A total of 321 Aussie rules footballers will be hoping to hear their name called when the AFL holds its 2023 mid-season draft on Wednesday night.
The hundreds of footballers will be hoping to be among the few to find a new home on an AFL list as part of the draft, with a host of players from across the Goulburn Valley putting their name in the mix.
Jye Chalcraft (Geelong VFL, Shepparton United) and Max Clohesy (Richmond VFL, Shepparton Swans) are two of the GV’s best chances to get picked up.
Chalcraft has been named among the best in six of his eight games for the Cats this season, also being among the top performers for United when it took on Mooroopna last month.
Clohesy has starred in all three of his games back at his home club the Swans in 2023, also pulling on Richmond’s yellow and black for five games in the VFL.
James Cousins (Williamstown, Mansfield) and Tom Downie (Williamstown, Benalla) will be crossing their fingers hoping to be back on an AFL list come Thursday morning.
Cousins played 35 games during his five years at Hawthorn after being selected in the 2017 rookie draft.
A former Murray Bushrangers best-and-fairest winner, Cousins has spent the past two seasons with Williamstown in the VFL.
Downie meanwhile will be hoping his form at Williamstown has earned him another shot at the elite level.
The 30-year-old was on Greater Western Sydney’s list for six years after being picked in the 2011 national draft, playing nine games for the Giants.
Echuca’s Marty Hore will be one of the front-runners to return to an AFL list.
Currently aligned with Williamstown in the VFL, the former Leitchville turned Echuca footballer has been one of the league’s premier defenders, averaging 22 disposals and 10 marks for the Seagulls after crossing over from North Melbourne.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a timely performance against Carlton last week, tallying 27 disposals and 15 marks in a monster performance off half-back.
The former Melbourne defender will be aiming to make his return to the top-flight for the first time since 2021. He has reportedly received interest from the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney in the lead-up.
Meanwhile, teammate and fellow Echuca-listed player Darby Henderson has also nominated for the draft.
Henderson has been one of the Seagulls’ most reliable forwards in 2023, and is also coming off a handy return of 18 disposals and two goals.
Kyabram duo Charlie Barnett and Mitch Dodos have also put their names up for discussion.
Reintroduced in 2019 after a 26-year hiatus, the mid-season draft provides AFL clubs with the only opportunity to add players to their lists during the year, also allowing them to fill holes that may have arisen due to injuries.
Euroa’s Ben Bath (North Melbourne VFL) and Tom Panuccio (Geelong VFL), Mooroopna’s William Bella (Coburg VFL), Seymour’s Louis Pinnuck (Werribee), former Shepparton premiership player Nik Rokahr (Norwood SANFL) and former Shepparton Gator Tom Gorman (Yarrawonga) have also nominated for the mid-season draft
About 18 players are expected to be selected.