Glenelg) – Port Adelaide
- Flynn Young (Werribee) – Carlton
- Michael Sellwood (Peel Thunder) – Western Bulldogs
- Archie May (Subiaco) – Essendon
- Oscar Adams (Glenelg) – Gold Coast
- Roan Steele (West Perth) – Collingwood
- Jacob Newton (Norwood) – West Coast
- Cooper Trembath (North Melbourne VFL) – North Melbourne
- Ewan McKinlay (North Adelaide) – Port Adelaide
- Zac Walker (Gippsland Power) – Western Bulldogs
- Lachlan Blakiston (East Fremantle) – Essendon
- Caleb Lewis (Casey Demons) – Gold Coast
- Noah Howes (South Adelaide) – Collingwood
- Mani Liddy (Central Districts) – Port Adelaide
- Oskar Smartt (Essendon VFL) – Essendon
- Liam McMahon (Carlton VFL) – Essendon
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