The AFL mid-season draft kicks off tonight, which will see state league players realise their AFL dream by being drafted to an AFL club half-way through the season.
AFL clubs need to have an open list spot in order to draft a player, meaning clubs need to move long-term injured or recently retired players to the inactive list in order to free up list spots for the mid-season draft.
Initially introduced in 1990, the mid-season draft has been a thing of the past for the AFL, who scrapped the draft in 1993.
It wasn't until 2019 where the AFL reintroduced the draft, before going into hiatus again in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and coming back in 2021.
There have been some great players to come out of the two mid-season drafts so far, with players showing great promise at the top level.
Before the third edition of the AFL mid-season draft kicks off tonight, check out the 10 best players who have come through the draft since 2019 down below.
5. Cooper Sharman (St Kilda)
Cooper Sharman was taken with pick 21 in the 2021 mid-season draft by St Kilda out of Woodville West-Torrens in the SANFL, and the forward had an exciting and instant impact on the Saints' senior side.
Sharman has booted 13 goals in his first eight matches in the AFL and is yet to play a game where he hasn't kicked a goal.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
His goal kicking prowess and high IQ make him a valuable asset to Brett Ratten's side, and will look to keep showing those signs as his career progresses at the Saints.
An exciting start to what should be an exciting career in the AFL.
