The 2026 AFL Mid-Season Draft is locked in Tuesday, May 26, with half the competition currently in the running to make a selection at the talent intake.
The indicative Mid-Season Draft Order sees West Coast hold Pick 1 via Deven Robertson's long-term injury, with GWS, Adelaide, St Kilda and Port Adelaide following in the queue via list spots left over from the pre-season.
The Western Bulldogs (Sam Darcy), Collingwood (Reef McInnes) and Melbourne (Jai Culley) can also open list spots, while Hawthorn would sit at Pick 9 to round out the first round of the draft order (at the time prior to Round 8 commencing).
Richmond, who sit last on the ladder, could open up a list spot given their injury toll, while Essendon and Carlton are also ones to watch.
Speaking on this week's episode of Craft of the Draft, host Mitch Keating expects the Tigers to be on the clock come the Mid-Season Draft.
"I'd be shocked if Richmond didn't have a selection open come draft night given how long their injury list is. I think they've got seven players with TBC as their return date," he said.
"With where their list is at, getting a good young player or at least someone who can have an immediate impact through the door would help them.
"Essendon, too, although there's no real clear injury option for them. Carlton is another club, whether that's through Elijah Hollands, whose playing future is up in the air at the moment."
Melbourne and North Melbourne could open list spots before this month's count, with Demons veteran Tom Campbell considering retirement, while Roos rookie Blake Thredgold could miss his entire 2026 season with a foot injury.
Draft analyst Jonty Ralphsmith flagged the two clubs as ones to watch regarding the selection order, while noting Sandringham Dragons talent Ollie Griffin and Roos' own VFL asset Xavier Bamert as two prospects among "a dozen" who are earning interest.
"There's an expectation that Melbourne might open up an extra list spot. Tom Campbell, there's been talk around his potential retirement," Ralphsmith said.
"North Melbourne have got Blake Thredgold, who isn't expected to feature at all this year. They've got some prospects in their VFL program.
"There are about a dozen prospects who are doing everything they can and have started to attract some level of interest from AFL suitors.
"Ollie Griffin has been the one who has been discussed at length across the last month. His game against Oakleigh in Round 2 of the Talent League was compelling. Four goals, he marked everything. He's taken big steps with his footy. He's improved his pressure, and that's been really noticeable.
"Xavier Bamert has played four games as 23rd man for North Melbourne and has really impressed as a powerful midfielder. Was just overlooked last year."
Geelong VFL talent Marcus Herbert is another in consideration, having continued his stellar form in the hoops this year.
The 23-year-old defender, who claimed best and fairest honours for the Cats' reserves last year, as well as the best on ground mod in the Northern Football League's Division 1 Grand Final win for Heidelberg, is among the leading names out of the state league.
"Marcus Herbert out of Geelong's VFL... he's been a standout performer for them over the past couple of years," Keating added.
"Can go through midfield, play across half-back and scoreboard impact is part of his game. He'll be one to certainly look at."
