2024 Mid-Season Draft: ‘The number one’ mid-season AFL draft prospect revealed... and the team holding the cardsThis year’s mid-season draft is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 — between Rounds 11 and 12 — with a host of veiled talent set to put their hands up for long-awaited AFL opportunities.
While the picking order is still subject to change through the coming rounds, names are starting to separate themselves from the pack.
“Jack Hutchinson, the high-flyer from Collingwood (VFL), 190 centimetres, taking some great marks. He’s a talent,” said Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
Hutchinson, a 22-year-old Wonthaggi product who plays a general forward role, is widely seen as the best available player of the 2024 crop, but the question is whether the current No.1 pick-holders view the VFL Magpie as a necessary commodity.
“Hutchinson, you speak to most recruiters, they say he’s the number one at this stage, but do North Melbourne need his type?” Clark asked.
“I think that’s a real conundrum, because they’ve got a couple of those types.”
Jaidyn Stephenson (189 centimetres), Eddie Ford (189), Cam Zurhaar (190), Zane Duursma (190) and Tyler Sellers (193) are all similar types to Hutchinson — pushing the possibility that the skyscraper slips past the Roos’ first selection.
Hutchinson, Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons, forward-midfielder), Joe Pike (Geelong Falcons, ruckman), Jasper Scaife (West Perth, key forward), Jacob Blight (Peel Thunder, key defender) and Oskar Smart (Essendon VFL, small forward) are among the most sought-after names at this year’s intake.
McLachlan and Pike, both over-agers who returned to the Falcons this year, were a part of the Young Guns squad that played a pair of matches against Vic Metro and Vic Country in April, while Scaife and Blight were named in the 34-man WAFL State squad that will face South Australia on May 19.
“Those are the guys that are recruiters are talking about,” Clark continued. “It’s interesting the way it’s all shaping up, because I think Hawthorn and Richmond are looking at big men — they need key forwards and key defenders.”
Meantime, the Tigers have an ACL victim of their own in luckless defender Josh Gibcus, while spearhead forward Tom Lynch (hamstring) has also gone down after missing nearly all of last season.
As things presently stand, North Melbourne will pick first, Richmond second, and then Hawthorn third.
13 clubs currently have the opportunity to make at least one selection, while the Lions (four open list spots), Crows (three), Tigers, (two), Roos (two) and Blues (two) have at least two vacancies.
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