SON-OF-A-GUN midfielder Kyle Dunkley has emerged as the favourite to be the first player picked in next week's NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The brother of premiership-winning Bulldog Josh and son of ex-Swans defender Andrew won recruiters over with his consistently excellent performances in the NAB League, VFL and Young Guns game.
Bottom side Carlton is in pole position for Dunkley's services, a win and percentage behind North Melbourne on the ladder ahead of Sunday's clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
>> The 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft will be broadcast LIVE on AFL.com.au, the AFL Live Official App and Fox Footy from 6:30pm AEST on Monday, May 27
The Kangaroos face the Western Bulldogs at the same venue on Saturday, with North and the Blues the only teams in contention for the No.1 selection based on reverse ladder order.
MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT Former players, brothers of star on the list
The mid-season draft is designed to give more footballers an opportunity to be on an AFL list, while helping clubs fill holes on their list or get in early on an emerging player.
Only those who nominated for last year's drafts but missed out – excluding returning Academy players – or who were previously on an AFL list are eligible for this draft.
MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT 50 players who could spark up your list
With that in mind, recruiters who spoke to AFL.com.au believe the high volume of state-league talent drafted in 2018 has significantly drained the pool to select from next week.
The introduction of the pre-season supplemental selection period is another factor in the shallow depth.
However, so steep is Dunkley's improvement since being overlooked, including as a father-son option for Sydney, that one leading recruiter rates him the equivalent of a top-30 National Draft selection.
Another recruiter was reluctant to put a draft number on him so early in the season, but said he gave clubs little to be concerned about and "keeps ticking boxes".
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Others consider him closer to a third-round pick, which would have placed him somewhere between 44 and 55 in last year's draft.
The decision on whose name is called out first could come down to which of Carlton and North Melbourne ends up with the top pick.
The Kangaroos are believed to have not interviewed Dunkley, who is playing for Gippsland Power and Footscray, and are instead in the market for a small forward.
Battle-hardened Coburg goalsneak Sam Lowson and Northern Territory Thunder livewire Adam Tipungwuti are understood to be in the Kangas' sights.
North Melbourne is reportedly interested in Adam Tipungwuti. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media
Other candidates to be an early selection are Dandenong Stingrays speedster Mitch Riordan, Eastern Ranges winger Cody Hirst, Northern Blues onballer Frank Anderson and Coburg defender Lochie Dickson.
The general consensus despite the doubts on the mid-season draft pool's depth is that clubs with the capability to make a pick and absorb the salary cap hit will use a selection.
>> The 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft will be broadcast LIVE on AFL.com.au, the AFL Live Official App and Fox Footy from 6:30pm AEST on Monday, May 27
The players who could have been available if there was a 2018 mid-season draft
Pre-draft assistance
Josh Corbett
Shane McAdam
Chris Burgess
Sam Collins
Nathan Kreuger
National draft
Luke Foley (No.31)
Laitham Vandermeer (No.37)
Ben Cavarra (No.45)
Matthew Parker (No.47)
Nick Hind (No.54)
Noah Answerth (No.55)
Marty Hore (No.56)
Lachie Schultz (No.57)
Brett Bewley (No.59)
Darcy Fort (No.65)
Robbie Young (No.67)
Will Hayes (No.78)
Rookie draft
Callum Wilkie (No.3)
Kieran Strachan (No.7)
Tom Jok (No.8)
Tom Atkins (No.11)
Jake Aarts (No.16)
Jordon Sweet (No.23)
Jordon Butts (No.39)
Tom Wilkinson (No.41)
SSP
Michael Gibbons
Zac Clarke
Ned Reeves
Corey Wagner
Jay Lockhart
Jonathon Marsh
Hayden McLean
Keegan Brooksby
