With the AFL Mid-Season Draft set for June 1, ESPN’s AFL Draft expert Chris Doerre has set his sights on the top candidates competing for a place in a AFL list.
With the immediate success of Jai Newcombe and Sam Durham, the appearance of Ned Moyle for Gold Coast, who is a ruckman prepared for a great future ahead, and others who gain opportunities from the AFL and are in the struggle to settle down to normalcy. selection, last year’s mid-season draft was an opportunity for clubs with good talent identification to secure long-term pieces and cover the urgent needs of the roster.
Every year, middle-aged recruits are among the best drafted and the mid-season draft offers clubs the chance to get the best instead of letting them into the national draft at the end of the year.
1. Jai Culley
An older striker and midfielder, the 193 cm Culley has a case for being the best throw in this draft, with his penetration, placement of precision kicks, vision and the composure he shows with the ball in the hand. Culley is a weapon that pulls out strong disputed marks, hits the scoreboard hard, moves well, finds a lot of football and plays a big impact per possession game. Culley performed well in his first two rounds for Dandenong and was the highlight of the Young Guns game against Vic Metro, scoring four goals in the first half while managing the game’s four-assist highs. two disputed marks. If it weren’t for a mid-season project, Culley would be worth a first-round pick at the end of the season.
2. Casey Voss
Michael’s son, Casey Voss, was unlucky not to be selected in 2021 after an outstanding season where he won a spot on the SANFL team of the year and won Sturt’s best and fairest. Continuing to improve during the first half of this season, Voss has become the top general defender outside the AFL and has impressed with an average of 23 dismissals and 10.6 points per game in the SANFL. Voss habitually denies the influence of his opponents while becoming one of the main interceptors and users of the ball of the competition from the defense. Voss, 22, is a good enough defender to establish himself as a long-term piece at the AFL level this season. Voss won the Fos Williams Medal for Best Field in the SANFL game against WAFL, after scoring 29 rebounds and 15 points.
Casey Voss has been awesome in 2022. Paul Kane / Getty Images
3. Wade Derksen
Derksen, a late flowering, has grown about 12 cm ridiculously over the last two years and is now 197 cm. Derksen, 20, is emerging as one of the WAFL’s top key forwards, and along with Jye Amiss, Fremantle’s first-round pick in 2021 has been impressive. Spending the last two seasons in the VFL and playing only one game with Essendon and another with Greater Western Sydney last year, Derksen has found a new level in his game this season and has emerged as a draft prospect during the early rounds. A powerful scoring striker, Derksen is a good jumper and a fluid movement that hits the scoreboard and can provide minutes to relieve ruck as needed.
4. Josh Carmichael
A 22-year-old midfielder, Carmichael has impressed with his first year in the SANFL and is reaching his first full football preseason. A strong midfielder who plays a big impact per possession game and can advance and hit the scoreboard, Carmichael this year has averaged 24.6 discards, five discards and 1.1 goals per game. He is a strong winner of the ball who shows good hands inside, he is a strong mark above and a penetrating and damaging field kick.
5. Bailey Rogers
It was a surprise to see Bailey Rogers overlooked after a season in which she established herself as the first midfielder outside the AFL, even winning the Sandover Medal. An elegant midfielder and ball winner who is a tough threat to stop when used up front, Rogers is an instant piece and good enough to add value to any AFL midfield and front rotation. Rogers has averaged 1.5 goals per game this season and has scored three goals in a game in the SANFL-WAFL match.
Bailey Rogers of the WAFL is approached by Riley Knight of the SANFL. Paul Kane / Getty Images
6. Blake Schlensog
Former Geelong B-category debutant Schlensog could be said to have dropped out too soon. He developed rapidly while with Geelong and made significant strides in the WAFL last year. Schlensog, who plays his best football as a key defender, reads and anticipates the play as well as anyone outside the AFL. Behind the ball, Schlensog intercepts at a high level and not only beats his direct rival, but also uses the ball cleanly and shows good mobility. Still, to play in the WAFL this year due to injury, Schlensog remains the top key defender outside the AFL.
7. Angus Baker
One of the top general defenders outside the AFL since his days in the NEAFL, Angus Baker is a plug and play piece that adds value as an interceptor and user of the ball from the defense. With an average of more than 30 eliminations in the NEAFL in 2019 and more than 25 destructions in the VFL last year, Baker is good enough to fit directly into an AFL defense. Baker has played a Greater Western Sydney game in the VFL so far this year, spending the rest of his time playing locally for Wodonga.
8. Jake Florence
A COVID relay for the West Coast in their 8th round AFL clash against Brisbane, Florenca stepped up and secured a maximum of 13 disputed possessions and an equal seven-entry team in a strong display in the middle of the field. The 25-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a start to 2022, averaging 32.8 eliminations, 6.6 tackles and 1.3 goals per game in the WAFL. Playing with the best level of competition over the last month, Florenca is a plug and play midfielder who can add much-needed competitiveness and win the ball.
WAFL Jake Florenca in action during WAFL vs. SANFL 2022 State Game. Paul Kane / Getty Images
9. Hugo Hall-Kahan
Having a significant influence on every game he has played this season, Hall-Kahan has made a big impact on the scoreboard, leading by five goals against Calder and four against Tasmania. Hall-Kahan has been a constant and strong marking threat. When he pushed further, he was a weapon with which he grabbed the game with the ball in his hand and broke the lines at high speed. Hall-Kahan usually lowers his eyes at the entrance kicks within 50 m, with his most outstanding kicks and vision. While Hall-Kahan plays forward, with the way he faces the game, hits significant goals on foot and how strong he is above, he could become an even more damaging footballer if he changes on defense.
10. Massimo D’Ambrossio
A rebounding defender, D’Ambrossio is one of the main shots from the defense outside the AFL. It has a desirable combination of penetration in the stitch, vision and precise placement of the stitch. In addition to having the stitch, he faces the game with his speed, often breaking lines and showing evasion to weave traffic with ease. It is important for a small defender of only 178 cm, who plays taller than his height, with the strength to compete one on one and the jump, strong hands above his head and ball reading skills are a threat. of interception dialing.