While clubs are being cagey about their mid-season draft plans, one Tiger cub looks a certainty
The Bombers could use four picks in the mid-season rookie draft, but it remains to be seen whether they will use them all. One recruiter also told Money Talks that because the Bombers had multiple picks, rivals were playing their cards tighter to their chest ahead of the draft. Essendon's need for a ruckman is obvious after season-ending injuries to Sam Draper and Nick Bryan left them reliant on veteran Todd Goldstein.
While 19-year-old ruckman Zac Harding has impressed, he's viewed as a long-term prospect who is unlikely to fill the immediate needs of any clubs looking to add depth. Harding is playing as a top-aged prospect in the Coates Talent League after training with Carlton's VFL team in pre-season.
The Blues gave VFL forward and former Magpie Liam McMahon a trial in the pre-season. The 23-year-old has been in good form, kicking 22 goals in six games to sit second on the 'Frosty' Miller Medal table for leading VFL goalkicker.
Former Tigers VFL player Archer May has been performing well for Subiaco in the WAFL. The key forward moved west at the end of last season and represented the WAFL against the SANFL this year. Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt has been in good form with Perth and would add depth to a team in contention.
Richmond's Marlion Pickett was the success story of the first mid-season rookie draft in 2019, playing in a premiership in his first game months after being picked up by the Tigers. He remains the only mid-season rookie draft selection to play in a premiership.
Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe and Massimo D'Ambrosio, Essendon's Durham, Gold Coast's John Noble, Adelaide's James Peatling, St Kilda's Cooper Sharman, Melbourne's Daniel Turner and this week's rising star nominee, Carlton's Cooper Lord, were drafted through the pre-season draft.
Collingwood midfielder Ned Long is the only recycled player – he spent time on Hawthorn's list – to make an impact after finding his way back on a list through the mid-season rookie draft.
No ruckman has excelled after being added to a list in the mid-season rookie draft, with most clubs using it to add more talent to develop rather than seeking readymade players.
Adelaide's forgotten free agent
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien remains unsigned at the Crows despite his recent patch of excellent form and his availability as an unrestricted free agent.
As he approaches 30, O'Brien is in the form of his career after quelling Carlton's Tom De Koning in round eight. He earned two coaches votes as he restricted the restricted free agent's influence at stoppages.
De Koning is weighing up a $1.7 million-per-year offer to move to the Saints after receiving an offer of close to $1.1 million from Carlton.
Although the Crows have shown interest in Essendon's Sam Draper, he appears more likely to remain at the Bombers after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in round seven.
Collingwood's Darcy Cameron is contracted until the end of 2026, but is hoping to get a bump on his deal after two outstanding seasons that have cemented his importance to the Magpies.
Clubs such as West Coast and Carlton – who were dominated by Sydney at clearance last week in the absence of De Koning – are monitoring Cameron in case the ruck merry-go-round accelerates.
Adelaide, like the Western Bulldogs who rely heavily on Tim English, scoured the market to add depth to their ruck stocks with their back-ups still developing. English signed a five-year deal last season tying him to the club until 2029 when he will be 32.
Richmond unfazed by Tassie threat
Richmond have no concerns about having their top seven picks in last year's national draft locked in until 2027 as clubs brace for the generous list concessions expected to accompany Tasmania's entry into the AFL in 2028.
Tigers gun Sam Lalor reinforced why he was the first player chosen in last year's draft on Sunday when he bounced back from a below-par performance the previous week to kick two goals and take an impressive pack mark in the goal square at the MCG in a narrow loss to North Melbourne.
Clubs now have to wait until after round six to extend a top-20 pick beyond their initial three-year contract because of rules within their CBA which first came into effect for players drafted in the 2023 national draft.
Lalor, Josh Smillie, Jonty Faull and Taj Hotton were picked inside the top 20. The Tigers extended their three other picks Luke Trainor (pick 21), Harry Armstrong (pick 23) and Tom Sims (pick 28) a fortnight ago meaning all the club's new entrants are tied for the same time period.
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Five of the seven Tigers drafted have made their debut and looked comfortable in the AFL. Hotton was recovering from a knee reconstruction when drafted and Smillie has experienced hamstring injuries. Armstrong is also sidelined with a hamstring injury after playing two matches.
Only four of the 40 players drafted in the top 20 in 2023 and 2024 have extended their initial standard three-year deal. West Coast's Harley Reid and Hawthorn's Nick Watson, both top-five picks in 2023, are set for huge paydays when they next put pen to paper.
The AFL has continued to discuss Tasmania's list concessions, and the new club is expected to seek the freedom to use its suite of early picks how ever it chooses, rather than being made to trade several selections for uncontracted players.
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