With five weeks until this year’s AFL Mid-Season Draft on 26 May, the Demons are suddenly in the frame to be involved, with a few players having ongoing injury issues amid new speculation around possible retirements raising questions about opening up places on the club’s list.

At present the club does not have a list spot available and there has been no official comment about any proposed change to the list.

However, concern is growing for Harrison Petty’s welfare and his immediate playing future after his apparent delayed concussion sustained against the Brisbane Lions, with the defender requiring further testing.

Elsewhere, AFL.com.au reports suggest that Tom Campbell is considering retirement due to the injury that derailed his pre-season and left him in a neck brace for an extended period, while the unlucky Shane McAdam, whose contract expires at the end of the year, remains unable to resume training after the Achilles injury he suffered late last pre-season.

This leaves the possibility open for the club to apply the AFL Inactive List if the appropriate circumstances happen to arise. This is basically a mechanism that enables clubs to remove players with season-ending injuries or those who have retired mid-season from their active roster, thereby freeing up a list spot and allowing the club to recruit a replacement player through a specific draft window, in this case, the 2026 AFL Midseason Draft.

The rule has previously been the subject of some confusion so I will set it out in a separate post below.

The question now is whether the club will be in a position to change its roster and, if so, what type of player it should target. Both a tall defender and a classy midfielder would be valuable additions. Whoever we pursue must fit Steven King’s game plan of fast, attacking football.

The AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement 2023- 2027

Schedule 5A - AFL Player and List Management

1. AFL Player Lists

Each Club will maintain their AFL Lists during the Terms as follows:

• The number of AFL Players on the Club's AFL Primary List will be not more than 38 and not less than 36;

• The number of AFL Players on the Club's Category A Rookie List will be not mor than 6 provided that a Club must not have more than 42 AFL Players on their AFL Primary List and Category A Rookie List at any time; and

• The number of AFL Players on the Club's Category B Rookie List will be not more than 2.

2. AFL Inactive List

(a) A Club may apply to the General Counsel or Executive General Manager of Football to transfer an AFL Player suffering a season ending injury from its AFL Primary List to its AFL Inactive List. A season ending injury means an injury or illness suffered by an AFL Player which, in the opinion of the AFL Chief Medical Officer, after consultation with the Club Doctor, will prevent or is likely to prevent an AFL Player, having due regard to their health and safety, from participating in AFL Matches for the remainder of the relevant AFL Season.

(b) An AFL Player may only be transferred to the AFL Inactive List with the AFL Player's consent and with the approval of the General Counsel.

(c) An AFL Player who is transferred to an AFL Inactive List is ineligible to play in the AFL Competition or in any other Australian Football competition for the period from the date that AFL Player is transferred to the AFL Inactive List until the conclusion of the relevant AFL Season.

(d) Where an AFL Player is transferred to the AFL Inactive List, a Club may replace that AFL Player by selecting a replacement player during the AFL Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period or at the mid-AFL Season Draft Selection Meeting.

(e) A Club is unable to replace an AFL Player transferred to its AFL Inactive List after the conclusion of the mid-AFL Season Draft Selection Meeting.

The current state of the Melbourne Football Club’s player lists is:

PRIMARY LIST: —

Jed Adams Jake Bowey Tom Campbell Kade Chandler Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn Max Heath Blake Howes Matthew Jefferson Changkuoth Jiath Aidan Johnson Ed Langdon Harvey Langford Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Xavier Lindsay Tom McDonald Shane McAdam Thomas Matthews Jake Melksham Brody Mihocek Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Christian Salem Harry Sharp Tom Sparrow Latrelle Sumner-Pickett Jack Steele Xavier Taylor Koltyn Tholstrup Daniel Turner Jacob van Rooyen Jack Viney Caleb Windsor

ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A 

Paddy Cross Jai Culley Jack Henderson Luker Kentfield Andy Moniz-Wakefield Riley Onley Kalani White

ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B  

Oscar Berry Ricky Mentha Jnr

Melbourne has done well from the MSD with Daniel Turner and Jai Culley now regulars in the team although the latter was originally picked by the Eagles. Luker Kentfield is waiting patiently in the wings.

The biggest initial impact from a MSD draftee would have had to have come from Marlion Pickett who was picked up towards the bottom of the pack in the inaugural Mid-Season Draft, going 13th to Richmond in 2019 and famously made his AFL debut in the 2019 Grand Final victory for Richmond over the GWS Giants, kicking a goal and collecting 22 disposals in the club’s 89-point win.

Also picked up that year was Gold Coast’s John Noble who was picked up by Collingwood and played 112 games for the Pies before switching to his current team.

My nomination for the best MSD pick is Jai Newcombe who went from being a fringe VFL player at the start of 2022 to being named by the AFL coaches as the best young player in the competition after  he was drafted in the midseason of that year. Essendon’s Sam Durham, taken in the 2021 MSD has gradually risen in stature Another Bomber MSD in Massimo D'Ambrosio, taken a year later, is now doing well at Hawthorn.

Last year West Coast picked up a good one in Tom McCarthy, Essendon picked Archie May and Collingwood took Roan Steele from a lukewarm draft crop but the pundits are saying that this year’s crop is better in quality and has more depth but that remains to be seen.

It will be interesting to see how Melbourne treats the draft if it takes part. Does it go for youth for development or go for players who are ready to go?

The MSD is an interesting one because theoretically all the best players were either drafted last year or are waiting to be old enough to be drafted this year. Realistically there are very few players ready (skills, quality or fitness wise) to be drafted in from outside an AFL system and play immediately.

So what we've got seem to be:

• Surprise mature age recruits, who didn't do quite enough in 2025 to get drafted end of year but have shown a bit at start of 2026 and are likely to go later this year.

• Kids who weren't drafted end of 2025 but showed something since then (maybe a change of attitude or a better than expected adjustment to senior footy)

I think that one of the big issues affecting potential AFL players is the aerobic ceiling. Many players have the skills and game sense but can't match it athletically at AFL level. I feel like the MSD is a great opportunity for a free hit at such a player, giving them 6 months to be full time in an AFL system and work on fitness and aerobic capacity. The club can watch their GPS and fitness numbers and see the players trajectory, and if they have a high enough ceiling or not.

Any big bodied 195cm+ key defenders too look out for that could potentially go in the mid season draft??

My perfect outcome would be Campbell and McAdam retire and we pick up a big key defender and another midfielder

3 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

Any big bodied 195cm+ key defenders too look out for that could potentially go in the mid season draft??

Big bodied defenders to bring in, either Tom Barnett 20yo(Coburg VFL), Jacob Blight 25yo(Subiaco WAFL, ex Richmond) or wildcard is Jacob Marron 18yo from Western Jets (unlucky not to get drafted) but is a big strong youngster who judges a mark and is strong in the contest like a young Sam Collins.

4 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

Any big bodied 195cm+ key defenders too look out for that could potentially go in the mid season draft??

My perfect outcome would be Campbell and McAdam retire and we pick up a big key defender and another midfielder

Wouldn't another Turner be handy?

Dug around and found an article on Tom Barnett's progress.

Young VFL Defender catching the eye early in 2026

For a moment I thought we were talking about Harry Barnett, a ruckman we might have grabbed early in the second round way back in 2022. But that guy hasn't been in the VFL - he's stuck at West Coast, where he has played two games, subbed on in one, and subbed off in the other.

Imagine being drafted to the Eagles and finding yourself in the only position on the ground they have competently covered already, and then they bring in Flynn as extra ruck cover, and then they draft Cooper Duff-Tytler.

Anyway, Tom Barnett seems like just the fresh pot of tea we would like with out biscuits.

18 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Anyway, Tom Barnett seems like just the fresh pot of tea we would like with our biscuits.

👏

If you would have asked me earlier this year, I would have looked at this differently because I was more a believer that we were well into the rebuilding mode and was happy to be patient for success in the medium term but not so immediately.

Times have changed with our performances showing marked improvement from some of what was served up last year so I would be looking more for some ready made players who could have some impact this year. A key defender or a strong midfielder?

Noah Hibbins Hargreaves a shout? Unlucky to miss out on normal draft. I distinctly remember the week before the draft he was tipped to be selected with our first pick. Poor guy must have been shattered. what's his state form like?

On 23/04/2026 at 07:58, Whispering_Jack said:

(c) An AFL Player who is transferred to an AFL Inactive List is ineligible to play in the AFL Competition or in any other Australian Football competition for the period from the date that AFL Player is transferred to the AFL Inactive List until the conclusion of the relevant AFL Season.

This bit is interesting coz Adelaide last year moved Kieren Strauchan to their inactive list pre-season to list Lachie McAndrew as htey had no ruck depth, then Strauchan was back playing sanfl in the second half of the season, so either there was some agreement he was ineligible for AFL selection or maybe they "swapped" his inactive status for another player who since collected a long term injury. Either way bizarre and manipulaiton of the rule/ssytem

33 minutes ago, deemoralizing67 said:

Noah Hibbins Hargreaves a shout? Unlucky to miss out on normal draft. I distinctly remember the week before the draft he was tipped to be selected with our first pick. Poor guy must have been shattered. what's his state form like?

I'm fascinated by this. I know it was a bit of a wonky draft, but this bloke seemed to be getting plaudits from just about every source. While I don't know if anyone thought he was top 5 material, I think heaps of junior-level watchers thought he was comfortably in the top 20.

@ChaserJ was there a big and insurmountable knock on his game?

If we have a spot (or two) a mature key defender would be the bet or a 19 year old or mature midfielder who has blossomed in 2026 that we want to get into our system pre 2027.

55 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

I'm fascinated by this. I know it was a bit of a wonky draft, but this bloke seemed to be getting plaudits from just about every source. While I don't know if anyone thought he was top 5 material, I think heaps of junior-level watchers thought he was comfortably in the top 20.

@ChaserJ was there a big and insurmountable knock on his game?

The chatter was around concussion concerns. As far as his on field play was concerned, he wasn’t always consistent, but the talent was obvious and probably a top 20 pick on that alone, hope he gets a chance in time.

26 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

The chatter was around concussion concerns. As far as his on field play was concerned, he wasn’t always consistent, but the talent was obvious and probably a top 20 pick on that alone, hope he gets a chance in time.

Didn’t he also struggle aerobically? I wouldn't think his GPS numbers would attract King. But he was a goal kicker last year. He's certainly an intriguing prospect.

Edited Friday at 04:332 days by Adam The God

Assuming the worst case scenario for Culley suddenly we’ve gone from no MSD picks to potentially two maybe even three depending on calls made on Campbell & Mcadam will be very interesting to see how picks are used targeting KPP’s or somebody like Sinnema.

11 hours ago, deemoralizing67 said:

Noah Hibbins Hargreaves a shout? Unlucky to miss out on normal draft. I distinctly remember the week before the draft he was tipped to be selected with our first pick. Poor guy must have been shattered. what's his state form like?

WAFL. 24 possessions, 5 marks, 5 tackles v West Coast WAFL team. Seriously has the AFL TALENT. Not sure why he wasn’t drafted. Work ethic ? Fitness? Concussion issues? Not sure. He’s a talent though so if he continues to play well, Clubs may be tempted.

10 hours ago, AB10 said:

Assuming the worst case scenario for Culley suddenly we’ve gone from no MSD picks to potentially two maybe even three depending on calls made on Campbell & Mcadam will be very interesting to see how picks are used targeting KPP’s or somebody like Sinnema.

If there are other Sam Durham, Disco Turner, Cooper Trembath and Jai Culley etc types out there, we could have the chance to add real depth to the list.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I’m really not up to scratch on the mid season draft/injuries.

With Culley. He just resigned.

With his injury, should it be worse news and ACL can we use that to get someone in?

If so, does that mean he’s delisted or put in a category that I imagine would sound like “inactive?”

Would we have to pick him up again next year as a rookie?

I imagine Jack Viney/Tom Campbell and Shane McAdam are also in the same boat re being put on that list?

As I said, sorry, probably seems dumb to you who know these ins and outs but I’m completely out of my realm there.

As I understand it, if you go on LTI list or retired, then you can be replaced.

At the end of the season to keep the mid season pick or put the LTI player back on, a spot needs to be available at that time, from trades or delistings.

Definitely two Williamstown players will be strongly considered for the mid season draft.

Joel Fitzgerald.  Williamstown.  189cms. Mid defender turned onballer. Plays role like Culley as he uses his size and running power to get to contests At 22yo, he presents as ready to play. Has dominated VFL for 2 years and again in 2026. Was best on ground today for Willy against Werribee

Hugo Hall-Kahan.  Williamstown. 188cms. Skilled half back, ex Sandy Dragons and ex AFL listed at Swans. Nice kick and has kept solid aerobic ability. Definitely would be a handy mid year addition

Ah-mu would be handy

With Jai Cully out for a year now and if Tom Campbell, Shane McAdam and Viney are all possible long term as well does that mean we could take 4 player mid season potentially