AFL mid-season draft live updates: West Coast pull off selection shocks as WA’s Jaxon Artemis goes No.1
West Coast have made two shock selections in the mid-season draft, taking the son of a Port Adelaide gun, while a WAFL premiership star went as No.1. SEE EVERY SELECTION.
AFL: West Coast had two list spots available as several WA guns have high hopes of going to the next level in the 2026 AFL mid-season draft.
The Eagles selected Oliver Francou, son of Port Adelaide gun and Brownlow runner-up Josh while they also picked up Geelong VFL product Marcus Herbert.
Essendon took South Fremantle premiership winner with the first overall pick on what was an otherwise disappointing night for WA prospects.
SEE EVERY PICK IN THE AFL’S MID-SEASON DRAFT BELOW
1. Jaxon Artemis - Essendon
2. Kye Annand - Richmond
3. Oliver Francou - West Coast
4. Flynn Riley - Carlton
5. Xavier Bamert - Port Adelaide
6. Oliver Griffin - North Melbourne
7. Campbell Lake - St Kilda
8. Harrison Coe - Collingwood
9. Caleb May - Western Bulldogs
10. Hugo Hall-Kahan - Adelaide
11. Lukas Cooke - Melbourne
12. Max Beattie - Hawthorn
Second round
13. Marcus Herbert - West Coast
14. Alex Van Wyk - Port Adelaide
15. Liam Puncher - Collingwood
16. Joel Fitzgerald - Melbourne
Third round
17. Pass - Port Adelaide
18. Mitch Podhajski - Collingwood
19. Max Mapley - Melbourne
Key events
35 mins ago - 05:19 PM
Eagles could get an early look at Artemis
1 hour ago - 04:51 PM
PICK 13 - Eagles take Marcus Herbert
1 hour ago - 04:40 PM
PICK THREE - Eagles take Oliver Francou
1 hour ago - 04:35 PM
PICK ONE - Jaxon Artemis
1 hour ago - 04:12 PM
Who’s likely to go No.1?
1 hour ago - 04:00 PM
Who are the Eagles circling?
2 hours ago - 03:51 PM
Top WA prospects
2 hours ago - 03:48 PM
Welcome
Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.
PICK 10
Adelaide take Hugo Hall-Kahan.
Second time around having been picked up in the 2024 MSD by the Swans but did not play a game before being delisted as the attacking half-back goes to the Crows.
The ones we missed
There was a bit going on with the Eagles shock but here’s who welse went at 4,5,6
4. Carlton - Flynn Riley (ruckman, Carlton VFL)
5. Port Adelaide - Xavier Bamert (midfielder, North Melbourne VFL)
6. North Melbourne - Oliver Griffin (forward, Sandringham Dragons)
PICK NINE
Western Bulldogs take Caleb May.
He was the man who West Coast were expected to take but instead the Bulldogs pick up the towering South Australian ruck.
The Dogs’ ruck stocks have been ravaged by injury so he will be a welcome addition.
PICK EIGHT
Collingwood take Harrison Coe from Frankston, he’s a ruck option who can help cover the loss of Oscar Steene
PICK SEVEN
St Kilda take Campbell Lake from Southport and was previously part of the Suns’ academy.
PICK THREE - Eagles take Oliver Francou
The 20-year-old midfielder is the son of Josh Francou, who played 156 games for Port Adelaide.
This is a shock selection but he will add invalbuable midfield depth given the injuries in that postition.
He’s averaged 30 disposals from five SANFL matches this year.
West Coast Eagles National Recruiting Manager Duane Massey said Francou’s athletic profile and competitiveness had stood out early in the season.
“Oliver’s speed and power combined with his ability to consistently outwork opponents through his endurance has been particularly notable,” Massey said.
“With his strong work ethic and competitive nature, and turning 21 early next year, we believe he will integrate well into our emerging group of young talent.”
PICK TWO
The Tigers take Kye Annand from Geelong’s VFL.
The versatile key defender who can also pinch hit in the ruck had been talked to by several clubs, including West Coast, but Richmond get him witht he second pick.
PICK ONE - Jaxon Artemis
Here we go. The Bombers with the first pick.
And as expected, they take Jaxon Artemis for the Devils.
The WA defender takes the top spot as expected. He would have ended up at Richmond if they hadn’t beat Essendon at the weekend.
Great vision as he’s mobbed on his couch by family and friends.
A potential bolter?
Ross McQueen could be forgiven for being conflicted with Jake Soutar’s rise into contention for the mid-season draft, but “100 per cent” of the East Perth coach is hoping an AFL club takes a chance on his teenage defender.
Who’s likely to go No.1?
WA’s own Jaxon Artemis looks to be the top candidate having moved from South Fremantle to join Tasmania’s VFL team this year.
He was WA’s MVP at the 2024 Under-18s championship and was part of the Bulldogs’ premiership team.
