AFL Mid-Season Draft WatchThursday, May 23, 2019 - 4:09 PM - by Lenny Fogliani

For the first time in 26 years, the AFL will be conducting a mid-season AFL Draft. The draft will occur after round 10 of the AFL season (Round 7 of the WAFL competition).

In the past the WAFL has proven to be an excellent hunting ground for AFL recruiters with the likes of Nathan Broad, Tim Kelly, Matthew Parker and Liam Ryan all being drafted onto an AFL list after playing for their WAFL club.

Below are each of the WAFL clubs’ best prospects for the mid-season AFL Draft.

CLAREMONT: JYE BOLTON
Since arriving at Claremont in 2016, Bolton has produced one of the greatest resumés in the modern era. He already boasts two Sandover Medals, two Simpson Medals and two Claremont Best & Fairests. So far in 2019, Bolton is averaging 33 possessions, six marks, six inside 50s, four tackles and has kicked four goals in five games. His best performance came against West Coast’s Reserves team in round two, when he finished with 36 possessions, nine inside 50s, seven tackles, seven marks and a goal. A big-bodied inside midfielder, Bolton possesses penetrating skills, a strong overhead marking ability, elite endurance and rarely makes a bad decision on the field.

EAST FREMANTLE: CAMERON LOERSCH
A former Gold Coast rookie, Loersch has been a beacon of light for the Sharks in the last two seasons. In 2018, Loersch won East Fremantle’s goalkicking award and finished 11th in the Bernie Naylor Medal with 27 goals from just nine games. So far in 2019, he has kicked six goals from four games and is currently averaging 10 possessions, eight hit-outs, four marks and two inside 50s. His best performance came against West Perth in round five (14 possessions,14 hit-outs, eight marks, three inside 50s and three goals). An imposing key forward, Loersch is a strong contested marker of the footy and possesses reliable skills and is a sound decision-maker.

EAST PERTH: AJANG AJANG
The 22-year-old Ellenbrook product is a raw-but-exciting prospect who has all the athletic traits to make it onto an AFL list. In five games, Ajang is averaging 10 possessions, 39 hit-outs, six tackles, four marks, and two inside 50s, with his best performance coming against Claremont in round three (12 possessions, 23 hit-outs, six tackles, three marks and three inside 50s). Ajang is powerful in the contest, has explosive speed, raw athleticism and his understanding of the game has improved out of sight.

PEEL THUNDER: JACKSON MERRETT
After a 56-game career with Essendon that spanned six seasons, Jackson Merrett signed with Peel Thunder for the 2019 season – a move that has been good for both parties. In five games for Peel’s League team, Merrett has kicked five goals and averaged 19 possessions, four marks, two tackles and two inside 50s, with his best performance coming against West Perth in round one (24 possessions, five inside 50s, three marks, three tackles and a goal). The older brother of Essendon star Zach, Jackson is an outside midfielder who has the ability to break games open with his lightning speed and elite skills.

PERTH DEMONS: MICHAEL BENNELL
Affectionately nicknamed “magic,” Michael Bennell is arguably the most exciting forward in this year’s WAFL competition. In five games, Bennell has kicked 14 goals (equal second in the Bernie Naylor Medal) and is averaging seven possessions, three marks, and five tackles. His best game came against West Coast’s Reserves team in round one when he kicked four goals from just eight possessions and also laid seven tackles. However, the highlight of his start to the 2019 season was the spectacular contested pack mark he took against Swan Districts in round three. He boasts awesome athleticism, serious pace, an uncanny ability to weave his way around opponents and possesses excellent goal-kicking.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: KADE STEWART
The former Hawthorn rookie has been a revelation for South Fremantle’s midfield (especially considering the retirements of Ryan Cook, Ashton Hams and Shane Hockey), averaging 22 possessions, seven tackles, three marks, and three inside 50s. He has kicked five goals across five games. A smooth-moving midfielder, Stewart also has the ability to drift forward where he can be a weapon, especially considering he is an elite overhead marking and set-shot goalkicker. His best game came against Swan Districts in round one (28 possessions, eight marks, seven tackles and a goal).

SUBIACO: JOSH DELUCA
The former Fremantle rookie has become one of the premier midfielders of the WAFL. In five games, Deluca is averaging 27 possessions, five marks, five tackles and five inside 50s. A hard-bodied inside midfielder, Deluca uses his elite speed and agility to get himself out of congestion before finding a team-mate in a better position. His best performance came against Swan Districts in round five (32 possessions, eight marks, six tackles, six inside 50s and a goal).

SWAN DISTRICTS: COREY GAULT
The ex-Collingwood forward has been outstanding for Swan Districts in 2019. In five games, he has kicked a team-high seven goals, and is averaging 16 possessions, 15 hit-outs, six marks, three tackles and two inside 50s. His best performance came against West Perth in round four when he booted five goals from 18 touches. He also recorded 13 hit-outs, six marks and three tackles in that game. The 2017 Swans’ Best & Fairest winner is athletic, skilful, mobile and versatile – traits that make him an attractive prospect.

WEST PERTH: TYLER KEITEL
The 2018 Bernie Naylor Medallist is one of the key forward prospects in this year’s AFL mid-season draft pool. Standing at 196 centimetres, Keitel is versatile, agile, has excellent endurance and is a powerful contested mark. In 2018, Keitel booted 50 goals from 22 games and averaged 14 possessions, five marks, three hit-outs and two tackles, while so far in 2019, Keitel has kicked five goals from three games. Like Essendon’s forward Mitch Brown, Keitel is a strong contested mark, boasts excellent endurance, is versatile, and is also incredibly agile and mobile for someone his size.

WEST COAST: BRADY GREY
After being delisted by Fremantle at the conclusion of 2018, Grey signed on with West Coast’s new affiliate WAFL reserves team as a way of giving himself another chance at being picked up by an AFL club. In four games for the Eagles, Grey is averaging 18 possessions, seven tackles, five inside 50s and three marks with his best performance coming against Claremont in round four (23 possessions, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal). The 2015 Indigenous All-Stars representative is incredibly courageous, never shirks a contest and inspires his team-mates with his contested work.

OTHERS
Claremont: Declan Mountford
East Fremantle: Luke Strnadica
East Perth: Jackson Ramsay
Peel Thunder: Jarvis Pina
Perth Demons: Cody Leggett 
South Fremantle: Marlion Pickett
Subiaco: Harry Marsh
Swan Districts: Jesse Glass-McCasker
West Perth: Tom Medhat

THE FULL LIST
Claremont: Jye Bolton, Oliver Eastland, Declan Hardisty, Jack Monaghan, Declan Mountford, Ryan Murphy, Bailey Rogers, Dylan Smallwood, Tyron Smallwood, Alec Waterman

East Fremantle: Cameron Davidson, Kody Eaton, Cameron Loersch, Max Murphy, 
Dillon O’Reilly, Luke Strnadica, Brynn Teakle

East Perth: Ajang Ajang, Jaxon Cahill, Ben McGuire, Jackson Ramsay, Angus Scott, 
Matthew Young

Peel Thunder: Alex Cohen, Lachlan Cullen, Jackson Merrett, Jarvis Pina, Michael Randall, Kilian Rawson, James Sturrock

Perth Demons: Michael Bennell, Corey Byrne, Ethan Hansen, Cody Leggett, Cody Ninyette, Sam Perkusich, Michael Sinclair, Matthew Taylor

South Fremantle: Kyle Hamersley, Marlion Pickett, Haiden Schloithe, Kade Stewart, 
Zachary Strom

Subiaco: Josh Deluca, Tommy Edwards-Baldwin, Kyle Halligan, Liam Hickmott, Will Hickmott
Tristan Hobley, Harry Marsh, Jack Mayo, Ben Sokol

Swan Districts: Mitchell Bain, Corey Gault, Jesse Glass-McCasker, Patrick Italiano, 

West Perth: Tyler Keitel, Tom Medhat, Thomas O’Donnell, Dylan Yem

West Coast Reserves: Brady Grey