Updated ,first published
Richmond are eyeing off a key defender who has played with Geelong VFL in the mid-season rookie draft, as the AFL prepares for clubs to make as many as 19 selections on Tuesday night.
Essendon, who slumped to the bottom of the ladder on Friday night in losing to Richmond, are expected to select Tasmania Devils VFL defender Jaxon Artemis at No.1.
The injury-afflicted Tigers, meantime, are well-placed to use pick two to secure Kye Annand, a 200-centimetre tall from Ocean Grove.
Annand has caught the eye of a range of clubs at the top end of Tuesday night’s draft with several clubs including West Coast, North Melbourne, and St Kilda interested if he slips through to their choice.
Competition sources consider Artemis, a West Australian running defender who has been in strong VFL form with the Devils, the likely No.1 pick.
Richmond, who have not yet locked in on their selection, have also been able to monitor VFL player Sam Toner. Toner has been in good form with the Tigers while the Bombers have Nick Starapoli, who has some admirers among clubs, in their program.
The 22-year-old Annand did not play for Geelong VFL against Sydney on Saturday. He was listed as managed as he prepares to begin an AFL career. He played alongside Richmond recruit Patrick Retschko in the Cats VFL program last season.
Retschko, who was traded to the Tigers last year was one of the best players on the ground in the Dreamtime at the ‘G match on Friday night.
Annand has developed well in the Cats VFL program as a key defender who can pinch hit in the ruck or go forward after knuckling down this season. He played his football at Ocean Grove before joining South Barwon this year as his feeder club for the VFL program.
The West Coast Eagles, who have the third selection in the draft, have the potential to take two players, however depending on who remains available could take just one pick. They have been linked to South Australian ruckman Caleb May who dropped eight kilograms in the pre-season before having an excellent season for West Adelaide.
The Magpies could add three players to their list after losing ruckman Oscar Steene and star forward Jamie Elliott to season-ending knee injuries in successive weeks after defender Reef McInnes suffered the same fate in April. Collingwood’s win over West Coast in Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking match means their first selection will be pick 9 after they entered the top 10 on the ladder.
The ruck pool is wide but difficult to assess with Carlton VFL player Flynn Riley, Frankston’s Harrison Coe and Tassie Devils’ Max Mapley at the top of the pool. Competition sources expect the Blues to select Riley with pick four. Port Adelaide have been linked to Archie Van dyk.
The Magpies also have their eye on Frankston’s Jackson Voss, the son of former Saint and Lion Brett and Williamstown’s Hugo Hall-Kahan who the Sydney Swans picked in the mid-season draft in 2021. Hall-Kahan spent two seasons on the Swans’ list but did not play an AFL game. They have also shown interest in Coburg forward Mitch Podhajski.
North Melbourne, who have pick six, will make one selection while neither the Giants nor the Suns will make a selection. The Kangaroos VFL player Xavier Bamert, who is an in and under player, is a chance to be added to the senior list.
The Saints, who plucked outstanding midfielder Max Hall in the 2023 mid-season draft, have been linked to Sandringham’s Ollie Griffin and Adelaide’s Tom Bell. They will have selection eight while competition sources say the Demons, who have pick 10, have their eye on Joel Fitzgerald.
West Perth’s Kane Bevan, Geelong’s Marcus Herbert, Port Melbourne’s Josh Tovey and Western Jets Noah McMenamin are other prospects.
Apart from the Saints’ Hall, the mid-season draft has given opportunities to Gold Coast’s John Noble, Essendon’s Sam Durham, Collingwood’s Ned Long, and Roan Steele, Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe, West Coast’s Tom McCarthy and the Western Bulldogs’ Michael Sellwood. The Tigers plucked dual premiership player Marlion Pickett in the first mid-season draft in 2019.
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