AFL.com.au’s draft expert, Cal Twomey, has commented on a number of hot topics that will be answered in less than 48 hours in the mid-season draft.
This year’s mid-season draft will be held on Wednesday night and will start at 6.30pm AEST, with only Melbourne, Brisbane and Western Bulldogs to choose from.
Apparently, Carlton is one of the most intriguing teams for the mid-season draft, currently missing out on a number of key players due to injury.
They have been linked with former Roo Sam Durdin, a key player who now plays for Glenelg in the SANFL and could cover injured Jacob Weitering, who will be out for six weeks.
“Even before the weekend of losing Jacob Weitering to this shoulder injury, they (Carlton) were right to look for key defenders and mature players who could step in and do a job,” Twomey told SEN SA Breakfast.
“That’s why they’ve been very close to Sam Durdin, who is a South Australian local, returned to Glenelg in the SANFL and had a good performance as a key backman, having played 20 games. strange with North Melbourne when he played, was a first – round pick in 2014.
“He would come in and be available to play as a substitute for them, I don’t think clubs are waiting for the world with these guys, but from a competitive point of view, they offer .
“And who knows what happens in the final if another pair of players fall or they don’t all come back, someone like Durdin could come in.”
As for possible number one pick, Twomey named three players the West Coast could select.
Josh Carmichael (Glenelg, midfielder), Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays, midfielder) and Max Ramsden (Sandringham Dragons, ruckman) seem to be in the mix, but Twomey suggested that the latter two are shaping up as long-term prospects.
Another point of interest in the mid-season draft is presented in the form of Casey Voss.
Voss, a 21-year-old defender, won Sturt’s best and fairest last year in the SANFL and has averaged 22 discards and 10 marks per game this year, attracting speculation of being the son of Carlton coach Michael.
However, Twomey believes the son of a gunman is more unlikely than likely to win an AFL seat.
“I wouldn’t say we look forward to seeing him leave, I think it would be one of the surprises if he gets shot,” Twomey added.
“He has not had an overwhelming interest in leadership and that does not mean he does not deserve it, because he has been very strong with his performance … but Carlton has already ruled out selecting him, with Michael Voss as coach.
“I think it would be a second half of the draft option. There aren’t that many mid-season draft picks.
“I think there’s a group of 10 to 12 players that are very likely to be picked up tomorrow night, then there will probably be seats for five or six more and that’s where I see Voss sitting.”