WHO ARE THE PLAYERS MOST LIKELY TO BE PICKED?A total of 321 players have officially nominated for the mid-season draft. But clubs expect 12 to 13 players will be selected next Wednesday, which is well down on the 17 taken last year.
While recruiters have been hesitant to talk up this year’s mid-season draft class, one player has most of them excited:
Ryan Maric.
The 193cm forward prospect from Gippsland Power is widely expected to be taken with the first selection in Wednesday’s draft — and, therefore, land at West Coast — after a dramatic surge since 2021.
Maric two years ago weighed 107kg and was playing country football for Drouin as a forward in the Gippsland League. He nominated for last year’s national draft but knew he was a slim chance of being picked up.
Now weighing 83kg, Maric has become the most sought-after mid-season prospect following an excellent start to his 2023 campaign, including a four-goal, 23-disposal display for Gippsland in Round 1 of the Coates Talent League, before an impressive VFL debut for Box Hill that saw him kick 2.2 from 15 disposals and eight marks. He also impressed as a defender earlier this month playing for the Young Guns against Vic Country, racking up 23 disposals, seven marks and eight rebound 50s while going at 76 per cent by foot.
Maric, who’s reportedly been interviewed by eight AFL clubs ahead of the mid-season draft, has excited recruiters with his efficient, natural kick and goal nous.
The 18-year-old is set to land at the Eagles, while Eastern Ranges’ 204cm ruckman
Clay Tucker — the top ruck prospect of the mid-season draft class — could also be taken early.
Tucker has had a consistent season with the Ranges to date, showing good athleticism at stoppages and around the ground, while also drifting forward to kick two two-goal hauls.
Should the Kangaroos, who sit 17th on the ladder at the moment, put ruck Hamish Free on the inactive list, Tucker could be an option for them, although he’d be a long-term prospect rather than someone who could play straight away.
Tucker has been training with Hawthorn, while the Giants have also been linked to him.
Although the Hawks are keeping tabs on several prospects considering they could have two picks next week, including
Ethan Stanley.
A 188cm wingman, Stanley has been under the Hawks’ nose all season as he’s been playing for the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. And the Hawks have shown a tendency to pluck players out of their VFL program at this time of the year, taking Jai Newcombe in 2021 then James Blanck last year.
Hawthorn has also interviewed Northern Bullants defender
Brandon Ryan — the cousin of All-Australian Docker Luke Ryan — who looms as a likely selection next week.
A 200cm forward that can also help in the ruck, Ryan has kicked 18.10 from seven VFL matches this season, including 5.2 from 17 disposals and 10 marks against Sydney last month.
“I’ll take absolutely anywhere to be honest,” Ryan told SEN of which club he’d like to go.
Claremont key forward
Jack Buller, who stands at 199cm reportedly has strong interest from the two WA clubs, while he’s also been linked to St Kilda and Geelong.
Buller has kicked 8.6 and averaged 16.3 disposals and 8.8 marks from his four WAFL league games so far this season, while he also kicked one goal for the WA representative team against SA last weekend.
Buller and Subiaco’s
Robert Hansen Jnr are considered the top two WAFL prospects. A lively 180cm forward with great goal nous, Hansen kicked three goals for Subiaco’s reserves side in Round 1 before playing five league matches. Fremantle has been most strongly linked to him, while Port Adelaide and Hawthorn also reportedly have interest.
Recruiters also see lots of AFL traits in 203cm Oakleigh Chargers big man
Will Elliott – the son of former Australian Test cricketer Matthew Elliott — who’s finally had some continuity this season after a few injury-interrupted years. Elliott, who kicked one goal in the Young Guns’ two games earlier this month, has been training with the Box Hill Hawks, as well as Hawthorn’s AFL side, while he was recently invited to medical testing by the AFL ahead of the draft.
Other prospects to watch out for are
Rye Penny (186cm, Calder Cannons) and
Luke Teal (190cm, Richmond VFL).
Penny, a rebounding half-back, racked up 31 disposals against Northern Territory in the Coates Talent League before two solid outings for the Young Guns: 14 disposals against Vic Metro then 21 against Vic Country.
Teal, a mid-sized defender, was considered one of the unluckiest not to get picked up in last year‘s drafts. He finished with 32 touches, 12 contested possessions and eight marks (three contested) against Vic Country in a recent Young Guns game.
Two more players from the Tigers’ VFL list have attracted AFL interest:
Mutaz El Nour and
James Trezise.
El Nour was on the radar of AFL clubs 12 months ago when he was playing VFL footy with the Bullants but was ultimately overlooked. But the 192cm intercepting defender had a strong start to his 2023 campaign with Richmond before going down with an injury in late April.
Trezise (188cm) is a strong one-on-one player that’s improved his intercept ability as the season has gone on. He had a big game against Geelong’s VFL side a fortnight ago, finishing with 29 disposals, 10 marks, six rebound 50s and four tackles.
North Adelaide 191cm forward
Noah Casalini, who won the best on ground medal for six-goal, 10-mark display in an Anzac Day victory over Norwood, is one of the SANFL’s best chances. Although he’s had a few quiet games since his six-goal haul.
There’s a host of ex-AFL players in line for lifelines too.
Luckless ex-Swan
Sam Naismith is a good chance to get picked up after three knee reconstructions during his stint at Sydney. As reported by foxfooty.com.au earlier this month, Geelong has been heavily linked to Naismith, who’s become one of the VFL’s most dominant rucks at Port Melbourne this season, while Collingwood and Sydney have also been monitoring his progress. Naismith, whose Borough coincidentally face Geelong’s VFL side on Sunday, is averaging 15.1 disposals, 5.5 clearances, 3.6 tackles and 40.9 hit-outs per outing this VFL season.
The Swans, though, are more likely to look at a key defender — considering the McCartin brothers and Dane Rampe remain on their injury list — with ex-Demon and Blues utility
Oscar McDonald the likely pick after a strong start to his 2023 VFL campaign with Williamstown averaging 16.8 disposals and 8.3 marks per game. Although rival clubs also linked the Swans to 194cm Lions VFL defender
Harry Arnold and 197cm Northern Bullants backman
Baker Smith, who’s averaging 18.0 disposals and 7.9 marks per outing.
McDonald’s Williamstown teammate
Marty Hore — the former Melbourne defender — has also been in excellent VFL form, averaging 22.9 disposals and 10.6 marks from eight matches. He’s been linked to the Giants and the Western Bulldogs — although the Dogs also have interest in ex-Magpie
Caleb Poulter, who’s averaged 18.1 disposals and 6.3 marks for the Bulldogs’ VFL side Footscray.
Other prospectsFormer Geelong midfielder
Quinton Narkle, who was overlooked by Richmond as an SSP recruit during the summer, is also in the mix for an AFL lifeline after booting 8.4 and averaging 19.6 disposals from eight games for Essendon’s VFL side. Clubs wouldn’t be surprised if the Bombers simply upgraded Narkle from their VFL list to their AFL list. Although the Bombers might do the same with Narkle’s teammate
Jack Cleaver — a 188cm defender.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-mid-season-draft-2023-date-order-to-be-confirmed-full-nominees-list-news-updates-ryan-maric-sam-naismith/news-story/c6fb92fe4accd982fb09f6b57f0a6d11
