Former Geelong midfielder Quinton Narkle is the subject of interest from multiple AFL clubs ahead of the 2023 Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The 25-year-old trained with Richmond over pre-season and was close to landing a spot on the list during the Supplementary Selection Period (SSP), but the Tigers opted to go with 21-year-old forward Kaelan Bradtke instead.
Narkle is playing well for Essendon in the VFL so far in 2023, averaging 18 disposals and five tackles, and is on the radar of a number of clubs including West Coast, the Western Bulldogs, the Tigers and the Bombers.
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich says the Tigers were keen to add the Western Australian native following the retirement of Jason Castagna in February, but the AFL did not allow the list addition.
“If Richmond got their way with the AFL he would be on Richmond’s list already,” Gabelich said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Jason Castagna retired three or four days after the SSP deadline closed and they pitched to the AFL to get Quinton Narkle for that spot. They only had one spot and went with Kaelan Bradtke instead of Narkle, then Castagna retired.
“He’s been playing for Essendon’s VFL side and there is interest around the competition.
“West Coast is a club that has monitored him, the Bulldogs, Richmond, Essendon, so there’s every chance that Quinton Narkle might be back in the system by the end of this month.”
Gabelich spoke of some other familiar names that could be back in the AFL system when the mid-season draft is held on May 31.
Former Melbourne and Carlton defender Oscar McDonald is impressing for Williamstown in the VFL, alongside fellow ex-Dees backman Marty Hore.
“There’s legitimate interest in Oscar McDonald,” Gabelich added.
“He’s going really well at Williamstown at the moment. There are a few clubs that are really analysing it because key defenders are hard to find.
“If you look back at Carlton last year, they went and got Sam Durdin (from Glenelg) because he filled a need. He only played one game in the second half of the year, but they needed the coverage.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Oscar McDonald gets another opportunity.”
Of Hore, he added: “Another guy at Williamstown is Marty Hore, who was at Melbourne for quite some time.
“He’s attracting a fair bit of interest.”
Another player who has been spoken about frequently in mid-season draft circles is ruckman Sam Naismith.
The 30-game former Sydney Swan, who has dealt with several ACL injuries over the course of his career, is starring for Port Melbourne this year and is a possible target for the likes of Collingwood and Richmond, according to Gabelich.
“Sam Naismith is the other one,” he said of the 30-year-old.
“I’d expect Sam Naismith to be recruited mid-year. Collingwood have shown some interest.
“I know Richmond are looking at ruckmen at the moment so whether they go for a 30-year-old in Naismith, or someone like Clay Tucker, who is 19. Time will tell.
“Naismith was a very popular figure in Sydney. They didn’t want let him go. You can understand why they needed to in the end.
“But he’s bounced back after two years out of the game and had a really strong start to the year at Port Melbourne.”
Box Hill midfielder Callum Brown, formerly of Collingwood, and ex-Swan Ryley Stoddart are other names being bandied around ahead of the mid-season draft later this month.
FORMER PIE, EX-SWAN IN MID-SEASON MIX AND AN EARLY LOOK AT THE 2023 DRAFT