2022 AFL mid-season draft. Photos: Dandenong Stingrays, @SANFL Twitter, Northern Bullants
The 2022 AFL mid-season draft is set to take place on the night of June 1st, with around 20 prospects set to find a home at the top level.
Last year the likes of Jai Newcombe and Sam Durham made immediate impacts at AFL level, but the recent trends of the draft have leaned heavily into impressive youngsters that recently missed out on selection in their draft year.
These are the top 20 prospects for the AFL mid-season draft.
NAB League
Jai Culley – Dandenong Stingrays
19yo – 193cm – 87kg
Culley has been a dominant force in the NAB League with the Stingrays over the first half of the season, and looks assured to find an AFL home early in the draft. He has the height and forward craft to impact up forward – as demonstrated in his four-goal first half against Vic Metro – but his real value lies in his midfield work. Culley rips the ball out of stoppages with his strength and gets it moving forward. He offers true versatility in his game.
Hugo Hall-Kahan – Sandringham Dragons
18yo – 188cm – 80kg
Showing off x-factor in the forward half, Hall-Kahan has been fantastic for the Dragons with his aerial ability and ground level presence. He plays above his height with his contested marking and hard leading patterns, but then doubles up as a pressure forward when the ball hits the ground where he’s kicked bags of goals in the NAB League.
Max Ramsden – Sandringham Dragons
19yo – 202cm – 86kg
For his size, Ramsden is close to as good an aerobic athlete as you’ll find. He covers the ground superbly and has added to his ruck craft in his over-age year for the Dragons in the NAB League. Ramsden is the standout option for a club looking at adding a developing ruckman to their list in the mid-season draft.
Massimo D’Ambrossio – Western Jets
18yo – 178cm – 80kg
After a dominant spell in the NAB League, D’Ambrossio has continued his form in the VFL with Richmond. He’s a zippy defender with elite ball skills akin to Caleb Daniel, able to pin-point teammates on both sides of his body and bite off corridor kicks from defensive 50. He looked assured on the MCG in the Dreamtime curtain raiser last week which is a great sign of his future at the highest level.
WAFL
Wade Derksen – Peel Thunder
20yo – 197cm – 90kg
Derksen may not have played much footy for Peel Thunder in the WAFL so far, but he’s turned heads with his AFL traits. The key forward launches at the football and kicks accurately for goal, plus can pinch-hit in the ruck and makes good decisions with ball in hand. Derksen is averaging 2.3 goals and 15 disposals per game. He’s travelled all across the country for his opportunity at the top level.
Jake Florenca – South Fremantle
25yo – 184cm – 86kg
There isn’t an opportunity greater than being an AFL top-up to show your ability, and Florenca took his chance with both hands for the Eagles. The hard-running midfielder has starred at WAFL level after missing 2021 with an achilles injury. He could bolster an AFL midfield immediately, with West Coast having first-hand experience of what he can deliver.
Brynn Teakle – East Fremantle
22yo – 203cm – 97kg
Developing nicely as a ruckman for East Fremantle, Teakle is one of a few youngsters who clubs will be targeting to fill needs in their list. Last year it was the likes of Ned Moyle and Max Heath finding their way to AFL clubs, and Teakle’s soft hands and improved contested marking around the ground will appeal for a club needing a developing ruck on their list. He’s averaging 14 disposals and almost a goal per game for the Sharks.
Bailey Rogers – Claremont
25yo – 185cm – 85kg
The reigning Sandover medallist has had another impressive campaign to date, able to run off a back flank or play as a pure inside midfielder. His workrate is second to none in the WAFL and he has AFL qualities with his endurance and improved ball use, while still hitting the scoreboard at 1.5 goals per outing.
SANFL
Joshua Carmichael – West Adelaide
22yo – 189cm – 88kg
In what has been an extremely challenging year for Carmichael’s SANFL club West Adelaide, he has dug deep in fantastic fashion. Entering a perfect age for a midfielder at the age of 22, Carmichael is averaging 24.6 disposals, 5 clearances, and 106.3 ranking points. It is no denying he has had a breakout season, and is now more than deserving of finding himself on an AFL list.
Connor Ballenden – Woodville-West Torrens
23yo – 200cm – 100kg
The former Brisbane Lion has impressed in his stint in the SANFL with WWT and now could be looking at another AFL home. He’s able to play in the ruck and up forward, and could be a ready-made replacement for a club needing a ruckman. He is the only mid-season draft hopeful to nominate different financial terms.
Casey Voss
21yo – 182cm – 80kg
The son of a gun and current Carlton coach Michael, Casey Voss consolidated his mid-season draft prospects with a string of good form for Sturt, capping it off with a best on ground performance in the SA vs WA game at Optus Stadium two weeks ago. Voss collected 29 disposals and 15 marks in the game to win the Fos Williams Medal. Voss is averaging 23 disposals and 10.6 marks a game for Sturt this season. With Adelaide opening up two spaces, he could step into one of the midfield slots as a senior body and stay close to home.
Sam Durdin – Glenelg
25yo – 199cm – 98kg
The former North Melbourne key defender can fill a void on almost every club in the AFL’s list. Currently playing for Glenelg in the SANFL, Durdin has been able to limit the impact of some of the best key forwards in the league, many of whom possess AFL experience. Averaging 14.7 disposals and 5.9 marks per game, Durdin is more than ready to go at senior level if he were to be picked up.
Brett Turner – Glenelg
25yo – 185cm – 88kg
When AFL clubs see Brett Turner waiting in the wings on draft night, it is hard to see them going past Glenelg’s star midfielder. Turner’s attributes have played a massive role in guiding his side to success so far in 2022 and he would be incredibly deserving of a spot on draft night. Turner’s attributes include being an elite clearance winner, athletic and a big body in the midfield. Having started his career as a forward, Turner has built an elite tank and is now one of the SANFL’s premier ball winners. This was on show a few weeks ago against Adelaide where he recorded 38 disposals and booted four goals.
Jye Menzie – South Adelaide
19yo – 180cm – 81kg
A goal sneak going at 2.4 a game for South Adelaide, Menzie is on the recruiter’s radar after moving from Tasmania at the end of the last year. He’s one-touch at ground level and hits the ball with pace when crumbing which has seen him kick some beautiful small forward goals this season, and can apply great pressure to win the ball back high up the ground.
Jacob Bauer – North Adelaide
19yo – 191cm – 80kg
Since moving across to North Adelaide from the Sydney academy, Bauer has made a move to the forward line where his athletic traits can be fully utilised. He’s a leaping medium tall that can bob up with unlikely contested marks and still apply pressure when the ball hits the ground. There’s plenty of upside in Bauer, who is still 19 years of age.
VFL
Mutaz El Nour – Northern Bullants
20yo – 192cm – 83kg
El Nour is a multi-dimensional defender who has also been a star in defence for the struggling Northern Bullants since the beginning of last year. Has only missed once this year and has averaged 17.9 disposals, 13.6 kicks & 6.3 marks per game in 2022. He would fit like a glove into most defences.
Boyd Woodcock – Southport
22yo – 179cm – 76kg
After being delisted by Port Adelaide at the end of 2021 Woodcock has shown his potential with Southport so far this VFL season. The forward-mid has averaged 27.1 disposals, 4.7 tackles and 7.4 clearances per game and has kicked six goals from seven games. Has that AFL experience already and would quickly fit into any forward-midfield group.
Jacob Dawson – Southport
22yo – 182cm – 80kg
Dawson has been a star of the VFL in the last two years for Southport, consistently getting first use of the ball out of a stoppage and using it wisely. This season the ex-Gold Coast midfielder has been averaging 29.3 disposals, 5.3 tackles & 10.6 clearances per game. Would add a fair bit to any midfield he comes into.
Liam Reidy – Frankston
21yo – 204cm – 98kg
It’s been a breakthrough year for young Frankston ruck Reidy who has dominated in the middle for the dolphins. Also having the ability to hit the scoreboard and boasting a strong leap, he’s averaged 9.1 disposals, 21.3 hitouts, four tackles & 2.3 marks per game this season. There’s already been plenty of interest shown from sides for the big man.
James Blanck – Box Hill
21yo – 195cm – 80kg
Another young and exciting prospect from the Box Hill Hawks factory, Blanck has consistently performed in defence since his debut last year. Boasting speed for a tall defender and a good rebounding ability, he’s averaged 9.6 disposals and 2.9 marks per game this season. Hawthorn have had their eye on him to add to their key defender stocks.
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