The 2021 AFL mid-season draft takes place on Wednesday, June 2. ESPN's draft expert Chris Doerre assesses what every team needs to strengthen their list.
Adelaide
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Midfield height and size
Who should they pick: With Adelaide's midfield lacking height and size, Coburg's Mitch Podhajski has been an early season VFL standout and would provide much needed contrast. At 193cm, Podhajski is a strong contested ball winner through the midfield and is just as effective forward of centre as a lead-up marking target who hits the scoreboard, kicking eight goals from his five games so far this season.
Brisbane
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Established midfielder
Who should they pick: If Brisbane move Cam Rayner to the inactive list, Jye Bolton would offer a great fit as the ultimate plug and play midfielder who is good enough to slot straight into Brisbane's best 22. Bolton is a two-time Sandover Medallist as the WAFL's best and fairest, has won three state game MVPs and best on ground honours in last year's Grand Final. With Brisbane's midfield feeling one good midfielder short, the experience of Bolton would be seamless.
Carlton
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Speedy forward
Who should they pick: With Carlton's front half lacking speed, Tyrone Thorne, who has been one of the standouts in the WAFL so far this season and outperforming his Fremantle listed teammates for Peel more weeks than not, would provide immediate support. Standing at just 169cm, Thorne is influential both as a midfielder and forward, and is arguably the premier crumbing forward heading into the mid-season draft. Thorne possesses elite agility and speed, is a lively tackler, freakish at ground level, and an exceptional kick who lowers his eyes and finds inside-50m targets.
Collingwood
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Key forward
Who should they pick: With Collingwood's front half unsettled and in need of a key forward, Jackson Callow is the obvious answer. Callow is a strong contested mark who is strong one-on-one, brings the ball to ground 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. Leading the SANFL in contested marks, the 18-year-old may be ready to provide an option at AFL level this year.
Essendon
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Rebounding defender
Who should they pick: While the Bombers have found sound pieces in defence with the off-season addition of Nick Hind and the shift of Jayden Laverde to defence, they remain at least one good backman short. Showing promise for Essendon's VFL team, after crossing from Canberra in the NEAFL, where he averaged over 30 disposals across half-back and featured in Canberra's bests in 13 of his 17 games, Angus Baker is an obvious ready-made choice. With his intercepting capabilities and the drive he generates from defence, Baker is the premier mature age defender outside the AFL.
Fremantle
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Goalkicking general forward
Who should they pick: If Fremantle have one mid-season draft selection available to use, a quality general forward who can hit the scoreboard would provide a good complement to its current group. After being overlooked by Gold Coast last year, athletic forward Max Pescud has impressed in his two VFL games so far with 20 or more disposals in both performances. With his speed, aerial capabilities and goal sense, Pescud would provide an ideal complement to Fremantle's front half and could add to Fremantle's promising young core group.
Geelong
Likely number of picks: 0
Greatest list need: Immediate ruck help
Who should they pick: With Geelong struggling through the ruck and unconvinced by the play of Rhys Stanley, seeing him get dropped numerous times over recent years, it's likely if Geelong had a selection in the mid-season draft that they would be on the hunt for immediate ruck help. Having a strong season in the WAFL, former Fremantle rookie Luke Strnadica is one of the few ruckmen outside the AFL who not only provides immediate ruck depth, but at 23 years of age still possesses upside for further development.
Gold Coast
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Young ruckman
Who should they pick: With Gold Coast getting exposed this year through the ruck and lacking a clear Jarrod Witts successor for the long-term, Alex Mirkov, as a 210cm, 21-year-old former volleyballer, may be worth drafting and stashing with a view of development over the coming years. Mirkov, in his two games for Carlton's VFL side, has shown some signs of promise with his tap work, but remains raw and is firmly in the project category.
Greater Western Sydney
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Rebounding defender
Who should they pick: Lacking in the way of drive and rebound out of defence, Patrick Parnell, if selected, could offer the solution. Parnell uses his speed and agility to take on the game, and combined with his penetrating and damaging kick, would add a much-needed weapon and support for the Giants' emerging rebounding defenders.
Hawthorn
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Young ruckman
Who should they pick: With Ned Reeves Hawthorn's only ruckman under the age of 30, the mid-season draft is the perfect opportunity for Hawthorn to add to their young ruck stocks. Ned Moyle presents an obvious solution to fill this need as a competitive 205cm ruckman with good ruck craft, featuring in Oakleigh's bests in each of his four performances. Perhaps more impressive has been how well he has held up against VFL opposition both during his AFL Academy match against Geelong's VFL side, as one of the AFL Academy's most impressive and during a three-game stint for Collingwood's VFL side.
Melbourne
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Mid-forward who can add speed
Who should they pick: With Melbourne contending for a premiership, Haiden Schloithe would instantly improve their midfield and front half and is of a standard where he could slot straight into any club's best 22. 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, and then there is Schloithe who has good speed, is a classy and damaging ball user who hits his targets by foot, as well as the scoreboard.
North Melbourne
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Young stars
Who should they pick: North Melbourne are in need of young stars and there is no better way of finding them through the draft than adding the best available talent. Consensus number one selection Jacob Edwards has nominated for the mid-season draft and should be joining North Melbourne as the first player selected. Had he entered the national draft, Edwards may have featured inside the first round. Edwards is a late bloomer, switching his attention from basketball and has made meaningful strides physically over the past 12 months, looming as an athletic type who can play both as a key forward and through the ruck.
Port Adelaide
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Young key defender
Who should they pick: With Port Adelaide lacking any key defenders under the age of 25, there is room for one if the right player presents. Impressing with his development so far this season in the VFL, 19-year-old key position player Charlie Dean has looked settled in defence for Williamstown, intercepting, limiting the influence of his direct opponent and using the ball reliably.
Richmond
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Midfield youth
Who should they pick: With grandfather Michael Green a four-time premiership player, Josh Green, the younger brother of Greater Western Sydney's Tom would not only add valuable midfield youth, but could also be drafted with the long-term view towards potentially pairing the brothers in yellow and black. Josh, like Tom, is a big-bodied, strong ball-winning midfielder who does his best work at stoppages, winning first possession and distributing to teammates.
St Kilda
Likely number of picks: 2
Greatest list need: Key defender
Who should they pick: With St Kilda in need of a second key defender to complement Dougal Howard, formerly Geelong listed as a Next-Generation Academy player and category b rookie, Blake Schlensog is the best available option. Developing rapidly in his short stint with Geelong, Schlensog has further stepped up, taking meaningful strides in the WAFL this year. Leading the WAFL in marks per game, the 199cm Schlensog is athletic and has shown impressive intercepting capabilities.
Sydney
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Young ruckman
Who should they pick: With Sydney in need of a young ruckmen, former Gold Coast Sun Brayden Crossley poses an immediate solution, despite only being 21 years of age. Showing a high level of competitiveness and physical edge, Crossley, who is splitting his time between playing ruck and forward for Southport, has kicked 10 goals through his first six VFL matches and would provide Sydney with someone who is ready-to-play both through the ruck and up forward.
West Coast
Likely number of picks: 1
Greatest list need: Midfield youth
Who should they pick: While West Coast don't currently have a selection for the mid-season draft, they still have time to make room for one if they move Daniel Venables to the inactive list. If the Eagles have a pick, it would likely be used to replenish their midfield with some much-needed youth. Impressing with his play for Box Hill in the VFL, having missed out on the opportunity to represent Gippsland in the NAB League last year as an overager, Jai Newcombe has impressed with his contested ball winning and power around contests.
Western Bulldogs
Likely number of picks: 0
Greatest list need: Crumbing forward
Who should they pick: While the Western Bulldogs have no selections, they'd love to be able to add a forward who can inject speed, crumbing and forward pressure to their front half, which has long been a missing component. One player the Dogs should be considering later in the year if Tyrone Thorne doesn't slip through is Sam Lowson. Lowson would be a complementary piece as a forward with elite speed who heaps on forward pressure and is dangerous around goal.