AFL mid-season draft: West Coast firming to select South Australian ruckman Caleb May with pick No.3

West Coast are firming to take towering South Australian ruckman Caleb May with their first pick in tomorrow’s mid-season draft. The West Australian understands the Eagles are now a strong chance to opt for 208cm big man May — who has been in dominant form with West Adelaide in the SANFL — if he is available when they enter the draft at pick No.3. It is understood West Coast have requested GPS numbers and a personality profile on the 21-year-old, who they met with as recently as last week. A graduate of the Sydney academy who headed to Adelaide in 2025, May has averaged 36.3 hit-outs, 12 disposals and 4.1 clearances per game across his seven State league appearances for the Bloods this season. He had the chance to play in front of multiple members of West Coast’s recruiting staff when he lined up for the SANFL in the State game against the WAFL earlier this month, finishing with 20 hit-outs against former Fremantle ruckman and East Perth star Scott Jones. After the game, May confirmed to The West Australian he had shared multiple conversations with the Eagles. “We’ll just see what happens,” May said. “I’m just trying to hold myself to a good standard of football and find consistency at senior level. “I know it (the mid-season draft) is lurking, but for me, I’m just trying to have fun and enjoy playing with my best mates at West Adelaide. The rest will take care of itself. “If it happens, it happens, but if it doesn’t, I’ll keep working hard and see where I can get to.” West Coast will take two selections into the mid-season draft, having placed midfielder Deven Robertson (knee) and small forward Jacob Newton (foot) on the inactive list due to season-ending injuries. The Eagles have been linked to a number of West Australians in the lead-in to the draft, including West Perth ball-winner Kane Bevan, Claremont key defender Jasper Peace and Tigers midfielder-forward Zac Mainwaring, the son of club legend Chris. However, West Coast coach Andrew McQualter was giving nothing away, saying the Eagles would take “the best available” player at pick three. “Well, we’ve been linked to about every player that’s possible at the moment,” he told 7NEWS a night out from the draft. “We’ve got a list that we’ve looked at and our guys have narrowed that list down now and we’ve got the third pick in the draft. “So, we’ll see where the first two fall and then pick the best available.” WA’s Jaxon Artemis is a near-certainty to be taken inside the top two picks of the draft. The South Fremantle premiership player, who has starred with Tasmania in the VFL this season, appeared set to head to Richmond at No.1 before their win over Essendon on Friday night dropped them behind the Bombers in the draft order. If Artemis is selected by Essendon as is expected, the Tigers are expected to opt for Geelong VFL midfielder Marcus Herbert, while another player from the Cats’ State league program in 200cm defender Kye Annand has also reportedly garnered their interest. Elsewhere, Tom Bell is widely considered a lock to be taken by Adelaide, who are set to beat Melbourne to the former South Fremantle key defender. Bell has impressed in the SANFL with the Crows this season, having taken up an opportunity to join their State league program over the off-season.