2023 Mid Season Draft - Wednesday May 31 2023

Football Discussion Trade week Duursma head in
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As it stands, only Hawthorn, Fremantle, Essendon, Western Bulldogs and Geelong have free spots on their lists, although other clubs could open up opportunities should they move long-term injured players to their inactive list.

Of the players named in the Young Guns squad, Gippsland Power’s Ryan Maric (193cm) excites recruiters the most with his goal nous and efficient kick.

This time last year, the hybrid forward was playing country football for Drouin in the Gippsland League. At the end of this month, he could be among the first two players taken in the mid-season AFL draft.

There’s also some hype around 204cm Eastern Ranges ruck Clay Tucker and 203cm Oakleigh Chargers big man William Elliott – the son of former Australian Test cricketer Matthew Elliott – considering the array of injuries to rucks at AFL clubs this season.

Beau Tedcastle (177cm, Richmond VFL), Rye Penny (186cm, Calder Cannons), Nicholas Newton (187cm Murray Bushrangers), Ethan Stanley (188cm, Box Hill Hawks) and Luke Teal (190cm, Richmond VFL) are other Young Guns players in the mid-season draft mix. Teal, a mid-sized defender, was considered one of the unluckiest not to get picked up in last year‘s drafts.

Of the state league players in the mid-season draft mix, luckless ex-Swan Sam Naismith is a good chance to get picked up.

After three knee reconstructions during his stint at Sydney, Naismith linked up with Port Melbourne, where he’s become one of the VFL’s most dominant rucks. He produced his best game yet against the Giants last weekend, finishing with 24 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and 38 hit-outs. Recruiters linked Naismith to Geelong, Collingwood and even Sydney ahead of the mid-season draft.

Other VFL players clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on are Williamstown duo Oscar McDonald (ex-Melbourne and Carlton) and Marty Hore (ex-Melbourne), Frankston’s Ryley Stoddart (ex-Sydney) and Box Hill’s Callum Brown (ex-Collingwood), while Essendon could consider upgrading key defender Jack Cleaver from its VFL list.

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, while 199cm Claremont key forward Jack Buller reportedly has interest from the two WA clubs.

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I hear that William Elliott taps with the best of them…

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Well if we lose our next three before this rolls around we might have a nice early pick.

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If we pick up Oscar McDonald, this club is officially cooked.

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I know it says only 5 clubs have an open list spot at the moment but leading up to the draft clubs always seem to find a way to open one up.

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Do we draft for?

  • Best available talent we can find
  • Fill a need (e.g mature key back)
  • Skip the draft if the talent isn’t good enough

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I think the mid season draft had more value during the covid affected years where talent was missed.
Now it’s back to normal with only a very small handful that would be semi decent.

I think the mid season draft shouldn’t be prospective.
It needs to fill a current gap in the list.
For me, it’s a tall marking forward we need to go with (if there is one).

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He’s 188cm.

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Do we have a spare spot because Davey is on the injury list or do we have a spare spot plus the potential second spare spot?

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Surely this is Dodoro’s guy - Oakleigh chargers boy too.

Teal is a good size for a modern footballer, standing at around 190cm and playing mostly as a defender has played on a range of types but mostly small forwards with his biggest task against Harry Sheezel in Round 16. That was a good battle, with Teal finishing that game with 20 disposals and was a real weapon with his sharp kicking.

With his ability to shut down while also provide rebound, Teal could project to be like Collingwood defensive duo Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor who both had a huge years for Collingwood showing those types of players to be very valuable in modern football.

Teal would finish the year only managing four games with Oakleigh Chargers but would average 17.8 disposals and five marks per game

edit:

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Spare spot because of Davey. I doubt we’ll need to open another spot with the lack of talent out there at this stage.

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Smallest, skinniest, tallest player we can find thanks.

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I think we look at a prospective young ruck. Those 204-203cm guys sound like might be worth a shot. Would be some good publicity if got Matthew Elliotts son.
Hopefully have a decent frame on them.

Scratch that, actually think we will get Teal, if Richmond doesn’t get him first.

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Someone that bangs in hard and kicks goals would be nice.

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Welcome to Essendon

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Mid Season draft is a good hunting ground for us over the last few years.

I think our list lacks talent across the board, especially skills and speed. I hope we look at the best available rather than being roped in to drafting an undersized key back because we’ve had a couple of injuries.

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There’d be a chance that Jones and Stewart are put on the inactive list and we get two more picks.

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I doubt there is enough talent for three picks, maybe 2 though.

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