The 2025 AFL Draft is being regarded as one of the most compromised in history, with a likely record number of Northern Academy, Next Generation Academy and father-son talents to join AFL lists.

Craft of the Draft last week named the top 13 prospects to watch, with four members of the top 10 tied to AFL clubs.

While the AFL has tightened rules to ensure clubs have to pay a greater price to secure their talent, the pedigree of many names listed this year will likely incentivise lots of dealings in the trade period as clubs attempt to match points.

Highlighting the strength of the tied-talent, every club has at least one player genuinely on the radar entering 2025.

VIEW: CURRENT AFL DRAFT ORDER

These are the names you might need to familiarise yourself with ahead of this year's AFL Draft.

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Carlton

The Blues have a trio of well-regarded Next Generation Academy prospects to watch in the 2025 pool.

Northern Knight Tyson Gresham is the most established of the lot and, as a small forward, would fill a glaring Carlton list hole. Since 2014, only Matt Owies, Matthew Wright and Eddie Betts have had seasons where they have averaged more than a goal a game among small forwards, and Owies in 2024 is the only player among those to have a season of more than 30 goals in Blues colours.

Gresham is a player the Blues have publicly noted their excitement for, and the quick rise of Nick Watson in 2024 illustrated a clear path to the top level for competitive small forwards in a similar vein. Should the Vic Metro forward's development continue at a steady rate, he would give them a dynamic front half presence and a player opposition teams have to watch at inside-50 stoppages.

Meanwhile, Oakleigh's Jack Ison is a well-built utility who was part of the Vic Metro Summer Hub, but will be sidelined with injury early in 2025, while Harry Dean is a confident marking defender from Murray who has impressed in pre-season. Oakleigh's Mingara Clark is another small, uber-talented player tied to Carlton.

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