AFL.com.au draft expert Cal Twomey has commented on a number of hot topics set to be answered in less than 48 hours at the mid-season draft.
This year’s mid-season draft will be held on Wednesday night and start at 6.30pm AEST, with only Melbourne, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs unable to make a pick.
Carlton is seemingly one of the most intriguing teams for the mid-season draft, currently missing numerous key position players through injury.
They’ve been linked to former Roo Sam Durdin, a key backman now playing for Glenelg in the SANFL who could provide cover for the injured Jacob Weitering, who will be sidelined for six weeks.
“Even before the weekend in losing Jacob Weitering to that shoulder injury, they (Carlton) were right on the search for key defenders and mature age players who can step in and do a job,” Twomey told SEN SA Breakfast.
“That’s why they’ve been linked really strongly to Sam Durdin, who’s a local in South Australia, gone back to Glenelg in the SANFL and performed pretty well as a key backman in there, having previously played 20 odd games for North Melbourne when he was a first-round pick back in 2014.
“He would come in and be available to play as a backup option for them, I don’t think clubs are expecting the world with these guys, but they do, from a contending point of view, offer the opportunity for some backup.
“And who knows what happens in the finals if another couple of players go down or they don’t all come back, someone like Durdin would be able to come in.”
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As for the potential number one pick, Twomey named three players that West Coast could select.
Josh Carmichael (Glenelg, midfielder), Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays, midfielder) and Max Ramsden (Sandringham Dragons, ruckman) all appear to be in the mix, however Twomey suggested the latter two loom as longer-term prospects.
Another point of interest in the mid-season draft comes in the form of Casey Voss.
Voss, a 21-year-old defender, won Sturt’s best and fairest last year in the SANFL and has averaged 22 disposals and 10 marks a game this year, attracting speculation being the son of Carlton coach, Michael.
However, Twomey believes the son-of-a-gun is more unlikely than likely to win an AFL spot.
“I wouldn’t say we expect to see him to go, I think he'd be one of the surprises if he gets a shot,” Twomey added.
“He hasn’t had overwhelming interest in the leadup and that’s not to say he doesn’t deserve it, because he has been really strong with his performance… but Carlton’s already ruled out selecting him, with Michael Voss the coach there.
“I think he’d be a second half of the draft option. There are not that many picks in the mid-season draft.
“I think there’s a group of about 10-12 players who are pretty likely to get taken tomorrow night, then there’s probably spots for five or six others and that’s where I see Voss sitting.”