Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe is a mid-season draft success story.Credit: Getty Images
None of Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast, Melbourne or St Kilda is expected to make a selection unless a player suffers a season-ending injury this weekend – and even then, still might not.
Geelong and Port Adelaide are yet to decide if they will be involved, according to sources familiar with the situation, with the Cats considering handing injury-cursed ex-Sydney Swans ruckman Sam Naismith an AFL lifeline.
Rhys Stanley (eye socket) remains without a timetable to return from his Gather Round setback, with Jon Ceglar holding down Geelong’s ruck fort for now. Young talls Shannon Neale, Toby Conway and Phoenix Foster are still developing as the Cats take aim at another flag.
Former Demons and Blues key defender Oscar McDonald, who has recovered from the back issue that ruined his 2022 season, is on the Swans’ radar, as The Age revealed at the start of May. Sydney could be one of the rare clubs that makes two picks in the mid-season draft, with Sam Reid already ruled out for the year and doctors taking a cautious approach to Paddy McCartin’s latest concussion in early April.
Concussion expert Alan Pearce even called for McCartin, the No.1 pick in the 2014 draft, to retire in the days after his brain injury in an innocuous incident, although Swans coach John Longmire said the speculation about his future was “not healthy”.
Essendon, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn also have the option of picking twice next week, but are likely to make only one selection. Fremantle, North Melbourne, Richmond, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs are set to pick no more than one player.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell left the door ajar for them to bring in two new players, with rangy Box Hill wingman Stanley strongly in contention at what is currently the No.3 pick. Maric has also played for, and trained with, the club’s VFL affiliate.
Tucker could be an option for Hawthorn or the Giants, and is tipped to be off the board quickly.
“We have one, possibly two [spots], with [ruckman] Max Lynch going onto the long-term injury list. There’s another weekend between now and the draft, but we’ll refine the list and be ready for it next week,” Mitchell said.
Clay Tucker is tipped to be an AFL player next week.Credit: AFL Photos
“I think there’s a bit of talent in this draft, and the way we’ve been able to bring players through the Box Hill program has helped, but sometimes they’re going to get taken by other clubs, which is unfortunate.
“It’s close to the best part of the job – you are making kids’ dreams come true and especially the kids in the mid-season draft. They have missed out previously, so there’s always a real burning desire in this group that they want to get the best out of themselves.”
Among the other players who could find an AFL home are Northern Bullants forward-ruck Brandon Ryan – cousin of Fremantle’s Luke – Subiaco goalsneak Robert Hansen jnr, and Northern Knights ruckman Flynn Riley.
They all underwent medical and psychometric testing at the request of AFL clubs, along with Maric, Tucker, Buller, Stanley, Perth’s Jaiden Hunter, Richmond VFL pair James Trezise and Mutaz El Nour, Calder Cannon Rye Penny and Oakleigh Chargers tall Will Elliott.
Elliott, a 202-centimetre ruck-forward, is the son of Victoria’s former Australian Test opener Matthew.
Ex-AFL footballers who may get another go include Callum Brown, Caleb Poulter, Ryley Stoddart and Marty Hore, while AFL Academy graduate Mitch Szybkowski could be a name to watch.
VFL stars Sam Lowson and Shaun Mannagh are enjoying strong seasons but are given only an outside chance of being recruited.