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2018 AFL draft
2018 AFL draft
2018 AFL draft
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2018 AFL draft
General information
Dates22 November - First Round
23 November - Second Round to completion, Pre-season Draft (if held), Rookie Draft
LocationMarvel Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
NetworkFox Footy
Sponsored byNational Australia Bank
Overview
LeagueAFL
First selectionSam Walsh (Carlton)
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 AFL draft consisted of the various periods where the 18 clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL) traded and recruited players following the completion of the 2018 AFL season.

For the first time, the AFL draft featured live trading of picks and was held over two days, with the first round held on the evening of Thursday, 22 November and the remainder of the draft being held on Friday, 23 November[1] The draft was held in Victoria for the first time since 2009.[1]

Key dates

[edit]
Table of key dates[2]
Event Date(s)
Free agency period 5–12 October (restricted and unrestricted)
1–8 November, 10–16 November, 23 November (delisted)
Trade period 8–17 October (players and selections)
18 October–16 November (selections only)
National draft 22 November (first round)
23 November (second and subsequent rounds)
Rookie draft 23 November
Pre-season supplemental selection period 1 December-15 March

Player movements

[edit]

Previous trades

[edit]

Since 2015, clubs have been able to trade future picks in the next year's national draft during the trade period. As a result, a total of 29 selections for the 2018 draft were traded during the 2017 trade period, and the selection order for each of these picks is tied to the original club's finishing position in the 2018 season.[3]

Table of previously traded selections
Rd Orig. Club New Club Acquired via Ref
1 Melbourne Adelaide Jake Lever trade [4]
West Coast Gold Coast Pick swap [5]
2 Carlton Adelaide Bryce Gibbs trade [6]
Adelaide Carlton
Gold Coast West Coast Pick swap [5]
St Kilda Port Adelaide Pick swap [7]
Fremantle Greater Western Sydney Nathan Wilson trade [8]
Western Bulldogs Carlton Pick swap [7]
Essendon Gold Coast Adam Saad trade [9]
Geelong Gold Coast Gary Ablett trade [10]
Greater Western Sydney Essendon Devon Smith trade [11]
Collingwood Sydney Sam Murray trade [12]
3 Carlton Adelaide Bryce Gibbs trade [6]
St Kilda North Melbourne via Port Adelaide (Logan Austin trade)
on-traded to North Melbourne (pick swap) 		[7]
Fremantle Gold Coast Brandon Matera trade [13]
Adelaide Melbourne Jake Lever trade [4]
Essendon Greater Western Sydney Devon Smith trade [11]
North Melbourne Port Adelaide Pick swap [7]
Sydney Collingwood Sam Murray trade [12]
Richmond Geelong Pick swap [7]
West Coast North Melbourne via Port Adelaide (Brendon Ah Chee trade)
on-traded to North Melbourne (pick swap) 		[7]
4 Carlton Geelong Darcy Lang trade [14]
Geelong Carlton
Gold Coast Geelong Gary Ablett trade [10]
Fremantle Western Bulldogs Hayden Crozier trade [15]
Adelaide St Kilda via Gold Coast (Harrison Wigg trade)
on-traded to Port Adelaide (Aaron Young trade)
on-traded to St Kilda (pick swap) 		[7]
Port Adelaide St Kilda Logan Austin trade [16]
Hawthorn West Coast via Port Adelaide (Jarman Impey trade)
on-traded to West Coast (Brendon Ah Chee trade) 		[17]
Melbourne Adelaide Jake Lever trade [4]

Free agency

[edit]
2018 AFL free agency period signings
Player Date Free agent type Former club New club Compensation Ref
Reece Conca 5 October Unrestricted Richmond Fremantle None [a] [18]
Luke Dahlhaus Unrestricted Western Bulldogs Geelong 2nd round [19]
Tom Lynch 8 October Restricted Gold Coast Richmond 1st round [20]
Scott Lycett 9 October Restricted West Coast Port Adelaide End of 1st round [21]
Alex Fasolo 10 October Unrestricted Collingwood Carlton 3rd round [22]
Jarryd Lyons 1 November Delisted Gold Coast Brisbane Lions None [23]
Tom Sheridan Delisted Fremantle Greater Western Sydney None [24]
Darren Minchington Delisted St Kilda Hawthorn None [25]
Jordan Murdoch 7 November Delisted Geelong Gold Coast None [26]
Daniel Menzel 14 November Delisted Geelong Sydney None [27]

Trades

[edit]
2018 AFL trade period
Date No. Player(s) Traded from Traded to Traded for Ref
8 October 1 Lincoln McCarthy Geelong Brisbane Lions Pick 43 [29]
Pick 55 Pick 62
Pick 59
2 Anthony Miles Richmond Gold Coast 2019 third round pick (Gold Coast) [30]
Corey Ellis
2019 third round pick (Richmond)
3 Nathan Kreuger (South Adelaide) Carlton Geelong Pick 43 [31]
10 October 4 Pick 24 Brisbane Lions Gold Coast Pick 32 [32]
Pick 41
Pick 59 Pick 44
Pick 80 Pick 78
5 Mitch McGovern Adelaide Carlton Shane McAdam (Sturt) [33]
2019 third round pick (Adelaide) 2019 fifth round pick (Carlton)
Pick 13 Sydney Pick 26
Pick 28
Adelaide Pick 40
6 Jared Polec Port Adelaide North Melbourne Pick 11 [34]
Jasper Pittard
Pick 48 2019 fourth round pick (North Melbourne)
7 Gary Rohan Sydney Geelong Pick 62 [35]
8 Ryan Clarke North Melbourne Sydney Pick 62 [36]
9 Tom Hickey St Kilda West Coast Pick 39 [37]
Pick 61
2019 fourth round pick (St Kilda) 2019 fourth round pick (West Coast)
11 October 10 Pick 6 Fremantle Port Adelaide Pick 11 [38]
Pick 23
2019 third round pick (Fremantle) Pick 30
Pick 49
12 October 11 Dan Hannebery Sydney St Kilda Pick 39 [39]
Pick 28 2019 second round pick (St Kilda)
12 Dean Kent Melbourne St Kilda Pick 65 [40]
13 Dom Tyson Melbourne North Melbourne Braydon Preuss [41]
Pick 62
14 Will Setterfield Greater Western Sydney Carlton Pick 43 [42]
Pick 71 2019 second round pick (Carlton)
15 October 15 Sam Lloyd Richmond Western Bulldogs Pick 64 [43]
16 October 16 Aaron Hall Gold Coast North Melbourne Pick 68 [44]
17 Jack Scrimshaw Gold Coast Hawthorn 2019 third round pick (Hawthorn) [45]
2019 fourth round pick (Gold Coast)
18 Pick 68 Gold Coast Adelaide 2019 fourth round pick (Adelaide) [46]
19 George Horlin-Smith Geelong Gold Coast Pick 59 [47]
20 Tyson Stengle Richmond Adelaide Pick 68 [48]
21 Tom Scully Greater Western Sydney Hawthorn 2019 fourth round pick (Gold Coast) [49]
22 Taylor Duryea Hawthorn Western Bulldogs 2019 fourth round pick (Western Bulldogs) [50]
17 October 23 Chad Wingard Port Adelaide Hawthorn Ryan Burton [51]
Pick 15
2019 third round pick (Port Adelaide) Pick 35
2019 fourth round pick (Western Bulldogs)
24 Sam Mayes Brisbane Lions Port Adelaide Pick 6
Pick 35
Pick 5 2019 third round pick (Fremantle)
25 2019 first round pick (Brisbane Lions) Brisbane Lions Gold Coast Pick 19 [52]
2019 second round pick (Gold Coast)
2019 third round pick (Hawthorn)
26 Lachie Neale Fremantle Brisbane Lions Pick 6 [53]
Pick 19
Pick 30 Pick 55
27 Jesse Hogan Melbourne Fremantle Pick 6 [54]
Pick 65 Pick 23
28 Rory Lobb Greater Western Sydney Fremantle Pick 11 [55]
Pick 14
Pick 43 Pick 19
Pick 47
29 Pick 31 North Melbourne Fremantle Pick 47 [56]
Pick 49
Pick 55
30 Steven May Gold Coast Melbourne Pick 6 [57]
Kade Kolodjashnij
31 Jack Hombsch Port Adelaide Gold Coast 2019 fourth round pick (Adelaide) [58]
32 Jackson Thurlow Geelong Sydney Pick 70 [59]
33 Pick 28 St Kilda Melbourne Pick 36 [60]
Pick 46
34 Marcus Adams Western Bulldogs Brisbane Lions Pick 32 [61]
2019 third round pick (Hawthorn)
35 Jordan Roughead Western Bulldogs Collingwood Pick 75 [62]
36 Travis Colyer Essendon Fremantle 2019 fourth round pick (Fremantle) [63]
37 Dylan Shiel Greater Western Sydney Essendon Pick 9 [64]
2019 second round pick (GWS) 2019 first round pick (Essendon)
38 Nic Newman Sydney Carlton 2019 fourth round pick (Carlton) [65]
39 Dayne Beams Brisbane Lions Collingwood Pick 18 [66]
Pick 41 Pick 56
Pick 44 2019 first round pick (Collingwood)
26 October 40 Pick 59 Geelong Collingwood Pick 51 [67]
Pick 60
22 November
(1st Round) 		41 Pick 26 Sydney West Coast 2019 third round pick (West Coast) [68]
42 Pick 24 West Coast Sydney 2019 second round pick (Sydney) [69]
43 Pick 19 Adelaide Carlton 2019 first round pick (Carlton) [70]
2019 first round pick (Adelaide)
23 November
(2nd Round onwards) 		44 Pick 23 West Coast Gold Coast Pick 27 [71]
2019 fifth round pick (West Coast) Pick 32
45 Pick 24 Adelaide Greater Western Sydney Pick 28 [72]
2019 fifth round pick (Adelaide) 2019 second round pick (Carlton)
46 Pick 34 Fremantle Western Bulldogs Pick 30 [73]
Pick 41 Pick 57
47 Pick 51 North Melbourne St Kilda 2019 third round pick (St Kilda) [74]
48 Pick 46 Western Bulldogs North Melbourne 2019 third round pick (North Melbourne) [75]
49 Pick 54 North Melbourne Brisbane Lions 2019 fourth round pick (Brisbane Lions) [76]
50 Pick 61 St Kilda Greater Western Sydney 2019 fourth round pick (Gold Coast) [77]
2019 fourth round pick (GWS)
51 Pick 64 Carlton Adelaide Pick 67 [78]
2019 fifth round pick (Carlton)
52 Pick 63 Collingwood Hawthorn 2019 fourth round pick (Hawthorn) [79]
2019 fifth round pick (Collingwood)
53 Pick 75 St Kilda Carlton Pick 67 [80]
2019 fourth round pick (West Coast)
54 Pick 68 Richmond Geelong 2019 fourth round pick (Geelong) [81]

Retirements and delistings

[edit]

Pre-draft selections

[edit]

Prior to the draft, the two bottom teams Carlton and Gold Coast applied for Priority Picks in the National Draft, which the AFL denied.[159] However, Gold Coast were granted pre-draft access to up to three and Carlton up to two mature-aged State League players each, these selections could be traded to other clubs.[160]

Table of pre-draft selections
Player Club Recruited from Notes Ref.
Club League
Nathan Kreuger Carlton South Adelaide SANFL Traded to Geelong for Pick 43 [31]
Shane McAdam Sturt SANFL Traded to Adelaide as part of Mitch McGovern trade [33]
Josh Corbett Gold Coast Werribee VFL [161]
Chris Burgess West Adelaide SANFL
Sam Collins Werribee VFL [162]

2018 national draft

[edit]
Indicative draft order as of 21 November 2018[163]
^ Denotes player who has been inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame
* Denotes player who has been a premiership player and been selected for at least one All-Australian team
+ Denotes player who has been a premiership player at least once
x Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Australian team
# Denotes player who has never played in a VFL/AFL home and away season or finals game
~ Denotes player who has been selected as Rising Star
Table of national draft selections
Round Pick Player Club Recruited from Notes
Club League
1 1 Sam Walsh Carlton Geelong Falcons TAC Cup
2 Jack Lukosius Gold Coast Woodville-West Torrens SANFL
3 Izak Rankine Gold Coast West Adelaide SANFL Free Agency compensation pick (Lynch)
4 Max King St Kilda Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup
5 Connor Rozee Port Adelaide North Adelaide SANFL Traded from Brisbane Lions
6 Ben King Gold Coast Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Traded from Melb; received from Freo, Bris, Port, Freo
7 Bailey Smith Western Bulldogs Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup
8 Tarryn Thomas North Melbourne North Launceston TSL Next Gen. Academy (Indigenous) - North matched Crows bid.
9 Chayce Jones Adelaide Launceston TSL
10 Nick Blakey Sydney UNSW-Eastern Sub. AFL Syd. Academy selection
11 Jye Caldwell GWS Giants Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup Traded from Essendon
12 Zak Butters Port Adelaide Western Jets TAC Cup
13 Isaac Quaynor Collingwood Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Next Generation Academy selection (Ghanaian descent)
14 Jackson Hately GWS Giants Central District SANFL Traded from Freo; received from Port, N.M.
15 Jordan Clark Geelong Claremont WAFL
16 Ned McHenry Adelaide Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Traded from Sydney
17 Sam Sturt Fremantle Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Traded from Greater Western Sydney
18 Xavier Duursma Port Adelaide Gippsland Power TAC Cup Traded from Hawthorn
19 Liam Stocker Carlton Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Traded from Adelaide at the draft; received from Melbourne
20 Riley Collier-Dawkins Richmond Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup
21 Ely Smith Brisbane Lions Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Traded from Collingwood
22 Xavier O'Halloran GWS Giants Western Jets TAC Cup Traded from Freo; received from Bris, Suns, WCE
23 Jez McLennan Gold Coast Central District SANFL Traded from West Coast at the draft; Free Agency compo pick (Lycett)
2 24 Bobby Hill GWS Giants Perth WAFL Traded from Adelaide at the draft; received from Carlton
25 James Rowbottom Sydney Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Traded from West Coast at the draft; received from Gold Coast
26 Rhylee West Western Bulldogs Calder Cannons TAC Cup Father–son selection (son of Scott West)
27 Tom Sparrow Melbourne South Adelaide SANFL Traded from Freo; received from Port, St k
28 Xavier O'Neill West Coast Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Traded from Gold Coast; received from Brisbane Lions
29 Will Kelly Collingwood Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Father–son selection (son of Craig Kelly)
30 Will Hamill Adelaide Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Traded from Greater Western Sydney; received from Fremantle
31 Luke Foley West Coast Subiaco WAFL Traded from Sydney at the draft; received from Carl, W.B.
32 Luke Valente Fremantle Norwood SANFL Traded from W.Bulldogs at the draft; Free Agency compo pick (Dahlhaus)
33 James Jordon Melbourne Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Traded from St K; received from Syd, Carl, Adel
34 Kieren Briggs GWS Giants Pennant Hills AFL Syd. Academy selection
35 Bailey Williams West Coast Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Traded from Gold Coast at the draft; received from Essendon
36 Tom Berry Brisbane Lions GWV Rebels TAC Cup Traded from Fremantle; received from Port Adelaide
37 Laitham Vandermeer Western Bulldogs Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Traded from Freo at the draft; received from North
38 Irving Mosquito Essendon Gippsland Power TAC Cup Traded from GWS; N.G. Academy eligible for Hawthorn, but they passed.
39 Jarrod Cameron West Coast Swan Districts WAFL Next Generation Academy selection (Indigenous)
40 Tom Joyce Brisbane Lions East Fremantle WAFL Traded from Port Adelaide; received from Hawthorn
41 Jack Bytel St Kilda Calder Cannons TAC Cup Traded from Melbourne
42 Connor McFadyen Brisbane Lions Wilston Grange QAFL Academy selection
43 Jack Ross Richmond Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup
3 44 Justin McInerney Sydney Northern Knights TAC Cup Traded from Adelaide; received from Carlton
45 Ben Cavarra Western Bulldogs Williamstown VFL Traded from Freo at the draft; received from GWS, Carl, Geel, Bris
46 Curtis Taylor North Melbourne Calder Cannons TAC Cup Traded from Western Bulldogs at the draft
47 Matthew Parker St Kilda South Fremantle WAFL Traded from Melbourne; received from Adelaide
48 Ben Jarvis Geelong Norwood SANFL
49 Bailey Scott North Melbourne Broadbeach QAFL Father–son selection (son of Robert Scott)
50 Jacob Kennerley Geelong Norwood SANFL Traded from Collingwood; received from Sydney
51 Zac Foot Sydney Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
52 Jacob Koschitzke Hawthorn Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup
53 Aaron Nietschke Melbourne Central District SANFL
54 Nick Hind St Kilda Essendon VFL Traded from N.M. at the draft; received from Freo, Bris, Geel, Rich
55 Noah Answerth Brisbane Lions Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Traded from Collingwood
4 56 Marty Hore Melbourne Collingwood VFL Traded from N.M.; received from Syd, Geel, Bris
57 Lachie Schultz Fremantle Williamstown VFL Traded from Western Bulldogs at the draft; received from Fremantle
58 Fraser Turner Richmond Clarence TSL Traded from Western Bulldogs
59 Brett Bewley Fremantle Williamstown VFL Traded from Melb; received from St K, Adel, Suns, Port
60 Noah Gown Essendon Gippsland Power TAC Cup
61 Connor Idun GWS Giants Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Traded from St Kilda at the draft; received from Port Adelaide
62 Luke English Richmond Perth WAFL Traded from Adelaide; received from Suns, N.M.
63 Mathew Walker Hawthorn Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Traded from Coll at the draft; Academy eligible for GWS, but they passed.
64 Lachlan Sholl Adelaide Calder Cannons TAC Cup Traded from Carlton at the draft; received from Geelong
65 Darcy Fort Geelong Central District SANFL Traded from Sydney
66 Finbar O'Dwyer Carlton Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Traded from Greater Western Sydney
67 Robbie Young St Kilda North Adelaide SANFL Traded from Carlton at the draft; received from Adel, Melb
68 Jake Tarca Geelong South Adelaide SANFL Traded from Richmond at the draft
69 Joel Crocker North Melbourne Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Father–son eligible (son of Darren Crocker)
5 70 Ben Silvagni Carlton Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Father–son eligible (son of Stephen Silvagni)
71 Caleb Graham Gold Coast Palm Beach Currumbin QAFL Traded from Brisbane Lions
72 Brayden Ham Essendon Geelong Falcons TAC Cup
73 Riley Grundy Port Adelaide Sturt SANFL
74 Oscar Brownless Geelong Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Father–son eligible (son of Billy Brownless)
75 Toby Bedford Melbourne Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Next Generation Academy eligible (Indigenous)
76 Boyd Woodcock Port Adelaide North Adelaide SANFL
77 Atu Bosenavulagi Collingwood Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Next Generation Academy eligible (born in Fiji)
78 Will Hayes Western Bulldogs Footscray VFL

Rookie elevations

[edit]

Clubs were able to promote any player who was listed on their rookie list in 2018 to their 2019 primary playing list prior to the draft.

Table of rookie elevations
Player Club Ref.
Josh Thomas Collingwood [164]
Bailey Banfield Fremantle [155]
Taylin Duman
Jack Henry Geelong [164]
Mark O'Connor
Darcy MacPherson Gold Coast [165]
Daniel Lloyd Greater Western Sydney [164]
Conor Glass Hawthorn [150]
James Cousins
David Mirra
Corey Maynard Melbourne [166]
Dan Houston Port Adelaide [138]
Callum Moore Richmond [164]
Rowan Marshall St Kilda [167]
Robbie Fox Sydney [164]
Billy Gowers Western Bulldogs [168]
Brad Lynch [169]

2019 rookie draft

[edit]
Table of rookie draft selections
Round Pick Player Club Recruited from Notes
Club League
1 1 Hugh Goddard Carlton St Kilda AFL
2 Michael Rischitelli Gold Coast Gold Coast AFL
3 Callum Wilkie St Kilda North Adelaide SANFL
4 Ryan Bastinac Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions AFL
5 Ethan Hughes Fremantle Fremantle AFL
6 Lachie Young Western Bulldogs Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup
7 Kieran Strachan Adelaide Port Melbourne VFL
8 Tom Jok Essendon Collingwood VFL
9 Tobin Cox Port Adelaide Glenelg SANFL
10 Tom McKenzie North Melbourne Northern Knights TAC Cup
11 Tom Atkins Geelong Geelong VFL
12 Durak Tucker Sydney Peel Thunder WAFL
13 Passed Greater Western Sydney — —
14 Damon Greaves Hawthorn East Perth WAFL
15 Kade Chandler Melbourne Norwood SANFL
16 Jake Aarts Richmond Richmond VFL
17 Tim Broomhead Collingwood Collingwood AFL
18 Harry Edwards West Coast Swan Districts WAFL
2 19 Tomas Bugg Carlton Melbourne AFL
20 Jack Leslie Gold Coast Gold Coast AFL
21 Jacob Allison Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions AFL
22 Tobe Watson Fremantle Swan Districts WAFL
23 Jordon Sweet Western Bulldogs North Adelaide SANFL
24 Paul Hunter Adelaide Adelaide AFL
25 Matt Dea Essendon Essendon AFL
26 Cam Hewett Port Adelaide Port Adelaide AFL
27 Kyron Hayden North Melbourne North Melbourne AFL
28 Harry Reynolds Sydney Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup
29 Passed Greater Western Sydney — —
30 Will Golds Hawthorn Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup
31 Passed Melbourne — —
32 Jacob Townsend Richmond Richmond AFL
33 Sam Murray Collingwood Collingwood AFL
34 Josh Smith West Coast Collingwood AFL
3 35 Passed Carlton — —
36 Brad Scheer Gold Coast Gold Coast AFL
37 Ryan Nyhuis Fremantle Fremantle AFL
38 Passed Western Bulldogs — —
39 Jordon Butts Adelaide Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup
40 Passed Essendon — —
41 Tom Wilkinson North Melbourne Southport NEAFL
42 Kurt Tippett Sydney Sydney AFL Tippett retired on 22 January 2018, but was retained on Sydney's 2019 list due to a contractual settlement.[170]
43 Tim Mohr Hawthorn Greater Western Sydney AFL
44 Passed Melbourne — —
45 Mabior Chol Richmond Richmond AFL
46 Passed West Coast — —
3 47 Harrison Wigg Gold Coast Gold Coast AFL
48 Passed North Melbourne — —
49 Will Langford Hawthorn Hawthorn AFL Langford retired on 30 October 2018, but was retained on Hawthorn's 2019 list due to a contractual settlement.[171]
50 Passed Richmond — —
4 51 Passed Gold Coast — —
52 Passed Richmond — —

Category B rookie selections

[edit]

Clubs were able to nominate category B rookies to join their club in 2019.

Table of Category B rookie selections
Name Club Origin Note Ref
Tom Fullarton Brisbane Lions Brisbane Bullets (NBL) 3-year non-registered player (basketball) [172]
James Madden Dublin GAA International selection (Ireland) [173]
Matthew Owies Carlton Seattle Redhawks (NCAA) 3-year non-registered player (basketball) [174]
Anton Tohill Collingwood Derry GAA International selection (Ireland) [175]
Mark Keane Cork GAA International selection (Ireland)
Jason Carter Fremantle Peel Thunder Next Generation Academy selection (Indigenous) [176]
Stefan Okunbor Geelong Kerry GAA International selection (Ireland) [177]
Blake Schlensog Geelong Falcons Next Generation Academy selection (Indigenous) [178]
Callum Brown Greater Western Sydney Derry GAA International selection (Ireland) [179]
Austin Bradtke Melbourne Melbourne Tigers (SEABL) 3-year non-registered player (basketball) [180]
Guy Walker Melbourne Renegades (BBL) 3-year non-registered player (cricket) [181]
Red Óg Murphy North Melbourne Sligo GAA International selection (Ireland) [182]
Kai Pudney Port Adelaide Woodville-West Torrens Next Generation Academy selection (Japanese descent) [183]
Martin Frederick Woodville-West Torrens Next Generation Academy selection (Sudanese descent)
Sam Alabakis St Kilda Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks (NCAA) 3-year non-registered player (basketball) [184]
Sam Wicks Sydney Sydney (NEAFL) NSW zone selection [185]
Patrick Bines West Coast Melbourne Tigers (SEABL) 3-year non-registered player (basketball) [186]
Brodie Riach Altona Gators (Big V) 3-year non-registered player (basketball)
Buku Khamis Western Bulldogs Western Jets Next Generation Academy selection (born in Sudan) [187]

Pre-season supplemental selection period

[edit]

Shortly before the National draft, the AFL introduced a new mechanism to allow clubs to sign certain eligible players direct to their Rookie List, rather than through the draft, provided the club had vacancies on their rookie list. Eligible players could be listed between December and March.[188]

Player Club Recruited from Notes Ref
Club League
Matt Cottrell Carlton Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup [189]
Michael Gibbons Williamstown VFL
Zac Clarke Essendon Subiaco WAFL Previously listed with Fremantle [188]
Sam Fletcher Gold Coast Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup [190]
Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney Greater Western Sydney AFL Retired in 2017 [188]
Ned Reeves Hawthorn Box Hill Hawks VFL [191]
Corey Wagner Melbourne Casey Demons VFL Previously listed with North Melbourne [192]
Jay Lockhart Casey Demons VFL [190]
Tom Campbell North Melbourne Western Bulldogs AFL [193]
Mav Weller Richmond St Kilda AFL [194]
Sydney Stack Perth WAFL [195]
Jonathon Marsh St Kilda East Fremantle WAFL Previously listed with Collingwood [196]
Sam Rowe Carlton AFL [190]
Hayden McLean Sydney South Adelaide SANFL [197]
Keegan Brooksby West Coast South Adelaide SANFL Previously listed with Gold Coast [198]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2018 AFL draft

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2018 AFL National Draft was the annual player selection event for the Australian Football League (AFL), marking the first time the draft was conducted over two days with live trading of picks permitted during the proceedings. Held on 22 November 2018 for the opening round at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, followed by the remaining selections and rookie draft on 23 November, it saw 78 players chosen in the national draft and 40 in the rookie draft. Carlton secured the first overall pick, selecting highly touted midfielder Sam Walsh from the Geelong Falcons, who became the eighth consecutive TAC Cup player to go number one. The draft was widely regarded as one of the strongest talent pools in recent years, featuring a deep midfield class and multiple key-position prospects, with 59% of draftees hailing from Victoria. Gold Coast Suns capitalized on their multiple high selections, taking forward Jack Lukosius at pick two, explosive midfielder Izak Rankine at three, and key defender Ben King at six, bolstering their young list amid ongoing rebuild efforts. Other notable first-round picks included St Kilda's towering forward Max King (fourth overall), Port Adelaide's versatile Connor Rozee (fifth), and Western Bulldogs' dynamic midfielder Bailey Smith (seventh), many of whom have since developed into premiership contenders or All-Australians. Ten live trades occurred during the event, adding drama and strategy, including Carlton's bold mid-draft swap to acquire future assets and Sydney's maneuvers to secure academy prospect Nick Blakey by trading future picks, including a 2019 second-round selection. Six father-son selections highlighted the draft's personal narratives, such as Western Bulldogs' Rhylee West (son of Scott) and North Melbourne's Bailey Scott (son of Robert). Overall, the 2018 intake has proven impactful, with top selections contributing to grand final appearances and individual accolades across the league by the mid-2020s.

Pre-Draft Timeline

Key Dates

The 2018 AFL off-season featured a structured timeline of key events leading into the draft, beginning with the free agency periods. The restricted and unrestricted free agency window opened at 9am on Friday, 5 October, and closed at 5pm on Friday, 12 October, allowing clubs to sign eligible players without compensation or matching rights depending on the player's status. Following this, the AFL delisted player free agency periods occurred in three phases: the first from 9am on Thursday, 1 November, to 5pm on Thursday, 8 November; the second from 9am on Saturday, 10 November, to 5pm on Friday, 16 November; and a brief third period from 1.30pm to 2.30pm on Friday, 23 November. The trade period was divided into two distinct stages to facilitate player movements and draft pick exchanges. Player trades commenced at 10am on Monday, 8 October, and concluded at 8.30pm on Wednesday, 17 October, enabling clubs to negotiate deals involving both players and selections during this window. Subsequently, a pick-only trade period for draft selections ran from Thursday, 18 October, until 2pm on Friday, 16 November, providing additional flexibility for clubs to adjust their draft positions without player involvement. The national draft itself spanned two days at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, marking a return to Victoria for the event after nearly a decade. The first round took place on Thursday, 22 November, from 7pm to 9.30pm AEDT, with subsequent rounds held on Friday, 23 November, from 10am to approximately 1.30pm. A significant innovation for 2018 was the introduction of live trading during the draft, allowing clubs to negotiate and execute pick trades in real-time via an electronic platform, which added dynamism to proceedings and enabled on-the-spot adjustments to draft order. Immediately following the national draft, the rookie draft commenced at 5pm on Friday, 23 November, at the same venue, where clubs selected up to five additional players on rookie lists to bolster their squads. The pre-season draft also occurred concurrently at 5pm on 23 November, focusing on a limited pool of available players for primary list spots. Extending beyond the main draft events, the pre-season supplemental selection period opened on 1 December 2018, permitting clubs to sign undrafted players directly to rookie lists until its closure at 5pm AEDT on 15 March 2019, with selected players unable to train with their new clubs until 1 December.

Rule Changes and Innovations

The 2018 AFL draft introduced live trading for the first time, permitting clubs to negotiate and execute trades of draft picks and future selections in real-time during the broadcast, which added dynamism to the proceedings and allowed for on-the-spot adjustments to draft strategies. This feature was complemented by the event being hosted at Marvel Stadium in Victoria, marking the first national draft held there since 2008 and broadcast live on Fox Footy, with sponsorship from the National Australia Bank. A key procedural element was the bid-matching system for father-son and academy prospects, where rival clubs could place bids using the draft value index—a points-based valuation of picks (e.g., pick 1 worth 3000 points, decreasing thereafter)—requiring the affiliated club to match the accumulated points with their own selections. Bids on first-round academy or father-son nominees received a 20% discount on points, while later bids had a flat 197-point reduction, influencing how clubs like Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns prepared to retain talents from their respective academies, such as potential nominees including Keidean Coleman for Brisbane and Caleb Graham for Gold Coast. This system ensured competitive balance by forcing developing clubs to invest picks strategically without automatic exemptions. Priority pick considerations emphasized recent performance, with bottom-placed teams like Carlton and Gold Coast receiving end-of-first-round selections (e.g., picks 18-20 range) as part of the reverse ladder order, alongside additional assistance such as access to state league players rather than outright extra national picks. Clubs maintained primary lists of up to 44 players, with allocations for up to six rookies, standardizing roster building post-trade period. Eligibility updates reinforced age limits, requiring national draft nominees to be under 19 years old by 30 April 2018, while international player pathways expanded through the international rookie list, allowing up to two non-Australian recruits per club on shorter-term contracts to broaden global talent access.

List Management

Retirements and Delistings

Prior to the 2018 AFL draft, clubs underwent significant list management through retirements and delistings, which freed up primary and rookie list spots to facilitate rebuilding efforts and incoming selections. These changes were crucial for teams in transition, such as Carlton and North Melbourne, allowing them to create vacancies for high draft picks and free agents. Across the league, a total of approximately 140 players departed via these mechanisms, providing essential flexibility in list composition. Notable retirements included several high-profile players who ended their careers due to factors like age, injuries, or personal reasons. Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli, a four-time premiership winner and Norm Smith Medalist, retired at age 28 citing family commitments and a desire to return to his Indigenous community in the Northern Territory, a decision that shocked the football world given his elite status. Other significant retirements encompassed Fremantle's veteran defender Michael Johnson (age 33, after 244 games), West Coast's Mark LeCras (age 31, post-injury), and North Melbourne's Jarrad Waite (age 35, due to chronic hamstring problems). In total, 33 players retired league-wide, with clubs like Carlton (four retirements, including Alex Silvagni) seeing multiple departures that accelerated their strategic resets. Fremantle also had three retirements. Delistings were even more widespread, affecting about 107 players and often targeting underperforming or fringe squad members as part of broader rebuilds. Carlton, deep into a multi-year reconstruction, delisted eight players including Aaron Mullett and Jed Lamb to clear space for young talent. North Melbourne released a league-high 10, such as Billy Hartung and Declan Mountford, to overhaul their aging list. Gold Coast, continuing their expansion-era challenges, delisted nine including veteran Michael Barlow. The following table summarizes delistings by club, highlighting key names and totals (based on comprehensive off-season records):
ClubTotal DelistedKey Examples
Adelaide Crows5Kyle Cheney, Harry Dear
Brisbane Lions7Rohan Bewick, Tom Bell
Carlton8Aaron Mullett, Jed Lamb, Sam Rowe
Collingwood5Jarryd Blair, Adam Oxley
Essendon4Brendon Goddard, Josh Green
Fremantle6Cam Sutcliffe, Ethan Hughes
Geelong Cats9Aaron Black, Stewart Crameri, Daniel Menzel
Gold Coast Suns9Michael Barlow, Michael Rischitelli
GWS Giants2Tim Mohr, Lachlan Tiziani
Hawthorn5Dallas Willsmore, Brendan Whitecross
Melbourne8Cameron Pedersen, Dion Johnstone
North Melbourne10Billy Hartung, Oscar Junker
Port Adelaide7Jake Neade, Will Snelling
Richmond3Jacob Townsend, Mabior Chol
St Kilda8Sam Gilbert, Maverick Weller
Sydney Swans9Alex Johnson, Dean Towers, Kurt Tippett
West Coast Eagles8Malcolm Karpany, Luke Partington
Western Bulldogs5Tom Campbell, Mitch Honeychurch
These delistings, combined with retirements, generated substantial vacancies that influenced club strategies, particularly for bottom-of-the-ladder teams seeking to inject youth. Note that Kurt Tippett, who retired from playing in January 2018 due to injuries, was delisted in November and re-drafted to Sydney's rookie list as part of a contract settlement. The process culminated in dedicated windows for delisted players to secure new contracts. The AFL delisted player free agency periods ran from 1–8 November and 9–16 November, enabling clubs to sign available players without draft picks or compensation. This was followed by the delisted player draft on 23 November, where remaining players were selected to fill any outstanding spots. High-profile cases, such as Essendon's delisting of veteran Brendon Goddard (age 33, after 293 games), underscored the ruthlessness of list management, as the former Sydney Swans star became a target for delisted free agency interest before ultimately retiring. These exits not only reshaped rosters but also set the stage for the primary draft by ensuring equitable access to talent pools.

Free Agency Period

The free agency period for the 2018 AFL season ran from October 5 to October 12, allowing eligible players to sign with new clubs without trade compensation, while clubs losing such players could receive draft pick compensation based on a points system evaluating the player's age and contract value. This system categorized compensation into bands, with higher-value losses yielding earlier picks, such as Band 1 for top-tier departures. A total of 27 players moved clubs through unrestricted, restricted, and delisted free agency, reshaping rosters ahead of the trade and draft phases. Key signings highlighted the period's impact, particularly for clubs targeting experienced talent. Richmond secured restricted free agent Tom Lynch from Gold Coast on a seven-year deal, bolstering their forward line after the Suns opted not to match the offer; Gold Coast received Band 1 compensation (pick three). Geelong signed unrestricted free agent Luke Dahlhaus from the Western Bulldogs on a four-year contract, adding midfield versatility and earning the Bulldogs Band 3 compensation (pick 32). Port Adelaide made two notable acquisitions: unrestricted free agent Steven Motlop from Geelong (Band 2 compensation, pick 19 to Geelong) and restricted free agent Scott Lycett from West Coast (Band 2 compensation, pick 23 to West Coast). The compensation formula emphasized player value to mitigate losses for rebuilding clubs, using net points from all free agent movements to determine allocations reviewed by an AFL committee. Gold Coast suffered the most significant net loss, with Lynch's departure as their marquee unrestricted free agent, alongside other outflows that strained their list management. In contrast, Richmond and Port Adelaide emerged as net gainers, enhancing premiership-contending lineups without immediate draft penalties. Delisted free agency, occurring in three windows from November 9 to 23, provided opportunities for roster fillers. Examples included Brisbane signing Jarryd Lyons from Gold Coast, GWS Giants acquiring Tommy Sheridan from Fremantle, and Hawthorn adding Darren Minchington from St Kilda, all as delisted free agents to address specific positional needs without compensation implications. These moves often targeted versatile or high-upside players overlooked in primary processes.

Trade Activity

Player Trades

The 2018 AFL trade period, held from October 8 to 17, featured 36 deals involving the movement of 38 established players across clubs, primarily in exchange for draft picks, as teams adjusted their lists ahead of the 2019 season. These transactions were marked by intense negotiations, with many finalized on the final day amid escalating demands for higher draft selections. Player requests for transfers, often stemming from desires for new environments or unresolved contract issues, drove much of the activity, while rebuilding clubs like Carlton prioritized acquiring ready-made talent to accelerate their development. One of the most prominent deals saw Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale, the Dockers' club champion, traded to Brisbane Lions for picks 6, 19, and 55, a move Neale pursued after expressing frustration with Fremantle's direction and requesting a transfer to the Lions despite his recent accolades. Brisbane, in turn, offloaded Dayne Beams to Collingwood in exchange for picks 18, 56, and a 2019 first-round selection, allowing the former captain to return to his original club amid a list overhaul. Other notable swaps included Greater Western Sydney's Dylan Shiel heading to Essendon for pick 9 and a future second-rounder, reflecting Shiel's long-standing wish to join the Bombers, and Sydney's Dan Hannebery moving to St Kilda for pick 28, as the Swans redistributed salary cap space during their premiership window. Clubs experienced varied net outcomes in player talent. Brisbane emerged as a clear beneficiary, netting Neale—a two-time Doig Medal winner—and depth players like Marcus Adams while shedding higher-salary veterans, earning an 8/10 verdict for bolstering their midfield rebuild. Carlton, focused on rapid improvement, gained forwards Mitch McGovern and Will Setterfield alongside experience in Alex Fasolo and Nic Newman, though at the cost of draft capital, rated 7.5/10 for injecting quality into their young core. Conversely, Fremantle faced talent losses with Neale, Jesse Hogan (traded to Melbourne for picks 6 and 23), and Rory Lobb (to GWS for picks 11 and 19), but acquired defensive reinforcements like Travis Colyer, resulting in a net downgrade amid their ongoing reconstruction. Mid-period extensions and last-minute maneuvers added drama, such as Port Adelaide securing Chad Wingard on a new deal before trading him and Ryan Burton to Hawthorn for picks 15, 35, and future assets, while Gold Coast offloaded multiple defenders including Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij to Melbourne for pick 6 to fuel their draft strategy. Overall, the period's 39 total exchanges, including player deals, set a record-tying high, underscoring the AFL's evolving list management dynamics.
ClubKey InsKey OutsNet Assessment
Brisbane LionsLachie Neale, Marcus Adams, Lincoln McCarthyDayne Beams, Sam MayesStrong midfield upgrade; 8/10
CarltonMitch McGovern, Will Setterfield, Nic NewmanNathan KreugerAdded experience for rebuild; 7.5/10
FremantleTravis ColyerLachie Neale, Jesse Hogan, Rory LobbSignificant talent loss; rebuild setback
Greater Western SydneyRory LobbDylan ShielBalanced but lost key midfielder

Draft Pick Exchanges

During the 2018 AFL trade period, which ran from October 8 to 17, clubs executed numerous exchanges solely involving draft selections to reposition assets for the upcoming national draft. These pick-only trades allowed teams to consolidate capital, move up or down the order, or acquire future selections without parting with players. A total of 29 selections originally allocated for the 2018 draft had been traded during the 2017 exchange period, contributing to fluid list management ahead of the October window. Notable pick swaps highlighted strategic maneuvering by rebuilding clubs. For instance, Fremantle traded its No. 6 selection and a 2019 third-round pick to Port Adelaide in exchange for picks No. 11, 23, 30, and 49, enabling the Dockers to spread their draft capital across multiple first- and second-round positions while bolstering Port's early access. Similarly, Brisbane Lions acquired picks No. 32, 41, 44, and 77 from Gold Coast Suns for selections No. 24, 58, and 79, reflecting Brisbane's approach to accumulating mid-round assets for depth. Melbourne Demons swapped picks No. 36 and 46 with St Kilda for No. 28, aiming to climb into the late first round. Other exchanges included Fremantle gaining No. 31 from North Melbourne for picks No. 47, 49, and 55, and multiple deals between Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles involving No. 27 and a future third-rounder. Gold Coast Suns also traded picks No. 27 and 32 to West Coast for No. 23 and a 2019 fifth-round selection, further enhancing their haul of early picks. Teams employed bundling strategies to facilitate upward mobility, particularly among lower-placed clubs seeking high-end talent. Gold Coast, for example, amassed three first-round selections (No. 2, 3, and 6, the latter acquired via prior on-trades from Melbourne) to target key position players in a draft rich with versatile prospects. Greater Western Sydney Giants similarly bundled assets to secure picks No. 9 (from Essendon), 11, and 19, positioning them for multiple top-20 selections. These maneuvers often involved future picks, with clubs like Port Adelaide gaining No. 5 from Brisbane and No. 15 from Hawthorn to consolidate a strong opening cluster (No. 5, 10, 15). In total, the trade period saw over 20 picks exchanged in pure selection deals, reshaping asset distribution without direct player involvement. The exchanges significantly altered the indicative draft order entering November, with rebuilding sides like Gold Coast and GWS benefiting from enhanced early access. The post-trade first-round order was as follows:
PickClubNotes
1CarltonOriginal allocation
2Gold CoastOriginal allocation
3Gold CoastFree agency compensation for Tom Lynch
4St KildaOriginal allocation
5Port AdelaideFrom Brisbane
6Gold CoastFrom Melbourne via on-trades
7Western BulldogsOriginal allocation
8AdelaideOriginal allocation
9Greater Western SydneyFrom Essendon
10Port AdelaideOriginal allocation
11Greater Western SydneyFrom Fremantle via on-trades
12GeelongOriginal allocation
13AdelaideFrom Sydney via Carlton
14FremantleFrom Greater Western Sydney
15Port AdelaideFrom Hawthorn
16AdelaideFrom Melbourne (2017 trade)
17RichmondOriginal allocation
18BrisbaneFrom Collingwood
19Greater Western SydneyFrom Fremantle via on-trades
Adelaide emerged with four first-round picks (No. 8, 13, 16, 21), underscoring their aggressive accumulation. The 2018 draft introduced live trading of picks during the selection process itself, marking a historic shift from pre-draft finality. The first such exchange occurred early in the first round when Sydney Swans traded their No. 26 pick to West Coast Eagles for a future third-round selection, followed by swapping their 2019 second-round pick for West Coast's No. 25 (adjusted to No. 24 post-bidding). This allowed Sydney to preserve 2018 assets while matching a bid on academy prospect Nick Blakey using later picks (No. 34, 39, 40). Later, Carlton Blues traded their 2019 first-round pick to Adelaide Crows for No. 19, enabling a match on Northern Territory prospect Liam Stocker without depleting their immediate hand. These on-the-night swaps demonstrated clubs' real-time adaptability, with Sydney's maneuvers exemplifying preservation of draft capital amid bidding pressures.

Special Access Selections

Pre-Draft Allocations

In 2018, the AFL provided special pre-draft access to mature-age players from state leagues as assistance to the league's bottom two clubs, Carlton and Gold Coast, in lieu of traditional priority draft picks. This measure aimed to bolster their lists with experienced talent without granting extra early national draft selections. Carlton received the right to pre-list two such players, while Gold Coast was allocated three, focusing on individuals previously draft-eligible or with AFL experience who were playing in state competitions like the VFL, SANFL, or WAFL. Carlton utilized its allocations to select key position player Nathan Kreuger from South Adelaide in the SANFL and versatile forward Shane McAdam from Sturt in the SANFL. Kreuger, a 196 cm athletic tall, was immediately traded to Geelong in exchange for the Cats' third-round draft pick (No. 42), allowing Carlton to acquire both immediate list depth and future draft capital. McAdam was traded to Adelaide in a three-way deal involving draft picks, including a future second-round selection. Gold Coast, leveraging its expanded access, pre-listed forward Sam Collins and utility Josh Corbett from Werribee in the VFL, along with midfielder Chris Burgess from West Adelaide in the SANFL, adding physicality and versatility to their developing squad. These five selections represented the entirety of the pre-draft mature-age allocations, emphasizing targeted recruitment of ready-made contributors over high-risk prospects. By 2025, outcomes varied: Kreuger played 13 AFL games for Geelong before moving to state leagues; McAdam featured in 42 AFL games across Adelaide and Melbourne before retiring in 2024; Collins debuted for Gold Coast but played only 2 AFL games. Parallel to these concessions, pre-draft nominations for father-son and academy prospects shaped early draft strategy, with clubs required to match external bids to retain their eligible talents. Father-son nominees included Ben Silvagni (Carlton), Will Kelly (Collingwood), Oscar Brownless (Geelong), Joel Crocker and Bailey Scott (North Melbourne), and Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs), all sons of former AFL players. Academy prospects, drawn from Next Generation Academies (NGA) and zone programs, featured prominently for non-Victorian clubs, such as Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius for Gold Coast, Nick Blakey for Sydney, and Chayce Jones for Adelaide. A total of six father-son players were ultimately secured through this process. The bid-matching mechanism, governed by the AFL's Draft Value Index (DVI), required nominating clubs to surrender draft picks equivalent in points to the bid placed by rivals, with a 20% discount applied to first-round bids to encourage access for traditional clubs. For instance, Western Bulldogs matched a bid on father-son Rhylee West at pick 26 (729 DVI points) by trading for and then forfeiting later selections totaling equivalent value, including picks 30 and 57 after a mid-draft swap with Fremantle. Similarly, Collingwood retained Will Kelly by matching a bid at pick 29 (512 points) using their available later picks, while Sydney matched a pick 10 bid (1383 points, discounted to 1106) on academy prospect Nick Blakey with picks 27 and 34. Gold Coast academy talent Izak Rankine faced no external bid and was selected directly at pick 3, underscoring how the system balanced competitive equity with club development pathways.
CategoryClubPlayerOriginOutcome
Mature-Age ConcessionCarltonNathan KreugerSouth Adelaide (SANFL)Traded to Geelong for pick 42
Mature-Age ConcessionCarltonShane McAdamSturt (SANFL)Traded to Adelaide
Mature-Age ConcessionGold CoastSam CollinsWerribee (VFL)Retained
Mature-Age ConcessionGold CoastJosh CorbettWerribee (VFL)Retained
Mature-Age ConcessionGold CoastChris BurgessWest Adelaide (SANFL)Retained
Father-Son ExampleWestern BulldogsRhylee WestWestern Jets (TAC Cup)Retained via bid match (pick 51 effective)
Academy ExampleSydneyNick BlakeyUNSW-Eastern Suburbs (NGA)Retained via bid match (pick 10)
These pre-draft mechanisms, introduced amid ongoing league efforts to support expansion clubs and family legacies, resulted in approximately 11 key allocations influencing list compositions before the national draft commenced.

Category B Rookie Selections

Category B rookie selections in the 2018 AFL draft provided clubs with flexibility to recruit atypical prospects, such as international athletes, late converts from other sports, or Next Generation Academy (NGA) talents, without immediate salary cap consequences. Under the 2018 AFL Rules (Rule 10.1(b)), these players qualify if they are non-Australian citizens with minimal prior Australian residency, have not been registered in Australian football competitions for at least three years, or come from club academies or NGAs. Each Category B rookie occupies only half a spot on the club's rookie list, permitting up to three additional selections beyond the standard six full spots for a maximum of nine total rookies per club, with payments fully excluded from total player payments to support development. This mechanism differs from standard Category A rookies by prioritizing non-traditional pathways and offering list efficiency for clubs investing in diverse talent pools, often for long-term growth rather than immediate senior contributions. In 2018, clubs like Port Adelaide leveraged Category B for NGA development, selecting Kai Pudney and Martin Frederick to inject speed and endurance into their future midfield options. The following table summarizes key Category B selections from the 2018 process, focusing on representative examples:
ClubPlayerBackground/Details
Western BulldogsBuku KhamisSudanese-Australian athlete with raw speed and marking ability.
FremantleJason CarterLocal WA prospect for defensive depth.
Port AdelaideKai PudneyNGA midfielder with elite endurance.
Port AdelaideMartin FrederickNGA runner emphasizing pace.
GeelongBlake SchlensogVictorian local for key position development.
Sydney SwansSam WicksFormer rugby league forward transitioning to AFL.
Success among 2018 Category B rookies varied, with developmental timelines often extending beyond one season, but standout cases like Sam Wicks illustrated adaptation; elevated to Sydney's senior list in 2020, he played 7 games that year, averaging 0.7 goals and showcasing his contested marking strength. By 2025, Wicks had played 87 AFL games but was delisted by Sydney amid off-field issues. Overall, these selections contributed to league-wide diversity, with clubs like the Western Bulldogs using them to build athletic profiles, though only a minority achieved rapid senior integration unique to the cohort.

Primary Drafts

2018 National Draft

The 2018 National Draft took place over two nights, 22 and 23 November, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, introducing live trading of draft picks for the first time, allowing clubs to negotiate and exchange selections in real time during the event. A total of 78 players were selected across multiple rounds, with clubs passing after the fifth round as picks became exhausted. The draft order was primarily determined by reverse ladder position from the 2018 season, adjusted for prior free agency compensation and trade period activity. The opening round featured a strong cohort of midfielders and key position players, headlined by Carlton's selection of versatile midfielder Sam Walsh from the Geelong Falcons with the first pick, widely regarded as a cornerstone for the club's rebuild. Gold Coast followed with South Australian tall forward Jack Lukosius at pick 2 and academy product Izak Rankine at pick 3, the latter a dynamic small forward who had starred in the national under-18 championships. St Kilda addressed their key forward needs by taking Max King from the Sandringham Dragons at pick 4, while Port Adelaide secured South Australian captain Connor Rozee, a prolific ball-winner, at pick 5.
PickClubPlayerOrigin/PositionNotes
1CarltonSam WalshGeelong Falcons/Midfielder
2Gold CoastJack LukosiusWoodville-West Torrens/Forward
3Gold CoastIzak RankineWest Adelaide/ForwardAcademy selection
4St KildaMax KingSandringham Dragons/Forward
5Port AdelaideConnor RozeeNorth Adelaide/Midfielder
6Gold CoastBen KingSandringham Dragons/Key DefenderAcademy selection
7Western BulldogsBailey SmithDandenong Stingrays/Midfielder
8North MelbourneTarryn ThomasNorthern Territory/MidfielderAcademy selection
9AdelaideChayce JonesLaunceston/Allies/Midfielder
10SydneyNick BlakeyUNSW-East Sydney Bulldogs/MidfielderAcademy selection
*Table notes: Selections based on final draft order; some players from later rounds (e.g., picks 60+) did not make an AFL debut, including examples such as Will Hayes (pick 78, Western Bulldogs) and several mid-to-late round picks who remained on rookie lists or delisted without senior games. Academy and father-son nominations played a significant role, with clubs required to match bids under the AFL's points-based bidding system, where each pick held a value (e.g., pick 1 worth 3000 points, decreasing progressively). A notable example was North Melbourne's acquisition of father-son prospect Bailey Scott at pick 49, matching a bid from Collingwood valued at approximately the points equivalent of pick 32 by surrendering their picks 46 and 52, totaling over 200 points to cover the deficit. Similarly, the Western Bulldogs matched a Melbourne bid for father-son Rhylee West at pick 26 using their allocated selection, while Collingwood secured father-son Will Kelly at pick 29 without additional concessions due to the bid aligning with their draft position. Other academy matches included Sydney's Nick Blakey at pick 10 and GWS's Bobby Hill at pick 24, both uncontested due to club positioning, though the system deterred higher bids through points penalties. These selections cost clubs varying points deficits, with Gold Coast forgoing future first-round picks in prior trades to accommodate academy obligations like Rankine. Live trading added dynamism to proceedings, enabling on-the-spot adjustments to the order. Greater Western Sydney executed two such trades: first, swapping future picks with Carlton to move into the first round for Bobby Hill (pick 24), then trading with the Western Bulldogs to secure Noah Idun at pick 65 using end-of-first-round assets. Another blockbuster unfolded around pick 19, where Collingwood traded with Carlton in a multi-club deal involving future seconds and thirds to land Liam Stocker, part of a chain that influenced 18 subsequent trades and 32 players over time. These maneuvers allowed clubs like Fremantle and Port Adelaide to consolidate late picks for depth. Club hauls varied by rebuild needs, with Carlton assembling a top-end group including Walsh (1) and Liam Stocker (19 via live trade), bolstering their young core amid a multi-year reconstruction. Gold Coast, prioritizing local talent retention, landed three top-6 selections: Lukosius (2), Rankine (3), and academy tall Ben King (6), aiming to build a nucleus despite limited future assets. St Kilda focused on key positions with King (4) and later picks like Zak Jones (delisted free agent context, but draft depth in midfield), while Fremantle targeted versatility with Henry (19) and Mitchell Crowden (27, traded up). Bottom clubs like North Melbourne added academy speedster Tarryn Thomas (8) and Scott (49), enhancing their contested ball strength.

Rookie Elevations

In the lead-up to the 2018 AFL draft, clubs utilized the rookie elevation process to promote players from their 2018 rookie lists to the primary playing list for the 2019 season, addressing vacancies arising from retirements, delistings, and injuries while rewarding development milestones. This internal promotion mechanism allowed teams to retain promising talent without expending draft picks, with clubs permitted to elevate up to six rookies if sufficient spots were available on their expanded 44-player primary lists. St Kilda was one club to act decisively, elevating ruckman Rowan Marshall to the senior list on October 26, 2018, after an encouraging VFL season where he demonstrated strong ruck contesting and versatility as a forward. Fremantle followed suit by promoting forward Bailey Banfield to the senior list in August 2018, acknowledging his growth in the VFL after being selected as a rookie in 2017, particularly his ability to provide pressure and goal-kicking threat. Geelong conducted two notable elevations in early November 2018 to bolster their list post-retirements, promoting defender Jack Henry—who had played 22 games in 2018 as a 2017 rookie draftee and earned the club's Best Young Player award—and utility Mark O’Connor, a 2016 rookie who had featured in seven senior matches after transitioning from Gaelic football. These moves exemplified how elevations filled critical gaps, such as those from veteran departures, and enabled immediate integration into senior training and potential 2019 debuts, with Henry and O’Connor both playing in round 1 the following year. Overall, the process across all clubs resulted in around a dozen elevations, enhancing list depth without external recruitment in some cases.

Subsequent Rookie Processes

2019 Rookie Draft

The 2019 AFL Rookie Draft, held on 23 November 2018 immediately following the national draft, enabled clubs to select up to six additional players for their rookie lists, primarily targeting developmental prospects, delisted players, and mature-age athletes overlooked in the primary intake. A total of 40 selections were made across four rounds, with the draft order determined by reverse finishing positions from the 2018 season, allowing clubs like Carlton (first) and West Coast (last) to pick early. This process filled remaining list spots after Category B allocations for eligible categories such as non-playing rookies or international players, ensuring a balanced integration of talent for the 2019 season. Clubs employed varied strategies, often prioritizing positional needs or second chances for experienced players to add immediate depth. For instance, several teams focused on key defenders to address height deficiencies, while others sought versatile midfielders from state leagues. Delisted free agency rules allowed passes on early picks, with some clubs like Greater Western Sydney opting out to sign free agents later, such as ruckman Shane Mumford. This flexibility highlighted a shift toward targeted recruitment over exhaustive use of available slots, with eight clubs passing on at least one selection. Key prospects emerged from the draft's talent pool of late national draft candidates and SANFL/VFL standouts, providing value for clubs patient in the primary process. Notable selections included Callum Wilkie (St Kilda, pick 3), a 191 cm defender from North Adelaide who developed into a reliable All-Australian interceptor with over 100 games by 2025; Tom Atkins (Geelong, pick 11), a contested ball-winner from the VFL who earned a 2022 premiership and contributed 153 career games; and Harry Edwards (West Coast, pick 18), an athletic 195 cm key defender who has played 42 games by the end of 2025, providing backline depth. These picks exemplified the draft's role in unearthing overlooked gems from 2018 pools, such as Wilkie, who slipped past national attention due to his SANFL background.
RoundPickClubPlayerPosition/Notes
11CarltonHugh GoddardKey forward; delisted from St Kilda, added experience
13St KildaCallum WilkieDefender; SANFL talent, long-term club stalwart
16Western BulldogsLachie YoungMidfielder; Dandenong Stingrays product for versatility
111GeelongTom AtkinsMidfielder; VFL best-and-fairest winner, premiership contributor
118West CoastHarry EdwardsKey defender; athletic intercept for backline depth
219CarltonTom BuggUtility; delisted from GWS/Melbourne, leadership addition
Other examples of strategic picks included Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs, pick 23), a ruck prospect who later debuted, and Mabior Chol (Richmond, pick 45), a tall forward targeted for marking ability. The draft's emphasis on Category B integration ensured no overlaps, with prior special selections like non-playing rookies occupying initial slots before these open selections commenced. Overall, the process reinforced developmental pathways, with rookie elevations from prior lists creating additional spots mid-draft.

Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period

The Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) for the 2018 AFL draft operated from 1 December 2018 to 15 March 2019, providing clubs with an extended window to sign eligible players to their primary or rookie lists without the use of tradeable draft picks. This mechanism followed the 2018 rookie draft and allowed unlimited signings until clubs reached their list limits of 44 players, targeting undrafted nominees, delisted free agents, and other cleared individuals to fill vacancies from retirements, injuries, or prior delistings. Eligible players could not train with their new club until 1 December, ensuring a structured off-season process distinct from the structured bidding of earlier drafts. Under the SSP rules, clubs had flexibility to address specific positional needs, such as ruck depth or midfield reinforcements, by directly recruiting players who had previously been overlooked in the national or rookie drafts. No compensation picks were awarded, and signings were limited to those who had nominated for the 2018 drafts or held prior AFL list spots, preventing broad international or amateur intakes without prior clearance. This period proved particularly useful for clubs like North Melbourne, which signed ruckman Tom Campbell in December as a replacement for traded player Braydon Preuss, bolstering their tall options ahead of the 2019 season. Similarly, Hawthorn added key position player Ned Reeves in March to enhance forward depth, while West Coast secured Keegan Brooksby for ruck support. Several notable signings highlighted the SSP's role in revitalizing careers, including delisted players returning to the league and young prospects gaining a second chance. For instance, Richmond signed utility Mav Weller in late 2018 and versatile defender Sydney Stack in February 2019, addressing versatility gaps post-trade period. Carlton bolstered its VFL pipeline by adding Michael Gibbons and Matthew Cottrell in February, while St Kilda targeted defense with Jonathon Marsh and key forward Sam Rowe. Other clubs, such as Melbourne (Corey Wagner and Jay Lockhart), Gold Coast (Sam Fletcher), and Sydney (Hayden McLean), used the window to finalize their lists, with GWS Giants reuniting with veteran ruck Shane Mumford despite his suspension for the opening rounds. The SSP concluded with six remaining list spots across the league carried over to the mid-season draft after Round 11 of 2019, underscoring its effectiveness in post-draft list management without overfilling rosters prematurely. Overall, the period facilitated targeted additions for 11 clubs, enabling them to integrate experienced delisted players and emerging talents directly into training camps by late March.
ClubKey SigningsPosition/Notes
CarltonMichael Gibbons, Matthew CottrellVFL duo for depth; signed February 2019
EssendonZac ClarkeRuck option; signed November 2018
Gold CoastSam FletcherMidfield boost; signed March 2019
GWS GiantsShane MumfordVeteran ruck; signed November 2018
HawthornNed ReevesForward/ruck; signed March 2019
MelbourneCorey Wagner, Jay LockhartUtilities; signed November 2018 and March 2019
North MelbourneTom CampbellRuck replacement; signed December 2018
RichmondMav Weller, Sydney StackVersatile additions; signed December 2018 and February 2019
St KildaJonathon Marsh, Sam RoweDefensive forwards; signed March 2019
SydneyHayden McLeanKey forward; signed March 2019
West CoastKeegan BrooksbyRuck depth; signed December 2018

Draft Impact and Legacy

Notable Draftee Careers

Sam Walsh, selected first overall by Carlton in the 2018 national draft, emerged as a cornerstone midfielder for the Blues, earning the AFL Rising Star award in his debut season of 2019 and the club's best and fairest, the John Nicholls Medal, in 2021. He was named to the All-Australian team that year and served as co-vice captain from 2023 onward, finishing third in the John Nicholls Medal in 2024 while averaging 28.4 disposals per game. By the end of the 2025 season, Walsh had played 133 games, solidifying his leadership role amid speculation of interest from rival clubs. Izak Rankine, the third pick by Gold Coast before being traded to Adelaide in 2022, adapted as a dynamic forward-midfielder, earning 22under22 team selections in 2020 and 2022 along with an AFL Rising Star nomination in 2020. Despite injury interruptions and a late-season suspension for a homophobic slur in 2025, he kicked 36 goals in 2023 and featured in the 2025 All-Australian squad after a strong season averaging 20.6 disposals and contributing to Adelaide's finals campaign. Rankine played 105 AFL games by 2025, with his versatility highlighted in 22 appearances that year. Connor Rozee, drafted fifth by Port Adelaide, developed into a durable leader, captaining the club in 2024 and securing back-to-back All-Australian selections in 2022 and 2023 while winning the John Cahill Medal in 2022. By 2025, Rozee had amassed 150 games, averaging high disposal counts and anchoring Port's midfield. Among later-round selections, Oscar Allen, taken 44th by West Coast, became a prolific key forward, booting 151 career goals by 2025 despite knee issues limiting him to 12 games that season. As co-captain from 2023, Allen's marking prowess and 12 Brownlow votes underscored his impact before departing as a free agent to Brisbane at season's end. Bailey Smith, the seventh pick by the Western Bulldogs before trading to Geelong in 2024, showcased elite midfield running, starring in the 2021 finals series and earning All-Australian honors in 2025 after averaging 31.3 disposals across 23 games in his first full season with the Cats. Smith's move revitalized his career, contributing to Geelong's contention push with 126 total games by 2025. Nick Blakey, selected ninth overall by Sydney as a father-son academy prospect, evolved into a versatile defender, earning All-Australian selection in 2024 after 102 games and aiding the Swans' 2022 grand final appearance. His story highlighted the academy system's role in nurturing talent from non-traditional regions, with Blakey's half-back rebounding key to Sydney's defensive structure by 2025. Not all draftees sustained AFL careers; Tarryn Thomas, the eighth pick by North Melbourne, played 69 games before his contract was terminated in 2024 due to repeated off-field misconduct, ending his league tenure. Several others, including early picks like Max King (fourth overall, St Kilda), faced delisting risks after injury-plagued paths, with King managing 103 games but ruled out for the 2025 season due to knee surgery and seeking opportunities elsewhere. Academy products like those from Gold Coast's program, such as Connor Budarick (pick 11), debuted but played 55 games before being traded to the Western Bulldogs ahead of 2026, illustrating adaptation challenges for young talents. By 2025, standout 2018 draftees collectively boasted over 800 games, multiple All-Australian nods, and club awards, though diverse trajectories—from premiership chases to state league returns—reflected the draft's unpredictability.

Club and League Outcomes

The 2018 AFL draft significantly accelerated rebuild efforts for several clubs through high-caliber selections that addressed key positional needs and provided long-term foundational talent. Carlton, enduring a prolonged period of underperformance, utilized their No. 1 pick on midfielder Sam Walsh and acquired Liam Stocker (No. 19) via live trade, bolstering a midfield core that included Patrick Cripps and later enabled finals appearances in 2023 and 2024. Gold Coast Suns, replacing departed stars like Tom Lynch and Steven May, secured three top-six picks—Jack Lukosius (No. 2), Izak Rankine (No. 3), and Ben King (No. 6)—which formed a potent forward line and contributed to the club's first finals series in 2025, an elimination final victory marking a shift toward contention in the early 2020s. These acquisitions exemplified how priority draft access for expansion and struggling teams facilitated recovery, with Carlton improving from 3-19 win-loss in 2018 to preliminary finals contention by 2024. League-wide, the draft enhanced competitive parity through mechanisms like bid-matching for academy and father-son prospects, which compelled non-traditional AFL states like Queensland and South Australia to relinquish high picks, distributing elite talent more evenly and reducing Victorian dominance. The introduction of live trading during the draft nights proved highly engaging, resulting in 10 on-the-spot deals that added dynamism and strategic depth, as seen in Carlton's exchange for Stocker. Compared to the 2017 draft, which featured solid but less concentrated top-end quality, the 2018 class delivered an exceptional cohort of ready-made stars, often likened to the landmark 2001 "super draft" for its depth in midfielders and key position players. By 2025, long-term metrics underscored the draft's enduring value, with approximately 60-70% of national draftees remaining on AFL lists—far above average retention rates for prior years—driven by the class's injury resilience and rapid development. Several players contributed to premiership successes, including Collingwood's 2023 flag-winning side featuring Isaac Quaynor (No. 13) and Bobby Hill (selected at No. 24 by GWS). However, areas of incompleteness persisted, particularly with international rookie selections under Category B rules, where limited 2018 intakes like Irish talents faced slow integration due to adaptation challenges, with few achieving sustained AFL roles by 2025 compared to domestic draftees.

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