Since being re-introduced in 2019 following a couple of decades in no-man's land, the mid-season draft (MSD) has been a big success for the AFL in helping manage long-term injuries and early retirements.
From 2024’s 19 selections, 11 have already gone on to play at the top level, showing just how much talent is sitting in the seconds and raring to go.
Eighteen players were picked up in last night’s MSD, and we’ve got the scoop on what you can expect from your club’s latest addition.
PICK 1: TOM MCCARTHY - WEST COAST
24 yrs old, Richmond VFL
A running half-back who can play through the midfield when required, McCarthy was no surprise as the first pick in the MSD, averaging 23 possessions a game this year and storming home with a dominant display against North Melbourne last week in the VFL.
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PICK 2: ZAC BANCH - NORTH MELBOURNE
21 yrs old - Werribee
The Kangaroos have added some firepower to their forward line, with small forward Banch impressing with 8.8 and an average of 16 disposals over the past five weeks in the VFL, ensuring the 2024 VFL premiership player was hard to overlook early in the draft.
PICK 3: HARRISON RAMM - PORT ADELAIDE
18 yrs old - Glenelg
Narrowly missing out on last year’s national draft, Ramm is a 202cm key defender who’s put a lot of minutes into his ruck work and intercept marking in his time at Glenelg, giving the Power plenty of upside should they choose to develop him into a forward.
PICK 4: FLYNN YOUNG - CARLTON
23 yrs old - Werribee
A mid-sized forward, Young has put in a few good seasons of work for Werribee where he’s excelled both in the air and at ground level, with a return of 12 goals from his eight games this year while also averaging an impressive 6.6 marks per game.
PICK 5: MICHAEL SELLWOOD - WESTERN BULLDOGS
21 yrs old - Peel Thunder
With a penetrating left foot off half-back, Sellwood has excelled in recent weeks with Peel thanks to a strong average of 23 disposals and seven marks a game over the seven games he’s played this year.
PICK 6: ARCHIE MAY - ESSENDON
20 yrs old - Subiaco
Step-son to AFL legend Dermott Brereton, the 198cm tall forward from Subiaco has shown his ability to kick bags of goals this year with hauls of four and three, and an overall tally of 12 from six to give Essendon an exciting new option in the forward line.
PICK 7: OSCAR ADAMS - GOLD COAST
21 yrs old - Glenelg
Delisted by St Kilda at the end of 2023, Adams gets another chance at the top level after hitting some form in the SANFL since then, with the tall defender a strong aerial presence and good in shut down roles.
PICK 8: ROAN STEELE - COLLINGWOOD
23 yrs old - West Perth
A versatile player, Steele has at times in his development been a goalkicking forward, a running midfielder and most recently a half-back star for West Perth after moving from Victoria.
PICK 9: JACOB NEWTON - WEST COAST
19 yrs old - Norwood
Able to play through the midfield or as a small forward, Newton was unlucky to miss out on last year’s draft thanks to an injury, but has enjoyed a run of good form in the SANFL including two bags of three goals in his most recent two outings.
PICK 10: COOPER TREMBATH - NORTH MELBOURNE
20 yrs old - N. Melbourne VFL
With the Kangaroos looking for versatile options to help them in their rebuild, Trembath shapes as a strong option as someone who can move down back or up forward, with his recent debut for the Roos against Brisbane’s strong VFL side resulting in a three goal haul.
PICK 11: EWAN MACKINLAY - PORT ADELAIDE
21 yrs old - North Adelaide
A high-pressure forward that rotates well through the midfield, Mackinlay shapes as a solid option for Port as they look to add to their goalscoring arsenal, with the North Adelaide product averaging 17 disposals this year along with five goals in seven games.
PICK 12: ZAC WALKER - WESTERN BULLDOGS
19 yrs old - Gippsland Power
A tall intercepting defender, Walker has been picked by the Dogs thanks to his outsized ability to read the play and take strong overhead marks, alongside a booming kick.
PICK 13: LACHLAN BLAKISTON - ESSENDON
26 yrs old - East Fremantle
A mature age ruckman that looks ready to fit into the Bombers depleting ruck stocks, Blakiston has been quietly plying his trade in the WAFL with East Fremantle after moving from Sydney, and has recently begun to dominate with a move to the top level always likely.
PICK 14: CALEB LEWIS - GOLD COAST
21 yrs old - Casey
A bit of a shock pick up by the Suns, 198cm goalkicker Lewis is the most inexperienced player taken in the MSD, with just four games under his belt over the past two VFL seasons, and just one this year.
PICK 15: NOAH HOWES - COLLINGWOOD
19 yrs old - South Adelaide
A key forward that has been impressing in the SANFL for the better part of two years, Howes finally gets his chance at the big leagues after a 12 goal from six matches start to the season where he’s shown his strong overhead marks and rampant athleticism.
PICK 16: MANI LIDDY - PORT ADELAIDE
23 yrs old - Central Districts
A good pick up late in the draft for the Power, snagging a strong on-baller in Liddy who’s averaged 22.6 possessions, five clearances and three tackles per match this season, with his ball use and goalkicking abilities his strongest features.
PICK 17: OSKAR SMARTT - ESSENDON
19 yrs old - Essendon
Almost taken in the draft last year by the Bombers, Smartt gets his chance to impress as a mid-sized forward with a good jump and a knack for knowing where the big sticks are.
PICK 18: LIAM MCMAHON - ESSENDON
23 yrs old - Carlton VFL
Originally taken by Collingwood with pick 31 in the 2020 draft and delisted without a game two years later, McMahon has risen to become Carlton’s reserves captain, and has backed up this move with bags upon bags of goals this year, including four games of four goals, and two games with hauls of three.