Your guide to the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

Several WAFL stars will be hoping to realise their AFL dreams in Wednesday night’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. Here’s what you need to know:

HOW TO WATCH

The draft kicks off at 4.30pm WST and will be broadcast exclusively on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

You can also stay up to date on the WAFL’s social media channels to see which West Aussies have been drafted.

THE WAFL PLAYERS IN THE MIX

Peel Thunder premiership defender Michael Sellwood and gun Subiaco recruit Archer May are the WAFL’s leading draft contenders.

Both Sellwood and May are expected to find their way onto AFL lists on Wednesday evening, with multiple clubs showing interest.

Forty-five players have thrown their hat in the ring to get picked up, with 18 spots currently available across the AFL.

Related articles:

• Check out the full list of WAFL nominees here
• The WAFL’s top mid-season draft hopes

Three-time Simpson medallist and East Fremantle on-baller Milan Murdock has emerged as a late chance on the back of a strong start to the season, with Perth signing and former Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt another player in the mix.

Ruckmen Ollie Eastland (Claremont) and Lachie Blakiston (East Fremantle) are also a chance to get picked up with several AFL clubs on the hunt for tall timber including Essendon who have four picks in the draft.

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MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER

West Coast will have the opening pick and also kick off the second round of the draft with pick nine after putting forward Jake Waterman on the long-term injury-list.

Fellow WA outfit Fremantle aren’t among the eight clubs with a pick on draft night.

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

THE WAFL’S HISTORY OF MID-SEASON DRAFTEES

Twenty-one WAFL players have been picked up in the mid-season draft since its return in 2019.

Five players were drafted out of the WAFL last year – Jacob Blight (Peel Thunder), Jasper Scaife (West Perth), Luker Kentfield (Subiaco), Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle) and Darcy Craven (East Perth).

The biggest mid-season draft fairytale out of WA include South Fremantle product Marlion Pickett, who was snapped up by Richmond in 2019 and won his first of two AFL premierships later that year.

Teakle became the first player to be drafted twice out of the mid-season draft – with Port Adelaide getting him first in 2022 before North Melbourne gave him a second chance last year.