Eagles take Culley in mid-season rookie draft

Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Jai Culley is now a West Coast Eagle, taken with pick one in the 2022 AFL mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday.

Culley, a powerfully build dreadlocked midfielder from the Stingrays was overlooked in the 2021 AFL draft, a victim of a lack of football in Victoria in 2020 and last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He underlined his credentials with a four-goal, 22-disposal performance for the Young Guns against Vic Metro last month.

West Coast passed with it's second pick, opting not to take another player despite a horror 1-10 start to the season, overlooking South Fremantle ball magnet Jake Florenca and Claremont Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers.

Fremantle took East Perth excitement machine Sebit Kuek with their pick at selection 15, the sprightly Sudenese born forward having kicked 16 goals in 5 WAFL games for the Royals this season.

Peel Thunder's Wade Derksen found his way to the Giants with pick 5, while East Fremantle ruck/forward was selected by Port Adelaide with pick 8.

2022 MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT

1. West Coast Eagles — Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays)

2. North Melbourne — Kallan Dawson (Williamstown VFL)

3. Essendon — Massimo D’Ambrosio (Western Jets)

4. Adelaide Crows — Brett Turner (Glenelg)

5. GWS Giants — Wade Derksen (Peel Thunder)

6. Hawthorn — Max Ramsden (Sandringham Dragons)

7. Gold Coast Suns — Oskar Faulkhead (Bendigo Pioneers)

8. Port Adelaide — Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle)

9. Collingwood — Josh Carmichael (West Adelaide)

10. Richmond — Jacob Bauer (North Adelaide)

11. Sydney Swans — Hugo Hall-Kahan (Sandringham Dragons)

12. Geelong Cats — Zane Williams (Woodville-West Torrens)

13. Carlton — Sam Durdin (Glenelg)

14. St Kilda — Pass

15. Fremantle — Sebit Kuek (East Perth)

ROUND TWO

16. West Coast Eagles — Pass

17. North Melbourne — Pass

18. Essendon — Jye Menzie (South Adelaide)

19. Adelaide Crows — Pass

20. Hawthorn — James Blanck (Box Hill Hawks)

21. Collingwood — Pass

22. Carlton — Will Hayes (Carlton VFL)

23. Fremantle — Pass

IMAGE: Cranbourne Star News.