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The mid-season recruits who could play imminently
Andrew Slevison • May 29th, 2025 10:46 am
The 2025 mid-season rookie draft took place on Wednesday night with 18 players finding homes at AFL clubs.
Richmond VFL’s rising star Tom McCarthy went to West Coast with Pick 1 while plenty of other state-league guns were picked up.
While some of these players are considered longer term projects, there could be a few who are seen at AFL level in the coming weeks.
One of those is Michael Sellwood who was taken by the Western Bulldogs out of Peel Thunder, the WAFL club aligned to Fremantle.
The 21-year-old is a 186cm rebounding and intercept defender and those attributes could see him make his elite-level bow sooner than later.
The Dogs drafted Caleb Poulter on May 31 in 2023 and he was handed a club debut by Luke Beveridge just over a month later on July 1.
There could be similar situation this year with Sellwood, according to AFL Media’s draft guru Cal Twomey.
“There's a couple who I think will play pretty soon,” Twomey said on SEN Breakfast.
“Michael Sellwood is a half-back who can run. The Bulldogs have targeted half-back runners, having Ed Richards move into the midfield, Joel Freijah has moved from half-back into the midfield.
“So there's potentially a spot there for him, and I think he's one that the Dogs will look to play relatively soon.
“We've seen ‘Bevo’ do that in the past with his mid-season picks. He's one that I think could step in straight away.
“He has been at Peel Thunder, so he's been around the Fremantle program. So that (training at AFL level) is not going to be unusual for him.”
Another is Port Adelaide’s selection Ewan Mackinlay who was picked up from SANFL side North Adelaide.
The 21-year-old forward/midfielder stands at 182cm and has displayed good form for the Roosters.
“Ewan Mackinlay at Port Adelaide will play sooner rather than later as a small forward option who has a bit of ping in his kick,” Twomey said.
“Mackinlay may be a little bit different being in North Adelaide, but still the SANFL is at a level where you could probably step in when you're a little bit older and battle-hardened with your body.”
Of course, McCarthy is likely to get an early opportunity with West Coast given their struggles so far this season.
“Tom McCarthy definitely as the number one pick,” he added.
“I think we'll see him over the next few weeks get an opportunity for West Coast as a half-back.
“In the past they've done that with their mid-season selections as well. Ryan Maric debuted about a week or so after he was picked, and Jack Hutchinson wasn't too far behind that either.”
And perhaps an AFL debut is on the horizon for Essendon’s their selection out of their VFL program - Oskar Smartt.
“Essendon's Oskar Smartt as a small forward might get a look too at some point.”
