THE 2026 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft has come and gone, with 18 of a possible 19 selections made in Tuesday night’s intake. West Australian native Jaxon Artemis was taken with pick one to Essendon, making up a cohort of 17 players who have not previously had an AFL opportunity. On the other side of the coin, new Crow Hugo Hall-Kahan becomes a two-time mid-season draftee. Find out more about who your club has drafted as we profile each new recruit.

PICK 1. ESSENDON

Jaxon Artemis (Tasmania Devils VFL)
Defender/Wing | 182cm | 24/08/2006

The standout prospect in this year’s intake, Artemis went to work after being overlooked in 2024. He was Western Australia’s Under 18 MVP that year and went on to play in a WAFL premiership with South Fremantle as an over-ager. His speed and dare on the rebound are standout traits across half-back, ones which he has now translated to his defensive game since crossing to Tasmania. Such was the level of Artemis’ performances this year, he was put on ice for the last fortnight in anticipation of his draft chance. Rightly so.

PICK 2. RICHMOND

Kye Annand (Geelong VFL)
Key Defender | 200cm | 14/10/2003

It is no secret that Richmond is in dire need of some readymade key position depth, so the Tigers will be hoping Annand provides exactly that. The 200cm utility is capable of playing in each third of the ground, most notably as a defender who can chop out in the ruck. Whether locking down on opponents or peeling off to intercept, the 22-year-old has drawn comparisons to fellow Geelong VFL product Tom Stewart.

PICK 3. WEST COAST

Oliver Francou (North Adelaide)
Midfielder | 184cm | 27/02/2006

Hailing from the same draft class as Artemis, Francou has come on strongly this year. Having been part of Port Adelaide’s SANFL program with hopes of pursuing his father-son ties at Alberton, the son of Josh made a splash upon returning to junior club North Adelaide. He has averaged 30.6 disposals, 8.2 tackles, and 6.4 clearances per game this year, quickly coming back up to speed after missing much of 2025 through injury. West Coast will likely look to slot him into the midfield quickly having lost Deven Robertson to an ACL injury.

PICK 4. CARLTON

Flynn Riley (Carlton VFL)
Ruck | 206cm | 05/04/2004

The Blues are without a national recruiting manager and list boss, so naturally looking internally was a safe bet. Riley had courted interest from other clubs in a draft which is usually tailor made for talls, this year being no different. The towering 206cm prospect will provide competition to the likes of Hudson O’Keefe and Liam Reidy having been squeezed out to local level, offering strong follow-up work and inevitable aerial presence. Even as a junior, he showed great potential with his ability to go forward and extend at the ball overhead.

PICK 5. PORT ADELAIDE

Xavier Bamert (North Melbourne VFL)
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 29/01/2007

Among the unluckiest players to be overlooked in last year’s draft, Bamert hasn’t missed a beat since. The Sandringham Dragons captain linked up with North Melbourne VFL, averaging 16 disposals and two goals per his four games for the Roos. Bamert is a powerfully built running machine capable of rotating through the midfield and forwardline, with both traits putting him in good stead to make an early impact at the top level.

PICK 6. NORTH MELBOURNE

Ollie Griffin (Sandringham Dragons)
Forward | 186cm | 04/06/2007

Griffin was the most outstanding prospect in the Talent League this year and didn’t take long to be snapped up. With Bamert coming out of the Roos’ VFL program, Griffin comes in as another Sandringham Dragons product with plenty of power and grunt. Playing slightly taller than his 186cm listing suggests, Griffin presents strongly as a contested marking option and is capable of plucking the ball at its highest point. Above all, he’s a real competitor with great long-term attributes.

PICK 7. ST KILDA

Campbell Lake (Southport)
Small Forward | 175cm | 11/08/2004

A product of Gold Coast’s Academy, Lake won a VFL flag with the Suns in 2023 and has since plied his trade at nearby Southport. Not just a stay-at-home small forward, the 21-year-old is capable of pinch-hitting in midfield and often empties high up the ground before using his speed on the way back. He has averaged 6.5 tackles per game this year, complimenting his scoreboard impact (12 goals in eight appearances). The Saints love effort and running power.

PICK 8. COLLINGWOOD

Harrison Coe (Frankston)
Ruck | 204cm | 10/11/1999

Another established state league ruck to get his opportunity, Coe will go a long way to aiding Collingwood’s key position woes. The 26-year-old is readymade and provides great aerial presence at 204cm, averaging 22.7 hitouts and 5.9 marks per game this year. He is also deceptively nimble, getting his hands on the ball at a regular rate and covering the ground well. Coe looms as a player who could walk straight into senior football considering the Pies’ recent ruck injuries.

PICK 9. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Caleb May (West Adelaide)
Ruck | 208cm | 13/05/2005

A man mountain at 208cm, May is another player who promises to provide immediate aid in a position of need. A genuine ruck who can provide readymade cover for Tim English, the West Adelaide export has come on strongly since his time with the Swans Academy. He represented the Allies as a top-ager and has enhanced his endurance tank of late, but still thrives around the contest. He averaged 4.1 clearances and 36.3 hitouts per game at SANFL level this year, representing the league in their State Game against Western Australia.

PICK 10. ADELAIDE

Hugo Hall-Kahan (Williamstown)
Defender | 188cm | 22/09/2003

Now a two-time midseason draftee, Hall-Kahan will hope second time’s a charm. The dynamic utility didn’t break through for a game in his 18 months at Sydney, but has since gotten to work at state league level with Williamstown. Having cut his teeth on the wing, on-ball, and up forward, a move to half-back has further unlocked his potential. The 22-year-old has averaged 27.7 disposals this year for the Seagulls, putting speed on the ball with his athletic rebound play.

PICK 11. MELBOURNE

Lukas Cooke (Woodville-West Torrens)
Key Defender | 196cm | 26/09/2003

Cooke adds to the long list of players to have found a new lease on their footballing careers with a positional switch. Having played predominantly as a key forward throughout the junior pathway in South Australia, Cooke has excelled as a defender of late, averaging 18.3 disposals and 7.9 marks for the Eagles this season. He is a capable aerialist who adds to Melbourne’s list of dynamic key position options, whether as a lockdown type, interceptor, or swingman.

PICK 12. HAWTHORN

Max Beattie (Woodville-West Torrens)
Small Utility | 174cm | 18/11/2003

A pocket rocket at 174cm, Beattie has been on the radar for a few years having earned a state draft combine invite in 2023. The Woodville-West Torrens product packs a punch, able to play in each third of the ground with aplomb. Most notably, he has thrived as a small forward with 12 goals in seven games this year, including five in his first outing. Beattie has also earned plenty of midfield minutes, averaging 22.9 disposals per game and standing out with both his undeniable craft and work rate.

PICK 13. WEST COAST

Marcus Herbert (Geelong VFL)
Midfielder/Defender | 181cm | 13/08/2002

One of the most readymade state league players in this year’s crop, Herbert gets his chance on the back of a strong body of work at Geelong VFL. The GWV Rebels graduate has always been a smooth mover capable of catching the eye in bursts, but has levelled out the flair with great substance. Herbert is a capable playmaker of half-back, and also has the frame and clean hands to thrive in midfield, averaging 27.6 disposals per game this season. Plug and play.

PICK 14. PORT ADELAIDE

Alex Van Wyk (North Adelaide)
Ruck | 203cm | 01/07/2004

Yet another ruck who finally earns his opportunity after an extra few years of development, Van Wyk provides great physical presence. He represented South Australia in his draft year and has since gone on to stake his claim in the SANFL, moving from Norwood to North Adelaide for greater opportunity. The move has paid off, with Van Wyk continuing to impress with his average of 23 hitouts per game this season. He can hold his ground and will have no issue competing as a ruck, with the added ability to shift forward.

PICK 15. COLLINGWOOD

Liam Puncher (Woodville-West Torrens)
Key Defender | 195cm | 26/08/2003

The third Woodville-West Torrens player to be drafted in just one 18-man intake, Puncher adds further tall depth for the Pies. He is another Swans Academy graduate who has moved over to South Australia since being overlooked in his home state, thriving at SANFL level. The 22-year-old defender has averaged 11.7 disposals and six marks per game this season, showcasing his ability to lock down on opponents and hold his own aerially. He also has the capacity to shift into other key position posts.

PICK 16. MELBOURNE

Joel Fitzgerald (Williamstown)
Defender/Midfielder | 188cm | 08/08/2003

Fitzgerald has been a staple of Williamstown’s defence but hit new heights with a recent move into midfield. Averaging 33.7 disposals and 5.8 tackles per game this year, the 22-year-old has consistently put up strong numbers and looms as a player who could do so at AFL level in quick time. Originally a Northern Knights product, Fitzgerald possesses a strong frame and is comfortable as a roaming defender who can intercept and distribute the ball with great regularity.

PICK 17. COLLINGWOOD

Mitchell Podhajski (Coburg)
Tall Forward | 191cm | 04/01/1999

A great story of persistence, Podhajski is the oldest midseason draftee this year. The 27-year-old is an extremely versatile tall, measuring up at just under genuine key position height but more than holding his own aerially. He has most recently shone as a forward, booting 26 goals in just seven VFL games this year. He has been a mainstay for Coburg since coming out of the Calder Cannons program and will surely be in Collingwood’s immediate plans. He’s in great touch.

PICK 18. MELBOURNE

Max Mapley (Tasmania Devils VFL)
Ruck | 199cm | 27/10/2005

Another key position player capable of playing in each third of the ground, Mapley’s bread and butter is in the ruck. A high leaper with great mobility and strong follow-up work, the Tasmanian continues to develop having shown great signs of upside as a junior. Now with the Devils’ VFL team, Mapley has averaged 11.7 disposals and 18.1 hitouts per game this season. He slots in nicely after the retirement of Tom Campbell, offering long-term ruck support and general key position depth.