2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft: North Melbourne snap up Tasmanian youngster with the No. 1 pick
Tasmanian youngster Geordie Payne emerged as the No. 1 pick in the just-concluded 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. The 19-year-old was snapped up by North Melbourne with their first pick of the draft.
Payne, who played for the Tasmania Devils in the Coates Talent League before being drafted, was one of the highly rated prospects heading into the draft. Primarily a defender, he transitioned to a midfielder/forward this season, and has been performing well.
Recently, Payne kicked four goals against Eastern Ranges and amassed 12 goals in five games for Tasmania. In Round 8, he was named the Coates Talent League Player of the Week after an outstanding performance.
The Kangaroos, who have been winless this year, will hope that adding the youngster to their ranks can give them the push needed to turn the tide on an already underwhelming season.
North Melbourne were not the only side to pick a top prospect in the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. The Richmond Tigers picked up Peel Thunders' Jacob Blight with pick No. 2, while the West Coast Eagles took standout Collingwood VFL forward Jack Hutchinson.
Brynn Teakle is the only former AFL-listed player picked in the draft. The former Port Adelaide ruckman was also chosen by North Melbourne with the 15th pick in the second round of the draft.
The 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft in full
The 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft has been completed, with teams picking up players to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season. A total of 342 players were nominated for the draw, but only 19 were picked.
Brisbane had four slots open on their list but only made three picks. Adelaide had three slots, but passed on two, while Richmond used only two of three available picks.
Here is the full list of picks made in the 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 McLachlan (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