With the AFL Mid-season Draft set for June 2, ESPN's AFL draft expert Chris Doerre has run his eye over the top candidates vying for a spot on an AFL list.
1. Jacob Edwards
It is yet to be confirmed whether Edwards will put his name in for the mid-season draft, but he's the consensus No. 1 pick here. However, it's believed if he were to enter the National Draft at the end of the year, he'd also be in the first-round mix so he has a decision to make. Impressing for Sandringham in the NAB League, Edwards has kicked five goals in three games, splitting his time between playing forward and through the ruck. A genuine dual position player, Edwards is a high leaping athletic type with good agility and marking capabilities. Edwards is a late developer who switched his attention from basketball and has made meaningful strides physically over the past 12 months which in combination with his rapid football improvement is a great long-term indicator for the future.
2. Jackson Callow
Improving with every game at SANFL League level and showing no difficulty adjusting to the level of play after a strong year against senior bodies in the TSL last year, Callow has shown through the opening six rounds he deserves an AFL opportunity. Callow's most recent game was his best so far, including 17 disposals, eight marks (seven contested) and three goals. Callow is a strong contested mark who is strong one-on-one, brings the ball to ground when unable to mark and throws his body around and crashes packs to impact contests. He plays with football smarts and the bonus with Callow is last year he showed he has the versatility to play as a key defender, where he won his one-on-one's and intercepted to a high level.
3. Bailey Lambert
The son of former Tiger and Lion, Craig Lambert, Bailey Lambert is having a breakout season for Frankston in the VFL. Kicking 11 goals in four games and averaging 15 disposals, Lambert looms as a plug and play impact player in a front half. Lambert is an impressive speed and endurance athlete who displays a high work rate and brings significant X-factor to a front half. It's these attributes in combination with his strong marking and work aerially that makes Lambert such a threatening target up forward. While he has that offensive side to his game, his tackling may be his greatest strength with his chasing and pressuring enormous for a front half and his tackles importantly sticking consistently.
4. Tyrone Thorne
Averaging 25 disposals and two goals, Thorne has been one of the standouts in the WAFL so far this season. Standing at just 169cm, Thorne is influential both as a midfielder and forward, though at AFL level is more likely to settle as a crumbing forward. Thorne possesses elite agility and speed, while displaying freakish ground level capabilities with how he takes the ball one-touch on the move. His ball use and vision are exceptional, regularly lowering his eyes and finding targets inside 50. He is also a lively tackler who chases and hunts opponents with intent. For a club seeking a small, crumbing forward, there are none better outside the AFL.
5. Ned Moyle
After a strong start to the year in the NAB League where he featured in the bests for Oakleigh in each of his three matches, Moyle showed competitiveness in the AFL Academy's heavy loss to Geelong's VFL side. He has since been rewarded with three matches for Collingwood's VFL side where he has averaged 11 disposals and 18 hitouts in a shared ruck role. At 205cm, it's Moyle's competitiveness and ruck craft that stands out. Moyle presents an ideal 'draft and stash' opportunity for a club, as he's a ruck prospect suited to a club willing to be patient and provide him with time to develop.
6. Angus Baker
Averaging over 30 disposals across half-back and featuring in Canberra's bests in 13 of his 17 games in 2019, Baker has converted his strong play from the NEAFL over to the VFL this year. This season for Essendon's VFL side, Baker is averaging 24 disposals per game through three outings. Baker is an excellent interceptor and rebounder from defence who is a plug-and-play piece who can slot straight into an AFL defence as arguably the best mature age defender outside the AFL.
7. Jack Avery
Averaging a competition-highs of 34 disposals and eight marks through his first four WAFL Colts games, Avery has been the star of the competition and has taken the next step after a strong 2020 season. A 190cm defender, Avery is ready to take the next step and is the most advanced defender his age heading into this year's mid-season draft. Avery is an elite intercept mark, wins one-on-one contests and generates most of his drive from defence by foot.
8. Blake Schlensog
Formerly Geelong listed as a Next-Generation Academy player and Category B rookie, Schlensog was arguably let go too soon. Developing rapidly not only in his time with Geelong, Schlensog has taken meaningful strides in the WAFL this year. Averaging 19 disposals and eight marks per game so far, the 199 centimetre Schlensog is a competitive key defender who not only beats his direct opponent, uses the ball cleanly, displays good mobility but also reads the game well and intercepts to a high level. Outside the AFL, Schlensog may be the best key defender, and with his rate of improvement and well-rounded game, he is hard to go past for a club in need of someone who can contribute now, but also provide a long-term option.
9. Sam Lowson
Close to getting drafted in the 2019 mid-season draft, Lowson is an unlucky case of a player getting hurt at the wrong time. Lowson is an explosive forward with elite speed who feels dangerous and like he'll hit the scoreboard every time he gets his hands on the ball. Kicking seven goals and seven behinds through his first four matches this season, Lowson is a threat both overhead and as a crumber at ground level. Importantly, Lowson applies forward pressure to a high level and as such looms as a plug-and-play forward.
10. Haiden Schloithe
Averaging 32 disposals and kicking 11 goals from his five WAFL games so far, Schloithe is arguably the premier state-leaguer and is the ultimate choice for any club looking to instantly improve their midfield and front half. Schloithe has been a dominant player so far this season and has been a star for several years, previously winning the Sandover Medal ahead of then teammate Tim Kelly who went on to get drafted the same year. There are 'accumulators' in the state leagues (who might not damage teams with their touches), and then there is Schloithe, who has good speed and is a classy and damaging ball user who finishes around goal and hits damaging targets. With Schloithe's capacity to hurt rival teams through the midfield and close to goal, he is good enough to slot straight into any club's best 22. The component that will have some clubs pausing is his age with Schloithe turning 28 in June which may see his chances limited to clubs with shorter time horizons.