SA Footy

Mid-Season Draft back in 2021

The AFL has confirmed the Mid-Season Draft will return in 2021 as a one-night event in early June.

By Mitch Cleary // AFL Media - 5 hrs ago

Cam Sutcliffe was selected by Port Adelaide with pick 9 of the 2019 mid-season draft.

THE AFL has committed to a single Mid-Season Rookie Draft next year, ditching a proposal for multiple 'waiver'-style periods throughout the season. 

Clubs received confirmation on Tuesday that the Mid-Season Rookie Draft would return on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, after being put on hold this season due to COVID-19. 

It will take on the same format as the 2019 model that saw 13 players selected, including Richmond's Marlion Pickett who went on to win a premiership just four months later. 

The AFL had previously raised an alternative model that would allow clubs to fill vacant list spots or replace inactive players on a monthly basis. 

Instead, it will return to a one-off event that allows those overlooked in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft and Rookie Draft, or a player previously delisted, to be selected.

Clubs eligible to select a player during the June intake must have a list spot open following the Rookie Draft or have moved a player to the inactive list via a retirement or long-term injury.

The AFL also confirmed the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) will return from January 6 and run until March 9 on the eve of the 2021 season. 

Much like the Mid-Season Draft, clubs must have a list spot open following the Rookie Draft or have moved a player to the inactive list in order to add a player in the window. 

For example, Adelaide will be forced to re-draft retired defender Bryce Gibbs due to administration purposes around his payout for 2021. The Crows will be allowed to immediately move Gibbs to the inactive list and add a player via the SSP. 

Clubs will have the opportunity to add potential SSP signings to their training squad in the new year – a process used most notably by Richmond's Sydney Stack to win a list spot at Punt Road ahead of 2019. 

Should any player selected in the SSP have signed a contract with a state league club, their new AFL home will be required to pay $10,000 that will come from outside the football department soft cap. Exclusions apply for players who had signed a consent form to train with the AFL club before committing to the state league club, or if the player was entering the 2020 drafts for the first time in their 18th year.

The flat fee of $10,000 applies for the Mid-Season Rookie Draft without any exclusions.

As was the case in 2019, players selected in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft will need approval from their original state league club should the two teams meet during the season, while the Mid-Season draftee will be eligible to return to their original club for finals if not required by their AFL club.

quoting the above post "As was the case in 2019, players selected in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft will need approval from their original state league club should the two teams meet during the season, while the Mid-Season draftee will be eligible to return to their original club for finals if not required by their AFL club"

I do not think this (returning to the original club) was the case. We were told we could not have Knoll (Sydney) should we play finals.

Stand to be corrected.

DOC wrote:quoting the above post "As was the case in 2019, players selected in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft will need approval from their original state league club should the two teams meet during the season, while the Mid-Season draftee will be eligible to return to their original club for finals if not required by their AFL club"

I do not think this (returning to the original club) was the case. We were told we could not have Knoll (Sydney) should we play finals.

Stand to be corrected.

Maybe he had signed a contract extension for the following season?

Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

Booney wrote:Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

It's an interesting debate, and most people I know agree that getting Thilthorpe and avoiding the #1 pressure is a good idea.

I seem to be in the minority that would just say bugger it, we (speaking on behalf of the crows, not as a crows fan) want to be able to promote the fact we have the #1 player from the 2020 draft and as such, we've taken our man Thilthorpe.

You could also see a deal done with pick swaps with the bulldogs that mean as they don't have to spend the extra points to match pick #1 and now only need to match #2, they are happy to give you a sweet deal on pick swaps with lower picks.

Then again, you don't want to be the club that in 2030 when Ugle-Hagan wins his 7th All Australia is sitting there saying we had the #1 pick and didn't try and get him! haha

Booney wrote:Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

Absolutely do this, make the dogs pay.

PatowalongaPirate wrote:

Booney wrote:Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

Absolutely do this, make the dogs pay.

Agree
Even if Crows dont pick Hagan, our no.1 pick will be always compared to him anyway

I don’t get the hype on Thilthorpe.

Hope I’m proven wrong

The crows have come out and said they will pick who they think is the best player at 1.
If I were them I would not pick Hagan at 1, pick who they will end up with if the bulldogs matched.
That way they can tell the kid they picked they rated him number 1 from the start ra ra ra, and fill him with confidence that they rate him higher than the bulldogs player and always have.
Nobody wants to be second choice

That's a reasonable thought process mate, hadn't looked at it that way.

I’m taking Hollands if I’m Adelaide

Mythical Creature wrote:The crows have come out and said they will pick who they think is the best player at 1.
If I were them I would not pick Hagan at 1, pick who they will end up with if the bulldogs matched.
That way they can tell the kid they picked they rated him number 1 from the start ra ra ra, and fill him with confidence that they rate him higher than the bulldogs player and always have.
Nobody wants to be second choice

They can still tell him this and they only picked the other bloke to make the Dogs pay. I am sure a donation of 10k can be made to offset not choosing the player at No 1. I don't really understand any hype around being number 1 anyway, it can turn out to be more of a stigma.

Mythical Creature wrote:The crows have come out and said they will pick who they think is the best player at 1.
If I were them I would not pick Hagan at 1, pick who they will end up with if the bulldogs matched.
That way they can tell the kid they picked they rated him number 1 from the start ra ra ra, and fill him with confidence that they rate him higher than the bulldogs player and always have.
Nobody wants to be second choice

If a player cant deal with the 'adversity' of being a second choice he aint going to cut the mustard at AFL level.

I wouldn't be drafting any player who I believe wasn't resilient enough to deal with your scenario

Booney wrote:Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

I can see both sides to the argument. Luckily this is the last year of the crap Academies, etc!!

I think Ugle-Hagan deserves to be the Number 1 pick and the cash and pressure that goes with it.

I also agree with Brodlach re Thilthorpe, dont get the hype, would be going McDonald as my pick for sure.

Whatever happens, will be plenty of discussion in years to come on what the correct decision should have been

Eagles2014 wrote:

Booney wrote:Rightio, what do Adelaide do with pick 1?

Me, I'd nominate Ugle-Hagan, widely regarded as the best player and make the Bulldogs match.

Adelaide then get a "free" shot at McDonald or Thilthorpe and one of them doesn't have the #1 pick pressure on their heads. Win/win.

I can see both sides to the argument. Luckily this is the last year of the crap Academies, etc!!

I think Ugle-Hagan deserves to be the Number 1 pick and the cash and pressure that goes with it.

I also agree with Brodlach re Thilthorpe, dont get the hype, would be going McDonald as my pick for sure.

Whatever happens, will be plenty of discussion in years to come on what the correct decision should have been

Most supporters know that the draft is a lottery, and pick 1 guarantee's nothing in regards to how a player turns out down the track.

Unfortunately the media has to create articles so there'll be one in a few years saying "why didn't Crows pick player x instead", this is unless the player picked by the Crows turns out to be a really good player, then we will hear nothing from the media.

Chrisso wrote: this is unless the player picked by the Crows turns out to be a really good player, then we will hear nothing from the media.

Wrong!!!!

Then we will hear about that time he farted when he was getting his fruit and Veg at the Carousel in Marion, and who he is reportedly banging after being seen at the Cas at 2 am on a Sunday night

Every month months there will be an old recruiter/ Crows Legend feature article mid week that says how they always knew he was going to be a gun after watching five minutes of an U/16s game this one time.....

I feel for the poor bastards that are going to be drafted by Essendon

Chrisso wrote:Most supporters know that the draft is a lottery, and pick 1 guarantee's nothing in regards to how a player turns out down the track..

True, but generally they get it right more often than not these days.

Armchair expert wrote:I feel for the poor bastards that are going to be drafted by Essendon

Armchair expert wrote:I feel for the poor bastards that are going to be drafted by Essendon

Yep, couple of years of pain coming their way
On the other hand some good drafting over the next year or two can turn things around