With the talk of a mid-season player movement period frequently on the lips of AFL fans and experts alike, we look into a mid-season draft with a twist. All eighteen AFL teams will be selecting a superhero to fill their needs for the rest of the season and beyond. So without further adieu, here is the first annual mid-season AFL superhero draft.

Pick 1: Brisbane Lions – Superman (Utility)

The Brisbane Lions have a young core and Chris Fagan has turned their fortunes around in quick succession. With their first pick, they take the consensus number one. Superman is a do it all athlete, who can be used anywhere around the park. Despite being on the top of every mock draft, Superman is by far from the perfect prospect. He has a few glaring weaknesses his game, the majority of them being Kryptonite related. Furthermore, unless a team from Krypton is a goal for league expansion, the go-home factor will be less of an issue for the man of steel.

Pick 2: Hawthorn Hawks – Bane (Key Defender)

The Hawks will happily take on the best key player in the draft to aid their rebuild. Character issues aside, the key back is the future of the Hawthorn defense. With stalwarts like Josh Gibson on the back-nine of his career, Hawthorn has a ready made replacement. His size and strength would put him instantly into the senior side, giving the Hawks another presence down back.

Pick 3: North Melbourne Kangaroos – Batman (Midfield)

Typical North Melbourne, always chasing big name players. Batman is the most talked about prospect in the draft. A tireless worker, and cool under pressure, Batman will fit right into North’s engine room. He is known for finding a way to win against the odds, which will be handy in those close North Melbourne losses. Worth more than the entire club, expect a handy sponsorship deal with Wayne Enterprises to follow.

Pick 4: Carlton Blues – Captain Carlton (Midfield)

In the first shock of the draft, the Carlton Blues have taken an academy prospect to add to their senior list. Captian Carlton is known commodity around the club and should be able to make an immediate impact on the field. Already a fan favourite, especially with the kids, Captian Carlton is another young player that can build with the Blues’ young core. There is also talk of the Blues taking Navy Nina in the AFLW offseason.

Pick 5: Gold Coast Suns – Iron Man (Defender)

The Gold Coast Suns will happily take the next best available prospect. A tactical genius, Tony Stark is usually the smartest man on the football field, the Suns have a natural leader who can control the play. The rebounding defender is becoming one of the most important roles in the league, and Iron Man is cut out for it. With the reassurance of the impressive Steven May behind him, he and Stark are potentially one of the best backlines in the league.

Pick 6: Collingwood Magpies – Thor (Key Forward)

The Magpies lack a strong key forward, and the godly Thor is a hand and glove fit for them. With size, strength, and endurance, Thor is the do it all forward perfect for the modern game. His accuracy with a hammer cannot be understated, but it is to be seen how that transfers in front of goal.

Pick 7: Sydney Swans – The Flash (Wing)

Despite being successful for what seems like an eternity, the Sydney Swans have developed a collection of great young players to propel them back up the ladder. The Flash will be a great outside ball user for the Swans and will give a much-needed burst of speed on the wing. A stand-up guy, too, he can slot straight into the Swans starting lineup and is AFL-ready.

Pick 8: Fremantle Dockers – Spider-Man (Midfield)

The Fremantle Dockers will be thrilled that Spider-Man has fallen to pick eight. The elusive midfielder is almost impossible to tackle and is a smooth mover in traffic. A little light of frame, he will need to build his body over a few pre-seasons to really begin to stamp his authority in the league.

Pick 9: St Kilda Saints – Jack Jack (Very Small Forward)

Along with fitting into the Saints’ recruiting policy of drafting players named Jack, the youngest Incredible is a great future prospect. Whilst he may take some time at VFL, Jack Jack could find himself as a wildcard at senior level. He has a bag of tricks that not even he has full awareness of at the moment; A typical player who doesn’t know how good he is. If he can learn to control his ability to turn into a beast, then he will be a handy forward.

Pick 10: Western Bulldogs – The Hulk (Key defender)

With the Hulk, the Bulldogs have gained that physical presence to help turn the reigning premiers’ season around. Whilst there are potential issues with on-field anger problems, the west-side of Melbourne will love the Hulk destroying everything in his path. The ability to also swing forward is valuable, and nobody can crash a pack like the Hulk can.

Pick 11: Essendon Bombers – Doomsday (Ruck)

With the eleventh pick, the Bombers are taking a huge gamble on a player who could revolutionalise the ruck position in the AFL. The versatile and durable Doomsday can play all about the ground and should give the Bombers a stable ruckman for a long time. He plays with ultimate aggression, sometimes to a fault. His anger issues may cause problems on the field, but if they can be reigned in, then the Bombers may find themselves with the steal of the draft.

Pick 12: West Coast Eagles – Quicksilver (Wing)

With the open spaces out west, the West Coast Eagles will benefit from a player like Quicksilver on the wing. He plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and will be loved in Perth. Ball-winners like Sam Mitchell and Matthew Priddis will make Quicksilver an instant force.

Pick 13: Richmond Tigers – Shazam (Half-Forward)

The mercurial Shazam fits Richmond to a tee. At times he can do the impossible. After all, he is the world’s mightiest mortal. However, due to all of his powers coming from magic, he can turn to the young and un-super Billy Batson without notice. The consistent inconsistency of Shazam will fit the Richmond Football Club like a hand into a glove.

Pick 14: Melbourne Demons – Deadpool (Defender)

A medium-sized defender, Deadpool will add to the growing list of annoying players to play against; the only man who could overtake Bernie Vince as the biggest pest at the Dees. With Deadpool in Melboune, the Dees have themselves a super-athletic lock-down defender who will frustrate opposition forwards all day.

Pick 15: Port Adelaide Power – Wolverine (Small Forward)

Whilst never being the biggest player on the field, Wolverine is a force. Durable and an utter workhorse, with the ability to shred through opponents and make slashing runs off half-back. Wolverine will be able to aid the Power’s second half of the year. There are rumours of off-field issues, however, the Power will trust their ability to turn that around. His extreme fitness will add into the Power’s late game running.

Pick 16: Geelong Cats – Robin (Midfielder)

Geelong already has one of the best midfield brigades in the league. With Dangerwood, the Cats’ will need a player with a complimentary skill set. Not many are better at supporting than Robin. Robin can help the Cats’ midfield now and is young enough to be there for a long time. With Dangerfield and Selwood getting the occasional double-team, Robin will be able to beat his man one-on-one with his agility and quick thinking.

Pick 17: GWS Giants – Daredevil (Medium Defender)

Despite being legally blind, Daredevil’s “radar” helps him sense a play seemingly before it happens, this radar will only be aided with the small Spotless Stadium crowds. With Heath Shaw looking to take on a smaller role before he rides off in to the sunset, Daredevil is a logical replacement across half back.

Pick 18: Adelaide Crows – Cyborg (Utility)

The only thing holding Cyborg back in the draft is a series of injuries. We have seen it happen many times before, players with injury histories slide down the draft and turn out to be steals. With the Crows’ offensive firepower, Cyborg will be allowed time to reboot, with hope he can take the feild in the finals.