What is the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft?

The Mid-Season Rookie Draft (MSD) is the only chance clubs have during the season to add players to their list. Outside the Trade Period and National Draft at the end of each season, the only opportunities clubs have to sign new players is during the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period – which runs over summer – and the MSD.

The MSD was reintroduced in 2019, having been scrapped way back in 1993. It's designed to limit the impact long-term injuries and premature retirements can have on a club and allow teams to replenish their list for the second half of the season.

When is it?

The 2024 AFL Mid-Season Draft will be held this Wednesday, May 29, between rounds 11 and 12, from 7pm AEST.

How can I watch?

The only place to watch the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft is on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Gettable co-hosts and draft experts Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge will lead the coverage along with host Nat Edwards and roving reporter Sarah Olle from 7pm AEST on Wednesday, May 29. See every pick as it happens and get instant analysis of what the new signings can mean for the second half of the season.

How many players are likely to be picked up?

Up to 26 list spots could be available on the night, although clubs do not have to fill a vacant spot if the player they want is not available. Just 13 players were picked up last year.

Twenty-four players who had interest from clubs have undergone medical testing, while others outside that group are also in the mix. More than 120 players have nominated so far.

Any familiar names in contention?

Former Magpie Trent Bianco, ex-Demon Kyle Dunkley, delisted Power big man Brynn Teakle, ex-Kangaroo Flynn Perez and former Richmond midfielder Riley Collier-Dawkins are among the familiar names who have nominated for the draft.

Former Sydney first-round draft pick Matt Ling has also emerged as a candidate after being part of the group of 24 players to undergo AFL medicals.

To be eligible, players must have nominated for and been overlooked in the National Draft last year, been previously listed by an AFL club, or played a minimum of three games in the WAFL, SANFL, TSL or VFL.

You can read more on the potential draftees here and here and you can see the full list of 339 nominees here.

How many clubs have a pick? Why doesn't my club have one?

Clubs must have a vacant list spot in order to take part and currently, only Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and Sydney are without potential vacant spots.

List vacancies can occur through a retirement or if a player suffers a long-term injury and is moved to the inactive list.

Brisbane (potentially four picks), and Richmond and Adelaide (potentially three each) are the clubs with the most vacant positions, while Carlton, Collingwood, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs all have two. 

Essendon, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Melbourne, St Kilda and West Coast all have one open spot.

Clubs have until Tuesday to open a vacancy on their list so there might be more movement in the coming days.

How is the draft order decided?

Like the National Draft, the Mid-Season Draft order is determined by ladder position. The team at the bottom of the ladder after round 11 (assuming it has a list vacancy) will get the No.1 pick, with the second-last team to have the No.2 pick, and so on.

The final draft order will be confirmed on Tuesday once the window to move players to inactive lists has closed.

The start of the mid-season byes in round 12 means the MSD could not be held any later in the year because the bye weeks mean not every club will have played the same number of games.

Indicative draft order (based on ladder position after R11)*

1 - North Melbourne
2 - Richmond
3 - West Coast
4 - St Kilda
5 - Hawthorn
6 - Brisbane
7 - Adelaide
8 - Western Bulldogs
9 - Gold Coast
10 - Fremantle
11 - Carlton
12 - Collingwood
13 - Geelong
14 - Greater Western Sydney
15 - Melbourne
16 - Port Adelaide
17 - Essendon
18 - Sydney

* clubs must have a list vacancy to take part

Who are the MSD successes from past years?

The MSD's most famous success story since it was reintroduced in 2019 is Marlion Pickett, who famously debuted in a Grand Final at the age of 27 after being drafted in the middle of that season.

Collingwood's John Noble last week became the first mid-season draftee to reach the 100-game milestone, while Sam Durham and Jai Newcombe are among the other regular AFL players who got their start in the MSD.

While 18-year-olds in the National Draft every November are always key to a list build, clubs have shown a willingness to gamble on older players.

The first nine rounds of this season alone saw one 24-year-old (Collingwood's Joe Richards), two 25-year-olds (North Melbourne's Toby Pink and Richmond's Mykelti Lefau) and two 26-year-olds (Geelong's Shaun Mannagh and Collingwood's Lachie Sullivan) make their AFL debuts.