The 2026 Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft saw 18 players selected by AFL clubs on Tuesday night, with Essendon taking Jaxon Artemis at pick one. The draft provided opportunities for players who missed earlier selections, including prospects from VFL and SANFL competitions across Australia.
Good reminder that missing the initial draft doesn't end careers. Half these players were overlooked or injured in their draft year, and now they're getting second chances.
Yeah i honestly think in the same way they want to incentivise clubs to take players with indigenous backgrounds they should also incentivise taking mature players in the draft. Making every club have to take someone older than 21 would improve the quality of lower leagues as more players would stay in the system if there was a good chsnce of being drafted, and it would hopefully prevent too many 18yo's being burnt out
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The 2026 Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft saw 18 players selected by AFL clubs on Tuesday night, with Essendon taking Jaxon Artemis at pick one. The draft provided opportunities for players who missed earlier selections, including prospects from VFL and SANFL competitions across Australia.
Good reminder that missing the initial draft doesn't end careers. Half these players were overlooked or injured in their draft year, and now they're getting second chances.
Yeah i honestly think in the same way they want to incentivise clubs to take players with indigenous backgrounds they should also incentivise taking mature players in the draft. Making every club have to take someone older than 21 would improve the quality of lower leagues as more players would stay in the system if there was a good chsnce of being drafted, and it would hopefully prevent too many 18yo's being burnt out