North Melbourne Picks Tassie Star Geordie Payne as 19 Players Drafted in AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft
NORTH Melbourne has selected Tasmanian youngster Geordie Payne with the No. 1 pick in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. On Wednesday night, 19 players earned spots on AFL lists.
The draft pool included former Port Adelaide ruckman Brynn Teakle, who gets a second chance at the AFL with the Kangaroos, and ex-Hawthorn midfielder Ned Long, who joined Collingwood after being delisted last year.
MID-SEASON DRAFT
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Out of the 23 picks available on Wednesday night, Brisbane was the most active club, using three of its four available picks to cover a spate of ACL injuries.
Geordie Payne, 19, joined previous mid-season No. 1 picks such as Ryan Maric (2023), Jai Culley (2022), Jacob Edwards (2021), and Josh Deluca (2019). Payne has transformed his game this year from a defender to a midfielder/forward, scoring goals with his pace and a long kick. He has kicked 12 goals in five Coates Talent League games for Tasmania in 2024, including four against Eastern Ranges earlier this month. The Roos are hoping Payne can boost their winless season through 11 rounds.
"It's been a lifetime dream of mine and for it to come true, I didn't really know what to think … there were a few tears shed," Payne told AFL.com.au shortly after being selected by the Roos. "I'm a lot more mature and more versatile. I've gone to a different end of the ground [this year], so just being versatile is something I've improved on."
Kangaroos recruiting manager Will Thursfield praised Payne's ability to impact all areas of the game, noting his defensive intent and versatility.
"He's good in the air, he's slippery on the ground with good agility, and what we like most about him is his defensive intent. He really hunts the opposition, tackles, and he's an in-your-face type of player," Thursfield said.
Other Notable Picks
- Richmond selected Peel Thunder intercept defender Jacob Blight with pick No. 2.
- West Coast chose Collingwood VFL forward Jack Hutchinson with pick No. 3.
- St Kilda picked Box Hill goalkicker Max Hall with pick No. 4.
- Hawthorn selected West Perth tall forward and former Fremantle Academy player Jasper Scaife with pick No. 5.
- Brisbane addressed its injuries in attack by selecting teenager Will MacLachlan from the Geelong Falcons with its first pick.
- Adelaide added 200cm ruck/forward Toby Murray, the brother of defender Nick Murray, from its SANFL program.
- Western Bulldogs selected SANFL small forward Kelsey Rypstra.
- Carlton picked VFL midfielder Cooper Lord.
- Collingwood rounded out the top 10 by selecting Eastern Ranges forward/ruck Iliro Smit.
In the second round, North Melbourne added Brynn Teakle at pick No. 15, providing some ruck depth. Richmond picked Essendon VFL forward Campbell Gray at pick No. 16. Brisbane selected SANFL half-back Luke Beecken with its second pick. Collingwood then picked former Hawthorn midfielder Ned Long at pick No. 19.
Brisbane rounded out the draft by adding WAFL small forward Darcy Craven, while Richmond and Adelaide passed on their remaining available picks.
2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft: First Round
1. North Melbourne - Geordie Payne (Tasmania, Coates Talent League)
2. Richmond - Jacob Blight (Peel Thunder, WAFL)
3. West Coast - Jack Hutchinson (Collingwood, VFL)
4. St Kilda - Max Hall (Box Hill, VFL)
5. Hawthorn - Jasper Scaife (West Perth, WAFL)
6. Brisbane - Will MacLachlan (Geelong Falcons, Coates Talent League)
7. Adelaide - Toby Murray (Adelaide, SANFL)
8. Western Bulldogs - Kelsey Rypstra (North Adelaide, SANFL)
9. Carlton - Cooper Lord (North Melbourne, VFL)
10. Collingwood - Iliro Smit (Eastern Ranges, Coates Talent League)
11. Melbourne - Luker Kentfield (Subiaco, WAFL)
12. Port Adelaide - Logan Evans (Port Adelaide, SANFL)
13. Essendon - Saad El-Hawli (Northern Bullants, VFL)
14. Sydney - Tom Hanily (Gippsland Power, Coates Talent League)
Second Round
15. North Melbourne - Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle, WAFL)
16. Richmond - Campbell Gray (Essendon, VFL)
17. Brisbane - Luke Beecken (Woodville-West Torrens, SANFL)
18. Adelaide - Pass
19. Collingwood - Ned Long (Collingwood, VFL)
Third Round
20. Richmond - Pass
21. Brisbane - Darcy Craven (East Perth, WAFL)
22. Adelaide - Pass
Fourth Round
23. Brisbane - Pass
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