Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

[Axe Man]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

SANFL FORWARD ON THE MSD RADAR

A KNEE injury to Mitch Georgiades will enable Port Adelaide to open up the ninth available list vacancy ahead of this year's AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, with SANFL forward Noah Casalini emerging as a potential option for clubs.

Season-ending ACL injuries to Georgiades and Greater Western Sydney utility Adam Kennedy over the last fortnight means there are now nine list vacancies among eight clubs, with the Giants the only team with two free spots.

Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn all kept list spots open after last year's draft period, with GWS (Kennedy and Darcy Jones), Port Adelaide (Georgiades) and Richmond (Jason Castagna) also having vacancies.

Casalini has since garnered a host of interest among clubs with free list spots, continuing an impressive run of form by winning the Bob Quinn Medal for best on ground in North Adelaide's Anzac Day victory over Norwood.

The 21-year-old Casalini, who is a 191cm marking forward, kicked six goals from 18 disposals and 10 marks in a dominant display to further enhance his credentials as a potential mid-season pick-up.

Casalini was a former Swans Academy player and also has ties with the Giants - who have multiple mid-year picks - having spent last season on their VFL list before crossing to North Adelaide over the summer. - Riley Beveridge

[Testekill]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

I'm still keen on Ethan Phillips as I wanted him last year and if we don't see O'Donnell as a long term defender then there's room for tall timber down back especially with the looming retirement of Keath and potentially Bruce.

[hujsh]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

I'm still keen on Ethan Phillips as I wanted him last year and if we don't see O'Donnell as a long term defender then there's room for tall timber down back especially with the looming retirement of Keath and potentially Bruce.

We absolutely need a second tall developing. Buss and especially O'Donnell are no guarantees to make it and of our 4 key backmen 3 are over 30 leaving just Guards (who, improved though he may be, is probably a second defender at best, great coverage at worst).

If we see him as a long term option and not just short term coverage I'm not opposed to taking him at all.

[Mofra]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Luke Teal notched up 3 coaches votes in just his second VFL game as an 18 year old.
If we pass on our MSD when there is talent like this available I'd be very disappointed. There are kids out there worthy of being on an AFL list

[GVGjr]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Luke Teal notched up 3 coaches votes in just his second VFL game as an 18 year old.
If we pass on our MSD when there is talent like this available I'd be very disappointed. There are kids out there worthy of being on an AFL list

While I agree in principle with this thought process if we don't rate and state league prospects or over agers from the junior comps we might as well hold the spot open. Teal could have easily been on senior list but I wonder what his point of difference might be at the senior level?

[Mofra]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

While I agree in principle with this thought process if we don't rate and state league prospects or over agers from the junior comps we might as well hold the spot open. Teal could have easily been on senior list but I wonder what his point of difference might be at the senior level?

189cm and able to shut down mediums or smalls is a fair start. Duryea and Crozier probably don't get contracts next year and a lot rests on Cleary's shoulders as the medium (I probably would have given him a game or two already this year).
If not with us, then with someone. Harry Sheezel's going alright at AFL level and last year Teal (arguably) won that battle head to head.

[GVGjr]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

189cm and able to shut down mediums or smalls is a fair start. Duryea and Crozier probably don't get contracts next year and a lot rests on Cleary's shoulders as the medium (I probably would have given him a game or two already this year).
If not with us, then with someone. Harry Sheezel's going alright at AFL level and last year Teal (arguably) won that battle head to head.

I get to see Oakleigh a bit and I think he is a fine player and agree that he could be Crozier replacement. If he keeps up the fine form he could be on our radar.

[Happy Days]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Is he still playing with Oakleigh? It’s becoming a bit of a thing for us to draft an overage TAC cupper

[GVGjr]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Is he still playing with Oakleigh? It’s becoming a bit of a thing for us to draft an overage TAC cupper

Yes, he is still there as one of the overaged players.
From a mid season draft perspective we added Gardner back in 2018 so we have typically not positioned ourselves for a mid season pick but yes we have drafted a few over agers with rookie and supplementary picks

[Mofra]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Yes, he is still there as one of the overaged players.
From a mid season draft perspective we added Gardner back in 2018 so we have typically not positioned ourselves for a mid season pick but yes we have drafted a few over agers with rookie and supplementary picks

We've also grabbed 19 year olds at draft time - Gallagher & Lachie Young so I'd say we keep a close eye on the overagers.

[GVGjr]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

We've also grabbed 19 year olds at draft time - Gallagher & Lachie Young so I'd say we keep a close eye on the overagers.

We do take a wide range of players not just the 18 year old's out of the junior comps.

[GVGjr]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

AFL Draft Intel: Mid-season draft prospects

Some developing talls are among the leading contenders to be picked in this year’s mid-season draft, which looks a touch weaker than years gone by.

Most clubs are “not desperate to be picking” in the draft on May 31 and only five clubs – Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Geelong and Western Bulldogs – currently have open list spots.

Other clubs have the option to open up a spot by moving long-term injured players to their ‘inactive’ list.

The view is that the Pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) has taken away from the mid-season draft pool, with clubs selecting 16 players before the most recent SSP deadline in February this year.

However, a few young players are in the sights of AFL sides.

Eastern Ranges ruckman Clay Tucker has been training with Hawthorn and its VFL affiliate Box Hill, as has Oakleigh Chargers forward-ruck Will Elliot.

Tucker measures 204cm tall, while Elliot stands 203cm.

Elliot is the son of former Australian Test cricketer Matthew and was a highly-rated draft prospect entering last year, before he went down with a season-ending knee injury just two games in.

He played his first game back in Round 4 of the Coates Talent League last month, but is part of the Young Guns squad for its first match against Vic Metro this Sunday.

Another Oakleigh Chargers product also pushing for a mid-season draft opportunity is Luke Teal.

A member of the AFL Academy squad in 2022, the defender had a wretched run with injuries last year but returned to the Chargers as a 19-year-old and has spent the past three weeks playing for Richmond’s VFL side.

Teal has become a third-tall defender, who reads the ball well in the air and possesses great skills and decision making when he wins it back.

[azabob]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Kai Owens (Mitch Owens brother) is apparently getting attention as a possible mid season draftee. Currently playing at Frankston in the VFL.

[Axe Man]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

Victorian forward Ryan Maric reportedly on radar of West Coast and Fremantle

Gippsland Power forward Ryan Maric is said to be in the sights of both Western Australian clubs ahead of the AFL's Mid-Season Draft later this month.

West Coast are in pole position to have Pick 1 at the mid-year intake however will need to open up a list spot ahead of the May 31 count, with only several clubs currently holding list vacancies due to player with long-term injuries, retirements or leftover list spots.

The Eagles' extensive injury list currently has Jamie Cripps (ankle), Liam Ryan (hamstring) and Tom Cole (ankle) still facing close to or longer than 10 weeks on the sidelines, while ruckman Nic Naitanui isn't expected to be fit until the second half of the season due to an ongoing Achilles concern.

The Perth powerhouse would be required to move one player to its inactive list to be eligible to select a new recruit through the Mid-Season Draft, having done so last year in order to add Dandenong Stingrays talent Jai Culley with Pick 1.

Should the Eagles pull the trigger and move one player to the long-term injury list, the club is expected to have Maric in their sights when they come on the clock.

According to CODE Sports, the Eagles have been joined by Fremantle in expressing an interest in Maric following the teenager's strong start to the NAB League season.

Maric has booted eight goals in his three appearances for the Power so far this season, with his 2023 campaign off to a flying start with a four-goal haul from 23 disposals against the Murray Bushrangers.

The 193cm forward nominated for last year's National Draft but was overlooked after seeing his stocks take a hit due to back issues, with Maric now in strong consideration for a chance in the top flight.

Should the Eagles fail to claim wins over upcoming opponents Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Essendon, they'll hold onto their place at 18th on the ladder and first overall for the Mid-Season Draft.

Hawthorn are currently level with the Eagles with one win from seven rounds, with less than one per cent separating the two sides, staging next week's clash between the two sides as the likely decider for Pick 1.

But should West Coast pass on Maric or decide not to enter the Mid-Season Draft, cross-town rivals Fremantle are also said to be keen on the young attacker.

Maric is seen likely to feature in this week's Young Guns side that will take on Vic Metro this weekend, with that same showcase game giving clubs a greater look at mature talent ahead of the Mid-Season Draft, with Culley having impressed in last year's trial.

The Dockers, who have one available list spot free, are currently in 14th on the ladder and third in the draft order, with West Coast and North Melbourne the only clubs below them without selections.

CODE's report suggests if Maric is still available for when the Dockers are up for their selections that the 19-year-old will likely land at Cockburn.

Hawthorn and Richmond are currently the other two sides ahead of the Dockers on the draft order, with Jason Castagna's retirement opening up a list spot at Punt Road.

The 2023 AFL Mid-Season Draft will take place remotely on Wednesday, May 31.

[Axe Man]

Re: Mid Season Draft 2023 Discussion

AFL clubs monitoring former Sydney defender Ryley Stoddart ahead of 2023 Mid-Season Draft

Former Sydney Swans defender Ryley Stoddart has emerged as a potential Mid-Season Draft target for AFL clubs following a hot start to the 2023 VFL season with Frankston.

Stoddart played six games for the Swans between 2018-2020, managing two games in each season before being delisted. The ball-winning backman has since plied his trade in the VFL with Carlton and currently the Dolphins.

Frankston has been a hotbed for mature-aged AFL recruits, with Kye Turner (Melbourne), Brodie McLaughlin (Gold Coast), Liam Reidy (Frankston) and Mitch Cox (Brisbane) all earning top flight contracts in the past 15 months.

Stoddart's stellar start to this year, averaging 29.8 disposals, 5.8 marks and 4.3 inside 50s for the Dolphins, has seen him emerge as a potential draft option for this month's mid-season intake, with a second chance in the AFL a live chance for the 23-year-old.

"He's played some reasonable footy in the VFL," AFL reporter Cal Twomey said of Stoddart when speaking to SEN on Thursday.

"He's a player that will get looked at.

"I think it's going to be an interesting mid-season group, it hasn't been the COVID (effected) sort of players that have come in and out of the system that have been overlooked.

"Last year was probably a pretty full draft, whereas COVID sort of saw a few players slip through the cracks. That hasn't happened as much this year.

"Ryley Stoddart has come through the system already for the Swans."

Stoddart was among the 200-plus players that nominated for the 2022 Mid-Season Draft - a count that saw former Kangaroo Sam Durdin and ex-Bulldog Will Hayes both earn second chances at Carlton.

The ex-Swan isn't the only former AFL player finding form in the VFL ahead of the Mid-Season Draft, with former Hawk James Cousins currently atop the competition's coaches votes leaderboard after six rounds thanks to a dominant season-to-date with Williamstown.

Axed Collingwood midfielder Callum Brown (Box Hill), former Sun Jacob Dawson (Southport), ex-Demon Oscar McDonald (Williamstown) and former Port Adelaide forward Boyd Woodcock (Southport) have also been among the VFL's best performers in 2023.

The 2023 Mid-Season Draft will take place remotely on Wednesday, May 31.