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SANFL ruckman Caleb May confirms interest from West Coast ahead of mid-season draft

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Josh KemptonThe West Australian
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West Coast have expressed an interest in Caleb May ahead of the mid-season draft.
Camera IconWest Coast have expressed an interest in Caleb May ahead of the mid-season draft. Credit: Michael Farnell

West Coast are eyeing towering SANFL ruckman Caleb May in the mid-season draft to help support Matt Flynn and Bailey Williams.

The 208cm West Adelaide big man confirmed he has had discussions with the Eagles ahead of this month’s draft after playing in Saturday’s State game at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

West Coast are set to take two picks into the mid-season draft to cover for injured pair Deven Robertson (knee) and Jacob Newton (foot), who have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Flynn, who was elevated to the Eagles’ leadership group over the summer, held down the ruck position for the first four games of the season before being dropped from the senior side in favour of Bailey Williams.

After his side’s loss to the Sandgropers, May confirmed to The West Australian he had shared multiple conversations with West Coast’s recruiting staff, among some other clubs.

“We’ll just see what happens,” May said.

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“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.

Caleb May in action against the WAFL.
Camera IconCaleb May in action against the WAFL. Credit: Michael Farnell

“If it happens, it happens, but if it doesn’t, I’ll keep working hard and see where I can get to.”

The Eagles have also been credited with an interest in West Perth midfielder Kane Bevan, the son of Eagles legend Zac Mainwaring and his Claremont teammate Jasper Peace and former South Fremantle defender Tom Bell.

May was a member of the Sydney Swans Academy who headed to South Australia ahead of the 2025 season after missing out on the draft in 2023.

He has been in fine form for the Bloods throughout the first six games of the SANFL season, averaging 37 hit-outs, 12.2 disposals and four clearances per game to figure as one of the leading contenders to be snapped up by an AFL club on May 26.

The 21-year-old said he was excited by the prospect of sharing a midfield with rising Eagles superstar Harley Reid.

“Harls is a fantastic talent, he was in my draft year,” he said.

“If I get the opportunity, that’d be unbelievable, but we’ll just see what happens.”

Throughout the State game, May shared an enthralling individual battle with Jones, who played six games for Fremantle before becoming the State league’s premier ruckmen.

May said he had relished his chance to test himself against a player who had been one of the WAFL’s best for several years.

“I was really keen to go up against him and have a crack,” he said.

“It was a good opportunity for me to have an older player like that.

“I was just focused on my job today, tapping it to the mids. Unfortunately, I probably couldn’t get it to the spots I wanted, but I felt like we had a crack at the back end.”

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