Vic local clubs celebrate AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft picks
The 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft was held on Wednesday night and local clubs across Victoria are celebrating seeing their home-grown products make it onto AFL lists.
Of the 19 players picked, nine are from Victoria.
The nine Victorians have all been playing Victorian Football League (VFL) or Coates Talent League, but their AFL dreams would not have been realised without the local clubs and communities who have played a part in their journeys.
Congratulations to all players selected and to the clubs at all levels of the game who are celebrating the success of these players.
Eight of the nine Victorians find themselves on AFL lists for the first time, while ex-Hawthorn midfielder Ned Long has been given a second chance, taken by Collingwood after playing with the Magpies' VFL program in the opening half of this season.
The top two picks were Tasmanian Geordie Payne, taken by North Melbourne and West Australian Jacob Blight, who goes to Richmond. Hutchinson was the top Victorian selected, at pick three by the Magpies.
Victorians selected in the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft:
3 - West Coast Eagles: Jack Hutchinson (Collingwood (VFL) / Wonthaggi / Inverloch-Kongwak)
4 - St Kilda: Max Hall (Box Hill Hawks (VFL) / Montrose / Yarra Glen / Wandin)
6 - Brisbane Lions: Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons (CTL) / Colac)
9 - Carlton: Cooper Lord (Sandringham Dragons (CTL) / North Melbourne (VFL) / Kew Rovers / Glen Iris)
10 - Collingwood: Iliro Smit (Eastern Ranges (CTL) / Montrose / Mount Evelyn)
13 - Essendon: Saad El-Hawli (Northern Bullants (VFL) / Altona / Newport)
14 - Sydney Swans: Tom Hanily (Gippsland Power (CTL) / Leongatha)
16 - Richmond: Campbell Gray (Essendon (VFL) / Keilor / Pascoe Vale)
19 - Collingwood: Ned Long (Collingwood (VFL) / Fitzroy)
Click here for the full list and profiles of 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft selections.
