Shaking it up: Re-selecting every pick in the 2025 Mid-Season Draft

Tuesday night is right around the corner for the 2026 Mid-Season AFL draft, with Essendon having the top pick. Ahead of the draft, I take a look back at the 2025 Mid-Season draft and do a complete re-draft based on how the players are performing right now for their teams. Zac Walker (Originally Pick 12) In my re-draft, Zac Walker unfortunately falls to the last pick. Has yet to debut for the Western Bulldogs, and has not put in top-tier performances in the VFL as a forward. The 20-year-old has only hit the scoreboard three times in 2026 and isn't impacting on a high level. Caleb Lewis (Pick 14) The key defender has yet to debut for Gold Coast since being picked in the 2025 mid-season draft, but is still on their list, performing in the VFL. Playing four games so far this year in the reserves, putting together solid performances as a defender, hopefully, he sees an opportunity soon at the senior level. Harrison Ramm (Pick 3) Ramm has slid in my re-draft after being picked third. The key defender has played only one game for Port Adelaide for a measly five touches. The 19-year-old hasn't been amazing in the SANFL either, but he is still a prospect and has a lot of time to improve. Noah Howes (Pick 15) Noah Howes has yet to debut in senior football, but he has been very, very close to debuting for the Magpies in 2026. The key position prospect hasn't hit the scoreboard a whole amount in the VFL, but he has been marking the ball at an outrageous level, including a recent performance getting 10 marks. He may debut soon and hopefully can showcase his skills on the big stage. His switch to defence has been positive. Oskar Smartt (Pick 17) The zippy small forward played only four games in 2025, but didn't have a high impact in those games. Averaging only five disposals, he did have his chances to hit the scoreboard, kicking five behinds and zero goals. He has now been delisted from the Bombers and is playing in the WAFL, where he has kicked 12 goals across six games. Flynn Young (Pick 4) After being pick four in the mid-season draft, it has been a disappointing 2026, featuring only in the VFL, but in 2025, he saw the field eight times at senior level, with his best performance of 19 disposals and 2 goals in round 24. This year, he has been performing well as a forward in Carlton's VFL. Now with Voss gone, he may get an opportunity to play some senior football soon. Mani Liddy (Pick 16) Liddy was good for Port Adelaide last year after his debut, featuring in nine games, averaging 14 touches per game as a midfielder and half forward. After the new coaching change, Liddy has not played senior-level football in 2026, but still performs in the SANFL for Port Adelaide. Liam McMahon (Pick 18) McMahon makes it higher on the list based on his performances at the end of last season with the Bombers. In his seven games last year, he kicked 12 goals, including hauls of four and three goals in back-to-back games. Now playing VFL for Essendon, still kicking bags of goals each game, hoping to earn another shot in the lineup. Jacob Newton (Pick 9) Jacob Newton has featured in a few of the games this year, but has yet to be a standout feature for the Eagles. In those three games, he has only averaged seven touches as a forward, but has also only hit the scoreboard once across the games. Newton has yet to feature since round three. Zac Banch (Pick 2) Banch hasn't had many opportunities under Alastair Clarkson, as he has only played six games, including two this year. When he is on the field, he has been quite noticeable as a pressure forward; his defensive work as a forward is his specialty, and it's what keeps him a close option for selection every week. Oscar Adams (Pick 7) The key defender has now reached 15 games played over his 2 seasons with the Suns. Another player who is a solid contributor performing in his role for Damien Hardwick. He is also coming off one of his best performances in round 10 against the Power, really proving that he can be relied on in the team. The 22-year-old has a bright future with the Suns. Ewan McKinlay (Pick 11) Mackinlay only featured in one game last year, but has been a standout pressure forward for the Power this season. His pressure has kept him in the side for every game of 2026, as well as his ability to hit the scoreboard, kicking five goals across the 10 games. His recent performances have been great and it really seems like he his hitting his stride right now. Roan Steele (Pick 8) The 24-year-old midfielder has been a quiet contributor for the Pies, mainly playing as a winger and outside midfielder. After five games last season, he has featured in every game this season, averaging 14 disposals as the winger. He has been crucial for Craig Mcrae and his system on the offensive and defensive sides. Lachlan Blakiston (Pick 13) Essendon has found another solid player in this mid-season draft with defender/ruckman Lachlan Blakiston. He has played in every game since joining the club. He has been a versatile player for Brad Scott, playing in multiple positions over his 21 games. After playing in the Ruck for the beginning of this season, he has gone back and been good since then, another solid young player for the Bombers' future. Archer May (Pick 6) Archer May has really exploded onto the scene this season for the Bombers. In eight games so far this season, he has kicked 11 goals and is averaging over three marks a game. Considering how the Bombers have played this season, it has been impressive. His strength and forward craft are ultra-impressive, and Essendon have found a good one in this draft. Michael Sellwood (Pick 5) After being a key part of the Dogs' 2025 VFL Premiership, the 22-year-old has been a handy mid-sized defender and has really found his stride in 2026, showcasing his skills on a high level. Sellwood has been a pillar in defence in all 10 games thus far for the Dogs. His one-on-one defence and intercepting ability have been pretty solid for a rookie, but he also relies on his pressure acts. He has been a good tackler, and he really hangs his hat on his countless defensive efforts. Tom McCarthy (Pick 1) West Coast found a nice gem in McCarthy during last season's mid-year draft. Since joining the Eagles at this point last season, he has played in 20 total games, playing every game since his debut. During this time, he is averaging 22 disposals for the Eagles and has turned into a key distributor by foot off half-back. Cooper Trembath (Pick 10) Cooper Trembath has been a very good target up forward for the Kangaroos in 2026. Playing in all 10 games this season, he has kicked 14 goals and averaged over four marks per game for the Kangaroos. The 20-year-old's presence as a second option forward for the Kangaroos has made him the best player from this draft. You could argue that if he didn't have Nick Larkey as his number one option, how many goals could he realistically kick for a team?

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	FRE	11	10	1	40	135.5
2	SYD	11	9	2	36	142.5
3	GEEL	11	8	3	32	124.4
4	HAW	11	7	3	30	110.4
5	GC	11	7	4	28	116.9
6	MELB	10	7	3	28	107.6
7	BL	10	6	4	24	116.6
8	ADEL	11	6	5	24	107.9
9	COLL	11	5	5	22	100.3
10	STK	11	5	6	20	108.2

Shaking it up: Re-selecting every pick in the 2025 Mid-Season Draft

A fair bit of movement from the actual draft, with a new Pick 1 emerging.

7Ewan McKinlay (Pick 11)

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