Bombers big mid-season draft dilemma; pick 1 contenders headline star-studded Metro side: Draft Watch

The AFL mid-season draft is just around the corner, but not every club get to make a selection.

Foxfooty.com.au takes a look at the names that are in the mix to realise their AFL dereams, plus, Vic Metro announce a star-studded squad for the National Championships and some shining lights from the Coates Talent League.

Get the latest talent news and updates in Draft Watch!

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MID-SEASON DRAFT ORDER TAKING SHAPE

As it stands, just seven clubs hold picks for the 2025 AFL mid-season draft.

Essendon headlines that list of clubs with four selections, after a horrific injury run to begin the 2025 season. Rucks Sam Draper and Nick Bryan have both been ruled out for the year with long term injuries, while pre-season signing Tom Edwards and emerging defender Lewis Hayes have also been ruled out due to ACL injuries.

Carlton have a selection given Brodie Kemp (achilles) won’t feature again in 2025, while North Melbourne, Collingwood and the Gold Coast also have one pick given Miller Bergman, Reef McInnes and Charlie Ballard have all succumbed to serious knee injuries.

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West Coast and the Western Bulldogs also have selections after opting not to use the pre-season supplemental selection period or rookie draft mechanisms.

Because Essendon and Gold Coast’s Opening Round clash was postponed and they have hence played one game less than the rest of the competition, the draft order will factor in points-per-game for equity purposes.

Therefore, at the time of writing, the order is as follows:

Pick 1: West Coast

Pick 2: North Melbourne

Pick 3: Carlton

Pick 4: Western Bulldogs

Pick 5: Essendon

Pick 6: Gold Coast

Pick 7: Collingwood

Pick 8: Essendon

Pick 9: Essendon

Pick 10: Essendon

Should any other long-term injuries happen between now and the mid-season draft, clubs can move players to the inactive list and use a selection at the mid-season draft.

For example, the Pies could open up a second spot given Harvey Harrison’s latest setback from an ACL injury and the Blues could also weigh up moving Nic Newman to the inactive list, although he is progressing reasonably well in his recovery.

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WHO ARE THE LEADING CANDIDATES?

Richmond’s VFL side has been a treasure trove when it comes to the mid-season draft intake and it looks like that will be the way again this year.

Massimo D’Ambrosio, Sam Durham, Sam Davidson and James Trezise have all graduated from the Tigers reserves side to make their way onto AFL lists via various mechanisms in recent years.

This time around, keep an eye out for Tom McCarthy, a damaging half-back with neat foot skills. McCarthy stands at 189cm and has moved into the back half having plied his trade as an on-baller in 2024. McCarthy has averaged 22.3 disposals and 4.2 marks a game from six outings this season.

Another name in the mix is forward Sam Toner, who has booted seven goals across two matches for the Young Guns in recent weeks. Toner has improved his work up the ground this season to put his name at the forefront of recruiter’s minds.

Massimo Raso is a small forward that clubs could take a punt on, having averaged two goals a game and 14.5 disposals through the VFL season so far, while the electric Jhett Haeata has fans after impressing for the Sandringham Dragons.

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The mid-season draft has historically seen plenty of talls get their chance on an AFL list and this year looks like it will be no different.

Southport Sharks big man Brayden Crossley – who was once listed by the Gold Coast Suns and trialled with the Western Bulldogs over the pre-season – presents as a ready-made ruck option who could step in at AFL level immediately. A side like Essendon, who are down to just veteran Todd Goldstein and youngster Vigo Visentini when it comes to recognised rucks, could look there.

19-year-old pair Lucas Impey and Zac Harding are other talls who could get some interest, but they’re more likely to be longer term project players. Coburg’s Cooper Keogh was heavily linked to Essendon in recent times, but a foot injury has cruelled his chances.

Subiaco’s Archer May is another tall on the radar of clubs after booting 12 goals from the first six rounds. The 20-year-old booted 29 goals from 13 games for the Sandringham Dragons back in 2023 in a team that featured the likes of Levi Ashcroft, Ryley Sanders, Calsher Dear and Archie Roberts. He’s strong in the air, accurate in front of goal and continually looking to improve.

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GWV Rebels tall Floyd Burmeister is another prospect catching the eye and has plenty of upside, having lifted his work rate since last year, where he was considered unlucky not to find an AFL home.

“He’s still very raw, he hasn’t played a huge amount of footy, but I’d love him in my side,” Vic Country coach Nick Cox told foxfooty.com.au last month.

“His ability to launch and jump at the footy is unbelievable… he just gets involved in games and can fly and compete in the air where a lot of people just give up.”

Port Melbourne’s Ajang Kuol Mun, ex-Cat and Pie Nathan Kreuger, Carlton VFL’s Liam McMahon are other talls in the mix, as is Southern Football Netball League bolter Caleb Lewis, who impressed for the Young Guns and reportedly has interest from the Gold Coast.

Eastern Ranges intercept defender Rod Ali has plenty of admirers and is a late arrival to footy having previously focussed on basketball. Therefore, he’s one of the rawer prospects in the pool, but one scout told foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Waterworth in recent weeks that he could be a top 30 prospect in the national draft come the end of the year.

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The Pies are tracking Ali closely, likewise a VFL duo in Riley Mason and Josh Browne. Mason has snagged 17 goals in six games, while Browne has been averaging 23.7 disposals and a goal a game.

Dandenong Stingray Adrian Cole – a St Kilda NGA graduate – will be hoping to hear his name called out after being in the mix in last year’s draft. Cole is a lockdown key defender who is strong one-on-one and has tried to improve his offensive game this year.

Calder Cannons defender Gus Papal, as well as Geelong VFL’s Charlie McCartin – the brother of Tom and Patrick – could also find a home. Speaking of Geelong, ex-Cat Brandan Parfitt is thriving for Perth in the WAFL and looms as a likely option for the Eagles.

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TALL TIMBER GALORE AS VIC METRO SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Vic Metro has announced a 28-man squad for the National Championships, with a further eight boys named as train-on players.

There’s plenty of tall timber on show, with possible number one draft pick Cooper Duff-Tytler headlining a list of players that also features Sandringham Dragons spearhead Archie Ludowyke and Oakleigh Chargers big man Louis Emmett.

Eastern Ranges midfielder Oliver Greeves – who the Hawks tried to add to their Academy unsuccessfully – and the Western Jets’ Tom Burton are other AFL Academy players to also be named.

Collingwood father-son Tom McGuane also features in the squad after a solid start to his 2025 campaign, as does Hunter Holmes, the brother of Geelong’s Max, who has some eye-catching traits not dissimilar to his older brother.

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Northern Knights small forward Tyson Gresham, the brother of Don Jade, will feature, while the highly regarded Jack Dalton has also been included despite not featuring this year yet due to an arm injury.

Dragon Arki Butler is the only bottom-ager to make the main squad and he’s joined by a few of his highly-rated Sandringham teammates in Xavier Bamert, Rory Wright and St Kilda NGA Kye Fincher. Chargers on-baller Sam Grlj is firming as a potential top 10 pick and is another to keep an eye on.

On the NGA front, Essendon duo Adam Sweid and Hussein El Achkar are in, as is Pies pair Jai Saxena and Zac McCarthy.

The squad will be coached by Eastern Ranges boss Lauren Morecroft, who will be the first female to be senior coach of the Metro boys team.

VIC METRO SQUAD: Sam Allen, Xavier Bamert, Jackson Barber, Andrew Barker, Thomas Burton, Arki Butler, Jack Dalton, Lachy Dovaston, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Hussein El Achkar, Louis Emmett, Kye Fincher, Oliver Greeves, Tyson Gresham, Sam Grlj, Hunter Holmes, Jack Ison, Felix Kneipp, Max Kondogiannis, Archie Ludowyke, Jacob Marron, Zac McCarthy, Thomas McGuane, Jai Saxena, Aaron Sharkie, Adam Sweid, Xavier Taylor, Rory Wright.

TRAIN ON SQUAD: Blake Chambers, Finn Davis, Tate Hodgson, Lewis Houndsome, Bailey Lloyd, Mitchell Moate, Miles Tyrer, Harry Van Hattum

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ELSEWHERE…

The Gold Coast Academy looks set to deliver once more, with Beau Addinsall absolutely dominating the Coates Talent League. Addinsall had 35 disposals and two majors against the Oakleigh Chargers, while AFL Academy member Dylan Patterson had 20 touches himself.

Koby Coulson racked up 30 and a goal, while Zai Millane, the nephew of ex-Pie Darren, had 22 touches.

Willem Duursma, the brother of Xavier, Zane and Yasmin, put together one of his best games of 2025 with a 28-disposal, two-goal performance against the Geelong Falcons. Duursma is considered to be a top 10 fancy at this stage and clubs are tracking his progress closely.

Mid-sized forward Jayven Tanner filled his boots for the Western Jets against the Northern Territory with six majors, while Collingwood father-son Tom McGuane (36 disposals, two goals) and the busy Thomas Burton (35 disposals, one goal) also cashed in.

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Waylon Davey, the nephew of ex-AFL stars Alwyn and Aaron Davey and cousin of Blue Jesse, kicked 3.2 for the Thunder. A small forward with plenty of forward craft and goal nous, Davey certainly has plenty of tricks.

Seth Macdonald booted three goals from 13 disposals against the Brisbane Lions Academy as he pushes his mid-season draft claims, while small forward Lachy Dovaston, who has been compared to Hawthorn’s Nick Watson, kicked 2.3 for a personal year-high of 22 touches.

For the Lions, Academy prospect Dan Annable had 23 disposals and Hawthorn father-son prospect Cooper Hodge had 15.

The Bendigo Pioneers went down narrowly to the Calder Cannons, but there was plenty to like for the Country side. Tom Evans is averaging 30.5 disposals through four matches, while Hunter Wright is tracking really nicely as well.

Essendon NGA prospect Adam Sweid had 23 disposals and a goal and looks a nice prospect, while Sam Harris, the son of former Roo Daniel, had 25 possessions.

Tasmanian Jack Miller booted five goals for Tasmania against the Giants, while Sydney Academy prospect Lachie Carmichael had 32 disposals against the GWB Rebels – the second time in as many games he has had 30 plus touches.

Will Darcy, the brother of Bulldog Sam and son of Luke, has also been added to the Oakleigh Chargers’ list after strong school form and will debut this weekend, while Tevita Rodan, the son of David Rodan, will debut for the Calder Cannons this weekend.

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