AFL mid-season draft: Which players could join your club for the 2021 season?

Kieran Francis

AFL mid-season draft: Which players could join your club for the 2021 season? image

The AFL mid-season draft will be held on June 2 as hundreds of football hopefuls aim to get themselves on to an AFL list for the second half of the season..

On the flip side, clubs will be looking to plug gaps in their lists that have come about through injuries while others will be looking to nab a player for the long-term.

Prospective draftees have until May 25 to nominate themselves for the draft, with more than 300 already putting their hands up.

Sporting News examines some of the more high-profile nominees and the untried talent that could end up with your club next month.

Jake Edwards - Sandringham Dragons

Age: 18

Position: Key forward/Ruck

Edwards is widely tipped to be the draft's number one pick and find his way to North Melbourne for the rest of the AFL season.

The teenage big man, who stands at 202cm tall, nominated for last year's AFL Draft but was overlooked as he didn't get to show recruiters his abilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edwards has been dominant as a ruck/forward for the Dragons in the NAB League, averaging 100-plus Supercoach points a match so far.

Wylie Buzza - Werribee

Age: 25

Position: Key forward/Ruck

Buzza has AFL experience - having played nine games with Geelong between 2016-19, while also spending last season on Port Adelaide's list without playing a match.

The 199cm attacker, who can also go through the ruck, has booted eight goals in four games for Werribee in the VFL and could be the perfect selection for a team looking for a big body in attack.

#Wylie Buzza

Tyson Stengle - Woodville-West Torrens

Age: 22

Position: Small forward

Stengle is another talent looking for a third opportunity at an AFL club having been traded by Richmond before getting cut by Adelaide for disciplinary reasons.

Collingwood and Carlton have been linked with the talented small forwarrd, who has regularly been kicking goals in the SANFL.

Riley Knight - Woodville-West Torrens

Age: 25

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Knight looked an accomplished AFL player at times during his 55 games on Adelaide's list but couldn't find the consistency in his performances and trust in his body to become indispensable.

After six rounds in the SANFL, Knight is one of the most dominant midfielders in the competition, averaging the second-most disposals (27.7) and clearances (6.7) per match.

For an AFL team looking for an injection of quality into their midfield and half-forward area, Knight could be a quality selection.

Paddy McCartin - Sydney VFL

Age: 25

Position: Forward/Defender

After a year out of the AFL system following persistent concussion issues, Paddy McCartin has been trying to work his way back to the elite level via the Sydney Swans VFL team.

McCartin had been playing in defence for the Bloods reserves when he was hit with a five-game suspension for striking an opponent earlier this month.

The ban makes it hard for ex-St.Kilda forward McCartin to push his case to be on an AFL list, particularly as his form was solid but unspectacular prior to the suspension.

#paddy mccartin

Matthew Parker - South Fremantle

Age: 25

Position: Forward

Another former St Kilda player, Parker has returned back to WA and has starred for South Fremantle in the early stages of the WAFL season.

Parker has been averaging 20 disposals a match across the first six games, while also chipping in with three goals.

He also kicked two majors for the WAFL state side in a sign that his form is being recognised.

Brandon Matera - Subiaco

Age: 29

Position: Forward

Matera has played 144 games of AFL football for Gold Coast and Fremantle and even kicked 30 goals for the latter in 2019.

An AFL list in need of a ready-made small forward should look no further than Matera, who can come straight in and provide a threat in attack.

#Brandon Matera

Paul Ahern - Northen Bullants

Age: 24

Position: Midfield

The highly-touted midfielder played 24 games across three seasons at North Melbourne but never found enough form to become a regular.

Ahern has gathered 20-plus possessions in his three Northern Bullants game this season (excluding an injury-affected performance) and has kicked a goal in each performance also.

Jordan Gallucci - Williamstown

Age: 23

Position: Forward/Midfield

Along with Knight and Stengle, Galluci is another former Adelaide forward who has found himself performing well in the second tier competitions.

He has kicked seven goals in four games for Williamstown, while also finding 15 disposals a game in a high-half-forward role.

While there is plenty of small forward talent in the draft, Gallucci could be ready to have an impact for an AFL club immediately.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.