Following the 2026 Mid-Season Rookie draft, it's time to touch bases with who's new, and see who has already made a mark on their club's season.
Jaxon Artemis (Essendon)
Jaxon Artemis has joined the Bombers as the number one pick in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft. The West Australian 19-year-old has been recruited from Tasmania's VFL side after being overlooked during both the 2024 and 2025 national drafts. Prior to his run with Tasmania, Artemis' WAFL career was been spent predominantly across the half-back line at South Fremantle where he averaged 19.2 disposals per game.
His time at the Bombers has started in less than ideal fashion, with a minor calf injury delaying a potential debut for the struggling side.
Kye Annand (Richmond)
The key defender was recruited from Geelong's VFL team to Richmond with the second pick of the draft. Annand was stand out player in his debut match last Saturday, ending his Tigers' VFL debut with 13 disposals, four marks and seven intercepts, with coach Jack Madgen saying "He's bought in straight away.”
Oliver Francou (West Coast)
The son of former Port Adelaide play Josh Francou, Oliver Francou was recruited to the Eagles from North Adelaide. An inside midfielder, Francou averaged 8 tackles and 31 disposals across his first five senior games in the SANFL. He impressed in his first WAFL game for the Eagles, with 20 disposals and 7 tackles.
Flynn Riley (Carlton)
Moving up from the Carlton reserves, the ruckman has played 11 games since the beginning of last season, bagging the coach's award in 2025. Carlton General Manager of Football, Chris Davies, had only positive things to say about Riley.
“His VFL form this year has been really strong and seeing the way the game has gone with the new ruck rules, we think that certainly plays into Flynn's strengths," Davies said.
Xavier Bamert (Port Adelaide)
Bamert was recruited from North Melbourne's VFL program after being overlooked in last year's national draft. He has developed a leadership ability as well as improving his all-round game, after spending his draft year captaining the Sandringham Dragons.
Ollie Griffin (North Melbourne)
Another Sandringham Dragons alum, the key forward has bagged North Melbourne's only pick this season. Griffin has an average of 3 contested marks per game and is known for being a tough and versatile player.
Campbell Lake (St Kilda)
Campbell Lake joins St Kilda after spending three years with Southport in the VFL, after a stint in the Gold Coast Suns academy. The small forward is a dynamic player known for his ability to tackle as well as his ability to impact the scoreboard.
Lake managed consecutive VFL grand final appearances in 2024 and 2025. Following his first appearance for the Saints, Lake has caused a stir on social media with a video of an impressive goal prompting many fans to suggest it's only a matter of time until he moves up.
Harrison Coe (Collingwood)
Harrison Coe comes to the Pies from the Frankston Dolphins, where he averaged 23 touches per game. The ruckman is a powerful player, standing at an impressive 204 centimetres, coming in just in time to fill the void created in Collingwood's ruck room left by Oscar Steene, following his ACL injury.
Caleb May (Western Bulldogs)
May has been recruited to the Dogs, following a stint in with West Adelaide in the SANFL. His daunting height of 207 centimetres, as well as his average of 37 hitouts per game, mark him an impressive addition to the Western Bulldog's ruck line up.
Hugo Hall-Kahan (Adelaide)
Hall-Kahan was recruited for the Crows from the Sandringham Dragons and has a history of playing both forward and defence. He is known for being instrumental inside the forward 50, averaging two goals, 15 touches and 4.5 marks per game.
Lukas Cooke (Melbourne)
Cooke joins Melbourne from the SANFL's Woodville-West Torrens, where he has built a name for himself for the past five years. Cooke is recognised as an impressive defender, averaging 18 disposals and eight marks per game.
Max Beattie (Hawthorn)
Beattie joins the Hawks after celebrating his 50th match for Woodville-West Torrens earlier this year. The midfielder averages 22.9 disposals and has scored 12 goals in his 7 appearances in the SANFL this season. Beattie also boasts a 5.1 mark average and a 4.6 tackle average.
Marcus Herbert (West Coast)
After a draft year decimated by the pandemic and several years attempting to break into Geelong, Herbert has been rewarded for his efforts with a six month contract with the West Coast Eagles. The midfielder was recruited after spending six seasons with Geelong's VFL team and is ready to make his mark at an AFL level, averaging 30.8 disposals across his last 6 games. During his debut game for the Eagles' twos, Herbert set his standards, making managing a team-high 23 touches and four tackles.
Alex Van Wyk (Port Adelaide)
Van Wyk comes to Port Adelaide from North Adelaide's SNAFL program. This year, he has averaged 23 hitouts, 8.6 disposals and 2.4 marks per game. Previously, Van Wyk has represented South Australia at Under-18 and Under-20 levels.
Liam Puncher (Collingwood)
Puncher graduated from the Sydney Swans academy, before playing for Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL before being picked up by Collingwood in the the Mid-Season Rookie Draft. The key defender saw significant game time in his debut, despite the Pies ultimately losing to Footscray.
Joel Fitzgerald (Melbourne)
Fitzgerald was recruited to Melbourne from the VFL's Williamstown. Despite spending most of his career as a defender, this year he was moved into the midfield, proving his worth as a versatile player. Fitzgerald also boasts a disposal average of 34, the third highest across the league.
Fitzgerald amazed upon his debut for Casey, racking up 39 disposals, 12 clearances and a goal, leading to acknowledgement from the AFL's Instagram account.
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Mitch Podhajski (Collingwood)
Currently the leading goal kicker in the VFL, Podhajski was recruited to the Pies from the Coburg Lions. He lived up to his reputation in his first match with Collingwood, scoring his 150th goal (and second for the Magpies) in the final quarter.
Max Mapley (Melbourne)
After following the Tasmanian Junior pathway, the ruckman was recruited into Melbourne from the VFL's Tasmanian team. The 20 year old averages 18 hit-outs and 12 disposals per game. The newest Demon is yet to debut for Melbourne and has spent the first half of the season playing in Tassie.
