MID-YEAR REQUESTS KNOCKED BACK

CARLTON and Sydney will not be able to open mid-season rookie spots for injured pair Rob Monahan and Liam Hetherton, despite both players being set to miss the rest of the year.

Monahan will miss the remainder of 2026 with a shoulder injury, while Hetherton is battling a back concern, but both players are Category B rookies making them ineligible to be replaced under the League's mid-season draft rules.

Only senior-listed players and Category A rookies can be replaced mid-year, meaning neither Carlton nor Sydney currently have an open spot among the 15-20 picks that are expected to be used.

Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and St Kilda all have free list spots left over from pre-season, while the Power have the option of opening a second position due to Ollie Lord's injury.

Collingwood (Reef McInnes), Melbourne (Jai Culley), Richmond (Josh Gibcus) and the Western Bulldogs (Sam Darcy) can also open list spots, while West Coast can open two through injuries to Deven Robertson and Jacob Newton.

As revealed by AFL.com.au last month, the Demons are also expected to be able to open a secondary position with veteran ruck Tom Campbell considering retirement in the coming weeks.

Essendon is among a number of other sides that will consider opening a spot for this month's mid-season draft, with Brayden Fiorini set for a long-term stint on the sidelines due to a back issue. – Riley Beveridge