Artemis finally has AFL lift off in mid-season draft

Jaxon Artemis has been drafted by Essendon in an eventful day for the Bombers. (Linda Higginson/AAP PHOTOS)

Until Friday night, Jaxon Artemis was headed to Richmond in the AFL mid-season draft and Brad Scott was staying coach at Essendon.

But the Tigers' boilover Dreamtime At The 'G win changed everything, putting Essendon ahead of them at the top of the draft order and ultimately costing Scott his job.

So after a whirlwind four days for Artemis, half-back from WA was taken by Essendon with the No.1 pick in Tuesday night's selections.

The 19-year-old had been playing for the Tassie Devils in the VFL and knocked back a contract offer from the incoming Tasmanian AFL team to nominate for the mid-season draft.

After being overlooked in the 2024 and '25 national drafts, he will head to an Essendon team now under the charge of interim coach Dean Solomon, following Scott's Tuesday sacking.

Artemis has backed himself to be ready for his AFL opportunity. (Linda Higginson/AAP PHOTOS)

"I could slot in (to their AFL team) straight away. I'm quite a good footballer so I'd be ready for any opportunity I reckon," Artemis told the AFL website.

The draft featured 18 players finding AFL homes. Injury-plagued Richmond used the No.2 pick to recruit Kye Annand from the Geelong VFL team.

Annand will fill the hole left by injured backman Josh Gibcus.

Oliver Francou, son of former Port Adelaide player Josh Francou, was recruited by West Coast with the No.3 pick from SANFL team North Adelaide.

Collingwood have called in two experienced players from the mid-season draft. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

Collingwood, like Richmond, have injury trouble and they went for experience amid their three picks.

No.8 selection Harrison Coe, 26, was chosen from Frankston in the VFL to replace injured ruckman Oscar Steene and 27-year-old key forward Mitch Podhajski (Coburg, VFL) was brought in at pick 18 to bolster their attack.

They were the only two players older than 23 taken in this draft.

Collingwood also drafted Woodville-West Torrens defender Liam Puncher from the SANFL at No.15.

Adelaide gave Hugo Hall-Kahan another chance, using the No.10 selection to bring him across from Williamstown in the VFL.

Hall-Kahan became the second player after Brynn Teakle to be recruited twice in the mid-season draft, having also gone to Sydney in 2022.

Ruckmen were in high demand, with six big men recruited.