The AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft 2023 was held last night, highlighting the emerging talent within the league. Thirteen promising players were selected, ushering in a fresh wave of talent ready to make their mark in the AFL.
Taking pride of place as the number one pick was Gippsland Power forward, Ryan Maric, chosen by the West Coast Eagles. Maric’s trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. The Drouin native had been in scintillating form in the early stages of the 2023 Coates Talent League season, averaging 19 disposals and scoring an impressive eight goals in just three appearances for Gippsland Power.
Maric continued to impress in the two-game Young Guns Series, demonstrating his burgeoning talent and versatility. His performances in two VFL matches for the Box Hill Hawks over the past fortnight further bolstered his reputation, where he managed to kick four goals. Maric’s meteoric rise and selection as the number one pick certainly heralds him as a player to watch in the coming season.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: Number 1 Mid Season Rookie Draft pick Ryan Maric of Gippsland Power poses for a photograph after being selected by the West Coast Eagles during the 2023 Mid Season Rookie Draft Media Opportunity at AFL House on June 01, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
To qualify for participation in the 2023 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, clubs needed to have an available rookie list spot by 5:00pm AEST on Tuesday, May 30. This was then followed by a draft order set in reverse ladder order at the conclusion of Round 11, giving clubs an opportunity to bolster their squads for the remainder of the season.
Looking at the broader context, the 2023 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft takes the tally to 123 players added to AFL lists since the end of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership season. This number incorporates players selected in the 2022 AFL National and Rookie Drafts, as well as those chosen as delisted free agents, Category B rookies, and during the pre-season supplemental period.
While it doesn’t account for players who were delisted and then re-selected by the same club during the 2022 AFL Rookie Draft, it does include 19 players who had previously been listed at other clubs, offering them a fresh start and new opportunities.
The list of selections:
| # | CLUB | PLAYER | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| Round 1 | ||||
| 1 | West Coast Eagles | Ryan Maric | Gippsland Power (CTL) | Drouin |
| 2 | North Melbourne | Robert Hansen Jnr | Subiaco (WAFL) | Mines Rovers |
| 3 | Hawthorn | Clay Tucker | Eastern Ranges (CTL) | Rowville Hawks |
| 4 | Richmond | Matthew Coulthard | Glenelg (SANFL) | Port Noarlunga |
| – | GWS GIANTS | Pass | ||
| 5 | Sydney Swans | Harry Arnold | Brisbane Lions (VFL) | Broadbeach |
| 6 | Geelong Cats | Mitchell Hardie | Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL) | Leeton Whitton |
| 7 | Fremantle | Ethan Stanley | Box Hill Hawks (VFL) | Frankston YCW |
| 8 | Essendon | Jaiden Hunter | Perth (WAFL) | Applecross |
| 9 | Western Bulldogs | Caleb Poulter | Footscray Bulldogs (VFL) | Ardrossan |
| 10 | Port Adelaide | Quinton Narkle | Essendon (VFL) | Maddington |
| Round 2 | ||||
| 11 | Hawthorn | Brandon Ryan | Northern Bullants (VFL) | Maribyrnong Park |
| 12 | Richmond | James Trezise | Richmond (VFL) | Tooradin-Dalmore |
| – | GWS GIANTS | Pass | ||
| 13 | Sydney Swans | Jack Buller | Claremont (WAFL) | Cottesloe |
In their press release, the AFL states that this year’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft underscores the AFL’s continued commitment to nurturing and developing young talent. It allows clubs to freshen up their lists mid-season, but more importantly, it provides emerging players like Ryan Maric a platform to showcase their talent on the grand stage of Australian rules football. The draft is a testament to the vitality and depth of talent in the AFL and is an exciting glimpse into the future of the sport.
