After weeks of speculation, rumours and scouting, the AFL mid-season draft is now behind us, with an equal record six SANFL players securing an AFL list spot. 

Glenelg's Harrison Ramm and Oscar Adams, Norwood's Jacob Newton, North Adelaide's Ewan Mackinlay, South Adelaide's Noah Howes and Central District's Mani Liddy all found an AFL home in Wednesday's draft. 

With a mix of former AFL players, emerging young guns and mature-aged talent among the selections, we take a look at each player and what they can offer their new AFL club.

SEE MORE: Check out EVERY selection from the 2025 Mid-Season Draft

Harrison Ramm - Port Adelaide

One of the most talked-about prospects heading into the mid-season draft, Glenelg tall utility Port Adelaide snapped up Harrison Ramm with Pick 3. 

The 18-year-old was overlooked in last year's national draft, but caught the eye of recruiters in his six league matches with the Tigers, displaying tremendous athleticism and competitiveness for a player of his size.

Measuring in at 202cm and still growing, Ramm looms as a long-term recruit with plenty of upside and scope for development once he fills out his colossal frame.

A key feature of Ramm's game has been his versatility, having played stints as a ruckman, key forward and key defender and shown his ability in the aerial contests.

Despite the injury crisis currently raging at Alberton, Port Adelaide will be keen to see Ramm develop in their SANFL team before considering him for AFL duties, especially considering his slight frame for a key position player.

With Jordon Sweet, Ivan Soldo and Dante Visentini holding down the ruck mantle at Port, Ramm will be unlikely to see much time in the ruck, but will instead be earmarked for a key position post.

Port Adelaide's SANFL team are desperately undermanned in defence, while fellow young tall Jack Whitlock is crying out for support in attack, which gives Ramm some flexibility to play at either end of the ground.

As for his former club, Glenelg will sorely miss the versatility that Ramm offered as well as his towering figure that proved a handful for opposition sides.

The Bays could look to fellow big men Ryan Pickering or Will Stockman to replace his height, or they could be prompted to reconfigure their side to add a quicker player in their line-up. 

Oscar Adams - Gold Coast Suns

Former St Kilda defender Oscar Adams has been offered another opportunity at AFL level with the Gold Coast Suns, who took the 198cm backman with Pick 7.

Adams spent two years on the Saints' list after being drafted with Pick 51 in 2021, but was unable to break through for a senior debut following a frustrating battle with injury.

Delisted at the end of 2023, Adams returned to junior club Glenelg in 2024 and was an instrumental part in the Tigers' premiership run, playing every game and consistently shutting down the opposition's best key forward.

Touted for his intercept marking and ability to negate opponents in one-on-one contests, Adams is also quite athletic for a player of his size and is a sound user of the ball.

Adams has been widely recognised as one of the best key defenders in the SANFL and enjoyed a superb start to the 2025 campaign, shutting down quality forwards such as Chris Burgess, Jackson Callow and Connor Ballenden.

As a mature-aged player with previous AFL experience, Adams will be right in the mix for senior selection at Gold Coast this season, looming as a suitable replacement for the injured Charlie Ballard. 

Still just 21 years of age, Adams could also be a long-term prospect for the Suns and possesses the size and strength to take on the opposition's main key forward if the need arises.

He will certainly be a major loss for Glenelg, who will find it almost impossible to replace a player of his quality mid-season. 

Former North Adelaide defender Karl Finlay shapes as the ideal replacement once he returns from injury in the second half of the season, but until then, the Bays could look at Cooper Beecken, who stood in for Adams in Round 1 and has performed well in the reserves.

Jacob Newton - West Coast Eagles

Widely considered one of the unluckiest players not to be taken in last year's draft, Norwood's Jacob Newton has found an AFL home after the Eagles took him with Pick 9.

Newton was well on track to be selected in 2024 until a navicular foot injury in July cut short an outstanding season and dashed his draft hopes. 

Measuring in at 179cm, Newton mostly played as a powerful burst midfielder in Norwood's U18s last year, averaging 24 disposals, seven clearances, four tackles and five inside 50s per game.

After recovering from the injury earlier this year, Newton joined the Redlegs' league side playing at half-forward, kicking seven goals in four games and six majors across his two most recent outings.

Despite his small stature, Newton has displayed excellent overhead abilities and competes strongly in the air, making him a dual threat for opposition defenders.

He was one of Norwood's best in their recent win over South Adelaide, taking a series of impressive marks and kicking three goals to put his name up in lights with AFL recruiters.

Still only 19 years of age, Newton demonstrates a combativeness well beyond his years, as evidenced by his terrific contested work against far more mature players at the league level.

Joining an understrength West Coast Eagles outfit, Newton's competitiveness and physicality will be welcome traits at the Eagles and could provide them a much-needed spark.

With forwards Jamie Cripps, Matthew Owies and Jake Waterman all sidelined with injuries, Newton could get his AFL chance early as the Eagles look for goalkicking power up front.

The long-term hope for the Eagles will be the prospect of Newton potentially developing into a damaging midfield option, especially if Harley Reid departs at the end of the season. 

While Norwood will be disappointed to lose Newton, they have several options in the short term to cover his loss in the forward line, with Ollie Sanders and Daniel Gauci the most likely candidates.

A more permanent solution will be the return of Will Rowlands from a major shoulder injury, with the former Sun slated to come back in Round 15 after joining his old club over the off-season.

Ewan Mackinlay - Port Adelaide

Another SANFL player who was heavily scouted in the lead-up to the draft was North Adelaide speedster Ewan Mackinlay, who eventually landed at Port Adelaide with Pick 11.

Recruited from the Lavington Football Club in the Ovens and Murray League for the 2024 season, Mackinlay spent the first four games in the reserves before making his league debut and playing every game since.

Given more opportunities around the footy this season, Mackinlay quickly caught the eye with his blistering pace and ability to break the game open from stoppage with his run and carry.

A hybrid midfield-forward who can win the footy at the stoppage and hit the scoreboard inside 50, Mackinlay looms as a damaging player who has many of the traits modern AFL coaches value.

The 21-year-old averaged 17 disposals, four inside 50s and nearly one goal per game in his seven league matches for the Roosters this year, demonstrating the versatility in his game.

Ironically, arguably his best game of the season came last week against his new club in the SANFL, where he registered 23 disposals and five inside 50s as one of the Roosters' best.

Standing at 182cm and boasting terrific running power, Port Adelaide will likely utilise Mackinlay as a high half forward who can work up the ground and get involved in Port's transition play.

With small forward Tom Cochrane sidelined for the season, Mackinlay could be considered for an AFL debut relatively early as the Power look to increase their firepower in attack.

Port's midfield stocks at SANFL level remain quite bare, which could afford Mackinlay more midfield opportunities to develop into the prototype small forward that can pinch-hit with his game-breaking pace at the stoppages.

With Mackinlay's unique mix of abilities, North Adelaide will be hard-pressed to cover for him, particularly with his pace and versatility.

Kelsey Rypstra's return from injury in the coming weeks will be helpful, while Frank Szekely, who has played as a small forward this year, could spend some more time around the footy.

Noah Howes - Collingwood

South Adelaide key forward Noah Howes had been on the draft radar for some time and has finally received an AFL opportunity after Collingwood took him at Pick 15.

After being overlooked in his draft year, Howes enjoyed a terrific start to his maiden SANFL league season last year, kicking 11 goals in seven games in a struggling South Adelaide line-up.

However, a bad run with injury in the second half of the season again cruelled his draft hopes, as he managed just one league game after Round 8.

Back to full fitness in 2025, Howes has been in superb form to start the year, bagging 12 goals in six matches and averaging five marks per game.

Standing at 196cm, Howes is an imposing aerial threat and a fantastic contested mark for someone of his age, displaying strength in the marking contests well beyond his years.

Able to read the ball and position himself smartly, Howes has made a habit of beating much more experienced opponents and competes strongly in one-on-ones.

Joining a Collingwood team at the top of their game, Howes will find it difficult to break into the team this season, but looms as an ideal long-term option once the likes of Dan McStay and Brody Mihocek retire.

For the struggling South Adelaide, Howes' departure is a massive loss, with his competitiveness and aerial strength highly valued at Noarlunga.

His loss will likely trigger a reprieve for Damon Frietag from the reserves, while young forwards Sam Hindes and Bailey Pilmore continue to develop nicely in the seconds. 

Mani Liddy - Port Adelaide

Midfield dynamo Mani Liddy burst onto the radar of AFL clubs following a vastly improved start to the 2025 campaign, with Port Adelaide snatching the 23-year-old with Pick 16.

Originally from Sturt, Liddy joined the Bulldogs for the 2023 season in search of more opportunities and quickly became a fixture of the Bulldogs' line-up.

However, Liddy has elevated himself to one of the league's premier midfielders in 2025 after knocking an incredible 30 seconds off his 2km time trial result over the off-season.

The 184cm midfielder averaged 22 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s in seven games for the Dogs this year and earned selection for SA in the recent state game against WA, in which he won the Fos Williams Medal as SA's best on ground.

Liddy has impressed all onlookers with his elite running power and ability to outwork his opponent in getting to the next contest, which is a critical facet of modern AFL football.

However, Liddy is also more than capable at the coalface and can win plenty of his own footy and put teammates into space with his sharp skills and burst from stoppage.

As injuries continue to strike at Port Adelaide, Liddy may not need to wait long for an AFL debut and could earn his chance in the second half of the season.

A mature-aged player with more than 50 games of league experience behind him, Liddy has the attributes and quality to be a ready-made replacement at AFL level.

Recognised as one of the best players in the SANFL, Liddy's departure could have huge ramifications for Central District, who are right in contention for this year's premiership.

The Dogs have increased midfield depth this year and still boast the likes of Harry Grant, Kade Ditmarr and Leyton Chisolm, but they will struggle to cover his unique running power.

Wilson Barry could be brought in from the wing, or Kyle Presbury from the forward line, to play more midfield minutes, while Jai Larkins could be called up from the reserves.