As many as 18 players could receive AFL lifelines on Wednesday night via the 2025 mid-season rookie draft, with Essendon poised to select four players.
But it’s the player the Kangaroos select at Pick 2 that could set off a first-round domino effect.
The 2025 AFL mid-season rookie draft will take place on Wednesday May 28, with the event to kick off at 6.30pm (AEST).
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SCROLL DOWN TO FOLLOW THE 2025 AFL MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT LIVE FROM 6.30PM (AEST) …
The draft order was finalised on Tuesday evening, with eight clubs to make up to 18 selections in total.
Essendon has four openings, while Port Adelaide threw a late curveball by opening up three spots after putting Xavier Walsh, Tom Cochrane and Todd Marshall all on the inactive list.
West Coast, which will have the No. 1 pick, can select two players after putting All-Australian Jake Waterman (shoulder) on the inactive list on Tuesday night. Other clubs with two picks include North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Collingwood.
Carlton is the only club in the draft with one selection.
Outside of the Eagles using Pick 1 on Richmond VFL star Tom McCarthy, a significant amount of mystery surrounds Wednesday’s draft, with clubs still keeping their cards close to their chest.
“Typically when it comes to the mid-season draft, we sit here 24 to 36 hours out from it happening and we sort of know who’s going where,” Herald Sun reporter Lauren Wood told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night. “But there’s a lovely shroud of secrecy around it, we’re sort of back to the old days of smoke and shadows.”
One of the most in-demand prospects is 198cm Subiaco key forward Archer May, who, like McCarthy, is seen by clubs as a player worth taking a punt on at this mid-season draft.
May has interest from as early as North Melbourne’s first selection (Pick 2), while he’s also been linked to Carlton (Pick 4), Essendon (Pick 6) and, most notably, Collingwood (Pick 8).
Speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph detailed the Magpies’ affection for May.
“Archie May, a Pies tragic … Collingwood has told him they love him. They love him so much they stepped him out of the WAFL last week. They love him so much, they said ‘put an 18-month contract on your head’,” Ralph told Midweek Tackle.
“But there are a few clubs ahead of them (the Pies). Essendon interviewed him (on Tuesday), so could Essendon steal that player? They had not spoken to him before.
“North Melbourne are keeping their cards so close to their chest. Publicly lukewarm, they’ve chosen who they want, they’ve got three players on their draft board – they want to take someone at Pick 9 as well.”
Sources contacted by foxfooty.com.au on Wednesday remain split on whether the Roos will take May with their first selection.
Should the Kangaroos overlook May, it could be to take exciting Werribee 175cm forward Zac Banch, who they’ve shown significant interest in. Banch, who’s kicked 8.8 and averaged 16.2 disposals from his past five VFL games, has also been linked to the Blues and Bulldogs after impressing with his speed, power and ability to convert his disposals into scores, either for himself or for the team.
There’s a chance Banch slides to the Kangaroos’ second pick. But former Eastern Ranges utility Cooper Trembath has also been linked to the Roos after kicking three goals from 11 disposals and seven marks for the club’s VFL team against Brisbane a few weeks ago. Essendon has also shown interest in Trembath — and if they want him, they might have to select him with their first selection (Pick 6) to get ahead of North. And whether the Roos would take two talls in May and Trembath in the same draft remains a talking point among scouts.
May wasn’t the only prospect Essendon interviewed on Tuesday. Fox Footy commentator Corbin Middlemas revealed on Midweek Tackle the Bombers caught up with ex-Magpie turned Carlton VFL forward Liam McMahon, who’s kicked 24.11 from seven games so far this season to sit second on the VFL goalkicking table. 10 News Perth also reported the Bombers had “checked in” with Peel Thunder defender Michael Sellwood, who’s gaining significant attention before the draft. Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and West Coast have also been linked to the 21-year-old, but he’s now unlikely to get past the Bulldogs’ first selection (Pick 5).
Should Essendon overlook May, it could be to take a Glenelg player like 202cm utility Harry Ramm or ex-Saints key defender Oscar Adams, with Trembath andWerribee 199cm defender Ryan Eyers also in their mix. However Ramm has been widely tipped to be taken by Port Adelaide at Pick 3.
The Bombers seem destined to use one of their four picks to take a ruck, with East Fremantle’s Lachlan Blakiston and Claremont’s Ollie Eastland in their sights.
And should the Bombers look to recruit from within, 19-year-old small forward Oskar Smartt — who’s kicked 7.5 and averaged 14.8 disposals, 4.4 marks and 4.0 tackles from his past five games — is considered a good chance to be promoted from the Bombers’ VFL list. Other options include 21-year-old rebounding defender Matthew Foley and 25-year-old key back Will Hoare — who are regarded by rival clubs as two of the best prospects from Essendon’s VFL team — while speedy 180cm Eastern Ranges product Cam Nyko has also been linked.
Should May not get to the Pies, they’ve been linked to two of the club’s best VFL players: 195cm forward Riley Mason and running on-baller Josh Browne, with Browne tipped by sources to get the nod. The Pies have also shown interest in South Adelaide 196cm forward Noah Howes, raw Eastern Ranges defender Rod Ali and GWV Rebels ruck Floyd Burmeister.
As well as Ramm, the Power have also been linked to Sellwood, North Adelaide 182cm goalkicker Ewan Mackinlay, Port SANFL-listed ball magnet Jack Watkins and Central District on-baller Mani Liddy as they eye filling up to three list spots.
Carlton like May and Banch, but have been most strongly linked to Norwood’s Jacob Newton in recent weeks. Rival clubs have also linked Richmond VFL forward Sam Toner and Murray Bushrangers ruck Zac Harding to the Blues.
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As well as Banch, Mackinlay and Sellwood, the Bulldogs have been linked to Tigers VFL star Massimo Raso, while they’ve continued to monitor Werribee star midfielder Dom Brew after he trained with – but was ultimately overlooked by – the Bulldogs during the SSP. The Dogs have also in the past been happy to promote players from their VFL team — and Cooper Craig-Peters, who’s averaged 22.5 disposals, 7.6 tackles and 7.5 clearances in eight Footscray games this year — could be the No.1 contender.
Gold Coast is set to use one of its two picks to select Southern Football Netball League 198cm bolter Caleb Lewis, who intriguingly didn’t play at VFL or local level on the weekend “apparently at the request of an AFL club”, per CODE Sports. The Suns have also been heavily linked to Adams – but he could be off the board by the time they pick, should Essendon pounce – and Burmeister.
As for who West Coast could select with its second pick, The West Australian reported triple Simpson Medallist and East Fremantle midfielder Milan Murdock was in the club’s mix. The Eagles have also been linked to premiership Cat Brandan Parfitt – who’s been starring in the WAFL for Perth this season – and Sellwood.
St Kilda had done its work on several mid-season prospects – most notably Burmeister – but didn’t open up a selection for Wednesday night. Neither did Adelaide.
The other clubs not involved in the draft are Brisbane, Fremantle, Geelong, the Giants, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond and Sydney.
5pm – PARFITT UNLIKELY TO GET LIFELINE DESPITE INTEREST
It’s unlikely former Geelong premiership midfielder Brandan Parfitt will be offered an AFL lifeline in Wednesday’s mid-season draft, despite every club with a pick showing a level of interest, reports foxfooty.com’au’s Ben Cotton.
Essendon, West Coast and Western Bulldogs have been most strongly linked to the 27-year old, who’s starred for Perth in the WAFL this season. If anything, it’s understood the Bombers might take him with their fourth and final pick.
There’s greater potential for Parfitt to get picked up by an AFL club at the end of the season, with Richmond and Fremantle both linked to the midfielder.
As Parfitt was delisted be the Cats, he can sign with any AFL club as a free agent.
Parfitt has averaged 30 disposals and 4.3 tackles in six matches for Perth this season.
He was let go by the Cats at the end of last season after 130 games.
-With Ben Cotton
You can follow all the picks of the mid-season draft in our live blog below. There will be a live broadcast of the event on the AFL website.
2025 AFL MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER
Round 1
1. West Coast Eagles
2. North Melbourne
3. Port Adelaide
4. Carlton
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Essendon
7. Gold Coast Suns
8. Collingwood
Round 2
9. West Coast Eagles
10. North Melbourne
11. Port Adelaide
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Essendon
14. Gold Coast Suns
15. Collingwood
Round 3
16. Port Adelaide
17. Essendon
Round 4
18. Essendon
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