What an impactful season state league recruits Tim Kelly, Bayley Fritsch, Zac Langdon, Matt Guelfi, Nick Holman and Lachlan Murphy had for their clubs after being selected in either the 2017 national or rookie drafts. Two mature-age newcomers also featured for the league's two best clubs last year, with Liam Ryan a part of West Coast's Grand Final win and Collingwood rookie Brody Mihocek developing into an indispensable key forward on the losing side.
This year, the landscape has shifted due to the AFL handing Carlton and the Gold Coast access to the best state league options as part of their 'outside national draft' concessions. The Blues had access to Nathan Kreuger but traded him to Geelong for pick 43 while Shane McAdam was traded as part of the Mitch McGovern deal. Gold Coast, meanwhile, secured Josh Corbett, Chris Burgess and Sam Collins.
That means we are unlikely to see any mature-agers selected inside the first half of the national draft. However, there remains substantial value to be had in the second half of the national draft and the rookie draft, with several players looking ready to work their way into a club's best 22 for next season.
Winning back-to-back Magarey Medals for the fairest and best in the SANFL and being awarded the Jack Oatey Medal for the best player in the Grand Final, the first to do so on a losing team, Mitch Grigg is arguably the most ready-to-go midfielder outside the AFL. The ex-Crow is a powerful ball-winner, amassing 31 disposals and six goals in the SANFL Grand Final and kicking an impressive 35 goals from 20 games. Grigg is suitable for any club seeking a ready-to-play, offensively minded, ball-winning midfielder.
Dubbed the next Dayne Zorko with similar ball-winning capabilities, damaging skills, power and capacity to hit the scoreboard, Mitch Maguire was this year's NEAFL Rising Star. The 20-year-old, 175cm midfielder also placed fourth in the NEAFL MVP. The highlight of Maguire's season was his elimination final performance with 45 disposals and 10 tackles. He is a suitable choice in the second half of the draft and may be best suited to a role where he splits his minutes between the midfield and front half.
Arguably the best general defender outside the AFL, Collingwood's VFL player Marty Hore is a class above. He possesses a reliable left foot and a kicking efficiency of 79 percent. His intercept marking and contested marking are further strengths, with five games including 10 or more marks and an average of two contested marks per game. The 189cm, 22-year-old is an ideal list addition for any club short one quality defender and is good enough to slip into a best 22 and hold his spot.
Goalkicking midfielder and ex-Docker Haiden Schloithe, after winning the 2017 Sandover Medal for the fairest and best player in the WAFL, remains an appealing choice as a ready-to-go ball-winning midfielder who can hurt the opposition as a forward. In each of the past two seasons, Schloithe has averaged in excess of 25 disposals and one goal per game and can slot straight into the best 22 of a club needing a midfielder who can rotate forward.
Skilful and athletic South Fremantle utility Marlion Pickett is one of the most damaging outside the AFL. With the ability to play midfield, back or forward, the 183cm, 26-year-old is a plug and play type who can slot into any team.
Winning the WAFL's Sandover Medal in 2016 and 2018, ex-Pie Jye Bolton is one of the best midfielders outside the AFL. The classy Claremont star averaged over 31 disposals per game and if given the chance, is capable of earning a position in a club's best side.
Another ex-Pie in the WAFL, Jonathon Marsh, averaged 28 disposals per game in 2017 as a midfielder before moving back into defence to manage an impressive 296 disposals and 103 marks from 17 games. The unique 194cm utility ran a 2.78 second 20m sprint time and applies it offensively on matchday like few of his height.
With the ability to play at either end, key position player Tyler Keitel looks like this year's Mihocek-equivalent and is in the conversation with Marsh as arguably the best state league key position player not on an AFL list. The 196cm West Perth player, 22, is younger than Mihocek and has comparable numbers, averaging more than five marks and two goals per game.
Tying Anthony Miles for the VFL's top honour, the JJ Liston Trophy, and winning the award for the second time after finishing runner up in 2017, Michael Gibbons is the VFL's most ready-to-go and consistent midfielder. Gibbons may well be overlooked again in 2019, but the 23-year-old, 175cm midfielder has the production and work rate to slot into a thin midfield.
Sharing the Morrish Medal in 2013 for the TAC Cup's best and fairest, Ben Cavarra is an ideal pressure forward who hits the scoreboard and can push up through the midfield. The 22-year-old, 175cm prospect kicked 34 goals from 20 games at Williamstown in the VFL and is an impressive athlete with an ideal combination of speed, agility and endurance.
An intercept marking defender with clean skills, 22-year-old Callum Wilkie is playing AFL-standard football at state level. Helping North Adelaide to a Grand Final win, he's an ideal fit as a third tall defender at 191cm who can play from season one.
Speedy outside runner Will Hayes is a 23-year-old, 181cm midfielder who looks ideally suited to playing on a wing or half-back flank. The Footscray VFL star's running is his strength and is able to win his own ball and has clean skills, making him ideal for the modern game.
Line-breaking midfielder Nick Hind, a 180cm, 24-year-old, injects run on a wing or half-back flank. He's one of the fastest with ball in hand outside the AFL and has the production on the board for Essendon in the VFL to suggest he could carve out a role at AFL level.
Vying for a second chance, ex-Lion, Josh Clayton finished third in the NEAFL MVP and is on the radar of recruiters. The 191cm outside midfielder possesses good skills and the endurance to run all day.