Top 10: Ranking the best ever AFL mid-season picks

Since its inception, the mid-season draft has become one of football’s great modern-day inventions.

The draft has not only helped multiple second tier footballers realise their dreams of becoming AFL players, but has also helped clubs fill desperate positional needs during the middle of the season.

Ahead of Wednesday’s draft, we’ve taken a look at all players selected across the past six iterations and determined the best 10 picks.

1 - Jai Newcombe

(Pick 2, 2021 - Hawthorn)

The clear standout from players picked in the mid-season draft is Jai Newcombe.

The midfielder has developed a reputation as one of the toughest players in the competition after being taken with Pick 2 in the 2021 mid-year draft.

After arriving at Box Hill from Poowong in Gippsland, the Hawks didn’t have to look too far, picking up Newcombe from their VFL program, and he has hardly missed a game since.

He was given the famous No.3 jumper of Leigh Matthews at the end of 2022 and has been pivotal in the Hawks' rise up the ladder last year. He won the 2024 Peter Crimmins medal and collecting 24 Brownlow votes.

His other accolades include the AFLCA best young player in 2022, vice-captain of the 22Under22 side and All-Australian squad selection in 2023.

2 - John Noble

(Pick 14, 2019 - Collingwood)

The rebounding half-back flanker made an instant impact after being taken with Pick 14 in the 2019 mid-season draft, playing five games including Collingwood's two finals.

He quickly solidified his spot inside the Pies’ best 22 and became a pivotal part of their run and drive off the backline that powered them towards the premiership in 2023.

The South Australian was cruelly dropped for the finals, having played 83 consecutive games across four seasons and unfortunately couldn’t force his way back into the side.

The defender opted to move to the Gold Coast for the 2025 season and has proved to be a shrewd piece of recruiting, helping them rise up the ladder and firm for a maiden finals berth.

3 - Marlion Pickett

(Pick 13, 2019 - Richmond)

The poster boy for the mid-season draft, Pickett’s rise from a Western Australian prison to the AFL Grand Final is one that will never be forgotten.

The Tigers had a spare list spot after Shaun Grigg’s retirement, and they chose Pickett with their pick in the mid-season draft after he starred for South Fremantle in the WAFL.

The midfielder made an impression as soon as he arrived at Punt Road and helped lead the Tigers to the VFL premiership, claiming the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the three-point victory.

After Jack Graham injured his shoulder in the prelim, coach Damien Hardwick made the courageous call to debut Pickett for the decider, and it paid off. He stunned everyone to finish with 22 disposals, a goal and plenty of eye-catching moments.

Pickett would go on to play 91 games in yellow and black, including another premiership in 2020, before retiring at the end of last season.

4 - Massimo D’Ambrosio

(Pick 3, 2022 - Essendon)

The wingman was selected by Essendon in the 2022 mid-season draft having missing out in the national draft. He had been starring for the Western Jets as an overage player and played some solid footy for Richmond in the VFL.

He would feature 16 times across two seasons in red and black, however, he couldn’t force a way into Brad Scott’s best 22 and chose to look elsewhere.

The Hawks came calling at the end of 2023, looking to fill a need on the wing and the Point Cook product was exactly what they were looking for.

The left-footer was one of the best value recruits last year and many felt he was unlucky to miss out on a spot in the All-Australian team.

5 - Sam Durham

(Pick 9, 2021 - Essendon)

The inside bull was chosen by the Bombers in the 2021 draft after strong form with Richmond VFL.

The midfielder found his spot on the wing under Ben Rutten before being moved on ball under Brad Scott, with the shift paying dividends.

His crowning moment came in the 2023 Dreamtime clash against Richmond, with the number 22 kicking the match winning goal to help the Bombers sink the Tigers.

He has become a pivotal part of a dynamic midfield partnership with captain Zach Merrett and Jye Caldwell, highlighted by a third-placed finish in the 2024 Crichton Medal.

6 - James Peatling

(Pick 8, 2021 - GWS)

Peatling was finally picked up in the 2021 mid-season draft after being passed up on in the previous two drafts.

The midfielder took a while to make his mark in Western Sydney, however, he caught the eye of everyone in the competition with his match-winning mark against St Kilda last year.

Despite featuring 19 times in 2024, including in two finals, Peatling remained unsigned by the Giants with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Adelaide all enquiring about his services.

He chose to make the move to Adelaide and has provided the Crows with another inside midfield weapon to help partner Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine.

7 - Cooper Sharman

(Pick 21, 2021 - St Kilda)

The athletic tall forward was taken with the third last pick in the 2021 mid-season draft and made an instant impact featuring five times in his rookie year.

He had the competition talking with four goals in Round 23 against the Dockers and looked like a player for the future.

The 24-year-old since battled with consistency with 18 goals in 2024 proving to be his best return.

However, he has taken further steps in 2025, kicking 17 goals in nine matches to sit second on the club's goal kicking charts behind Jack Higgins (28).

Sharman has kicked multiple goals on five occasions this season and is fast becoming St Kilda's most dangerous tall forward in the asbence of Max King.

8 - Ryan Maric

(Pick 1, 2023 - West Coast)

The Gippsland Power product was the hot favourite to go No.1 in the 2023 mid-season draft, with the Eagles swooping on him with their first pick.

The 20-year-old debuted almost instantly and had an immediate impact, kicking a goal with his first kick in the AFL.

He has been more the solid despite playing in a losing side, featuring 19 times last year playing mostly in the forward line and on the wing.

Andrew McQualter threw him into defence for the 2025 season and has found himself playing as a defender that's trusted with rebounding out of defence with sharp foot skills.

So far in 2025, Maric leads the Eagles for total disposals, total kicks, effective disposals and second in rebound 50s.

9 - Will Snelling

(Pick 7, 2019 - Essendon)

The South Australian was taken by the Bombers in the 2019 mid-season draft after being delisted by Port Adelaide after just one game in three seasons.

The small forward finished the 2019 season having played four games and showed promising signs for the future.

A successful next two seasons followed with 37 games across 2020 and 2021 before just eight games in 2022 and 15 games in 2023.

He was unlucky to be delisted at the end of 2023 but has been dominating for Sturt in the SANFL, winning the Magarey Medal in 2024.

10 - Ned Long

(Pick 19, 2024 - Collingwood)

The inside midfielder was taken by Collingwood with the 19th pick in the 2024 after being delisted by Hawthorn at the end of 2023.

Strong performances for the Magpies VFL side in the first half of last season paved the way for his selection mid-year.

He debuted for the Pies as the sub against Essendon in Round 17 and came on and had nine touches in just 39 per cent game time.

The Northern Knights product played a further six games in 2024, with his best game coming against the Swans, finishing with 13 touches and a goal.

To start 2025, the midfielder has become one of the most improved players in the competition, playing every game and supporting Collingwood’s star-studded on-ball brigade.

His 29-disposal outing against North Melbourne on the weekend was an equal career-high.

Other mentions

Ryan Gardner was considered but hasn’t played since 2023 while Jordan Boyd and Jye Menzie were unfortunate to miss out. Jack Hutchinson and Cooper Lord have shown plenty of promise in their start to their AFL careers but haven’t played enough games yet to make an impression.