GFL players eligible for AFL mid-season draft revealed

A new rule was implemented for 2023, allowing any VFL, SANFL, WAFL, or TSL player who has notched up three games in the 2023 season to be automatically eligible for the mid-season draft.

Previously, the rules stipulated the player must nominate for the national draft the previous season, but the new rule has opened the door to hundreds of potential draftees.

Geelong’s local football competitions have 21 players available for selection on Wednesday night.

Ben Lloyd – Bell Park – Geelong VFL

The Bell Park gun plays in the back line for the Cats in the VFL, and has been consistent with his form at the level. Lloyd is averaging 17.6 disposals at 83.5 per cent efficiency, four marks, 5.1 intercept possessions, two tackles and 2.3 score involvements in the VFL, while his solo hit out for Bell Park this season was a 20-disposal, nine mark performance.

Hamish Lucas – Bell Park – Geelong VFL

Lucas has enjoyed an impressive career at the GFL level, and has performed well in the higher grade too. Across his six games of VFL football for Geelong, Lucas has averaged 16.3 disposals, 2.8 marks, 2.5 clearances, 4.8 tackles, 4.8 score involvements and half a goal per game.

Keegan Gray – Bell Park – Werribee

23 years old – 181cm – 78kg

Often used off the half back line for Bell Park, Gray is played as a half forward for Werribee in the VFL, and he has shown his ability to move around the ground as required. His versatility is a great asset, allowing him to average 24.3 disposals at 79.9 per cent efficiency for the Dragons. Gray averages 10.3 disposals, 0.3 goals and 0.7 goal assists per game in the VFL.

Tanner Lewis – Geelong West – Geelong VFL

The Giant has split his time between GFL and VFL football this year, dominating at the local level for Geelong West. Lewis has averaged 25 disposals per game at 83.9 per cent efficiency, while also recording 14.3 contested possessions, four marks, 3.7 tackles, three inside 50s and 1.3 goals per game. For Geelong’s VFL program, Lewis’ role is more consistently through the forward 50 rather than the midfield, averaging 7.2 disposals, 2.4 tackles, 0.6 goals and 3.8 score involvements per game, showing his ability to be a high-impact player.

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West – Werribee

21 years old – 190cm – 81kg

Ajang is versatility personified. Used largely as a half forward and midfielder in the GFL last season, the dashing Giant can also provide spring off half back and his ball use is outstanding. Ajang has just qualified for the mid-season draft, having notched up three VFL games for Werribee so far this season. He is averaging 13 disposals, six contested possessions, 1.7 intercept possessions, 3.3 clearances, 3.7 tackles and four score involvements per contest. For Geelong West Ajang is averaging 20.5 disposals (at 80.1 per cent efficiency), 8.5 contested possessions, 6.5 tackles, three inside 50s and half a goal per game.

Harry Grintell – Grovedale – Werribee

20 years old – 176cm – 76kg

Grintell moved to Werribee at the start of the 2023 season, coming from Greater Western Sydney’s VFL program, and has found a home at Grovedale in the GFL. He is yet to debut at the local level, having spent his entire season so far plying his trade for Werribee. The half forward has averaged 8.3 disposals, two marks, 3.3 tackles, 1.3 goal assists and three score involvements per game, showing he can have an impact despite not racking up huge possession counts.

Connor Thar – Lara – Werribee

22 years old – 176cm – 74kg

Thar is blessed with the ability to play as a deep pressure forward who tackles hard and kicks goals, as well as pushing further up the ground and winning the ball in the midfield when given the chance. Thar has averaged 11.4 disposals per game for Werribee this season, as well as 3.4 tackles, 3.2 marks 1.6 goals in his five matches this season. Lara co-coaches Devon Smith and Shayne Stone said Thar is “a highly-skilled pressure forward that can go through the midfield and has an uncanny goal sense. His pressure around the ball and ability to get out of traffic with composure and deliver with precision is at an extremely high level. His football intelligence sets him apart, suggesting there is potential for him to evolve into an impressive goal-scoring midfielder.”

Tom Feely – Leopold – Geelong VFL

Feely has just the one game of Leopold football this season, having been required at the VFL level for the majority of the season. Feely’s role for Geelong is slightly different compared to his job at the Lions, having been moved to play more of an outside midfield role at the higher level. Feely is still averaging 12.8 disposals, 3.3 marks, two tackles and 3.5 score involvements for Geelong this season, while his one game for Leopold gave him a stat line of 22 disposals at 86.4 per cent efficiency, 12 contested possessions, four marks, six inside 50s and three goals.

Marcus Herbert – Leopold – Geelong VFL

20 years old – 181cm – 83kg

The hard-at-it defender has dominated for Geelong in the VFL this season, averaging 22.8 disposals, 7.8 contested possessions, 5.8 intercept possessions, 1.5 tackles and 2.5 marks per game in his four games at the level. While he is used off a half back in the VFL, Herbert can run through the middle and find plenty of the football. In 2022, Herbert recorded a 37-disposal, nine-inside 50, seven-mark game for Leopold.

Matty Lloyd – Newtown & Chilwell – Geelong VFL

22 years old – 186cm – 85kg

Matty Lloyd has had some dominant performances for Newtown & Chilwell in the past two seasons, and was rewarded with a strong run of VFL football for Geelong. Often played through the midfield and forward line rather than the half back position he holds down for the Eagles, Lloyd has averaged 18.3 disposals, six contested possessions, 4.3 marks, 4.3 score involvements and half a goal per game. Lloyd has played two GFL games so far this season, averaging 29 disposals, 6.5 marks, four inside 50s and a goal per game. He also had three games of 34 disposals or more in 2022, including a 44 disposal, 13 mark, six inside 50 game in round 9 that netted him 170 ranking points.

Tom Panuccio – Newtown & Chilwell – Geelong VFL

21 years old – 181cm – 78kg

The small forward has just qualified for the draft after notching up three VFL games for Geelong, having spent some time playing for Newtown & Chilwell as well this season. Panuccio is averaging 14.3 disposals per game for Geelong, as well as three marks, three tackles, 3.7 score involvements and a goal per game.

Tom Gribble – Newtown & Chilwell – Werribee

28 years old – 180cm – 79cm

The Werribee captain has not played a game for Newtown & Chilwell, but Gribble is linked to the club if he were to ever step back to the local football scene. Gribble is one of the best VFL midfielders, averaging 31 disposals per contest, along with 12.5 contested possessions, 6.8 clearances, 6.7 score involvements, 4.2 marks and 3.7 tackles per game this season. Gribble’s last local football game came way back in 2014 when he suited up for Geelong West. Gribble had a massive 41 disposal performance against Gold Coast last weekend.

Noah Lever – North Shore – Werribee

21 years old – 183cm – 77kg

Lever is one of North Shore’s best midfielders when he is playing at the GFL level, but he plies his trade as a forward for Werribee in the VFL. Lever is averaging 12 disposals per game for Werribee, as well as 6.6 contested possessions, 2.4 clearances, 4.8 tackles and 4 score involvements across his five games at the level. Lever is averaging 27 disposals, 13.5 contested possessions and 5.5 tackles per game in the GFL this season.

Kobe Annand – North Shore – Werribee

21 years old – 200cm – 91kg

The North Shore ruck has yet to see a GFL field this season, spending the entire 2023 campaign so far holding down Werribee’s ruck mantle. His form at the VFL level has been good, averaging 11.9 disposals, 22.1 hit outs, 7.4 contested possessions, 3.9 clearances, 5.6 tackles and 3.9 score involvements per game.

Michael Sodomaco – St Joseph’s – Werribee

32 years old – 180cm – 74kg

Sodomaco has not pulled on a Joeys jumper since 2021, and has enjoyed a strong VFL campaign for Werribee. Playing through the backline and midfield, Sodomaco has averaged 16.6 disposals across his five VFL games, as well as 3.6 marks, 2.2 intercept possessions, 1.4 clearances, 4 tackles and 4.2 score involvements.

Jesse Clark – St Joseph’s – Werribee

22 years old – 189cm – 87kg

Clark has not played a GFL game since a solo outing for the Joeys in 2021, but his form as a lockdown medium defender in the VFL has been good. Clark is averaging 9.4 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.3 intercept possessions, 2.1 tackles and 1.9 score involvements per game, and has shown his wares as a rebounding defender when given the chance, recording a 21-disposal outing in 2021.

Sam Clohesy – St Joseph’s – Werribee

20 years old – 189cm – 74kg

Clohesy has not played under Ron Watt for St Joseph’s this season, with his last GFL game coming in 2022, but he has become an important member of Werribee’s VFL program. Clohesy has played seven VFL games this season, and is averaging 14.1 disposals, 6.9 contested possessions, 4.7 marks, 2.3 clearances, 6.3 tackles and 1.1 goals per game playing as a half forward option. He can move through the midfield, as shown in his time at the GFL level.

Brayden Ham – St Mary’s – Geelong VFL

24 years old – 181cm – 70kg

The newest Saints recruit hasn’t made his GFL debut for St Mary’s yet, having moved to Geelong for another crack at VFL, and hopefully AFL, football. Ham has spent his four games at Geelong as a midfielder, averaging 16.5 disposals, 5.5 contested possessions, three marks, 1.8 tackles and 3.3 score involvements.

Harry Benson – St Mary’s – Geelong VFL

23 years old – 180cm – 78kg

The two-time Mathieson Medalist finally got his chance at the higher levels this season when he signed a VFL contract with Geelong. The star midfielder dominated the GFL last season, winning his second league best and fairest despite a facial injury that jeopardised his football career and had him unlikely to return for the season. Benson is now averaging 21.5 disposals per game for Geelong’s VFL program, as well as 10.5 contested possessions, 3.3 marks, seven tackles, 5.3 clearances and 2.8 score involvements across his five games. Benson started the VFL season playing as a forward, but has worked his way into the midfield rotation and has dominated, including a 27 disposal game against Gold Coast and a 18 disposal, 14 tackle match against Werribee.

Jack Henderson – St Mary’s – Werribee

23 years old – 177cm – 75kg

Henderson’s last GFL game came way back in 2017 when he was also playing for Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, and the midfielder has spent his football career since then firmly embedded in the VFL program. The now 24 year old is averaging 24 touches per game this season for Werribee, including 9.7 contested possessions, 5.3 marks, 4.9 clearances, 6.9 tackles, 0.6 goals and 5.6 score involvements across the seven games. Henderson had 25 disposals and a goal against Gold Coast last weekend.

Matthew Keast – St Mary’s – Werribee

21 years old – 179cm – 80kg

The premiership Saint has enjoyed a fantastic GFL season so far, averaging 22.6 disposals, 4.2 marks, 4.2 inside 50s and 3.6 tackles per game, while also booting 1.2 goals per contest. Keast has just qualified for the mid-season draft, having played three VFL games for Werribee this season, collecting 11.3 disposals, 4.3 marks, two tackles, one score involvement and 0.3 goals per game.