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.
Crows fans will be eyeing Gippsland Power's Mitch Stevens in 2025. Eligible as a father-son courtesy of Dad, Mark, playing 101 games for Adelaide, Mitch showed his capabilities as a lockdown defender in 2024.
The Vic Country summer hub member balanced that with a strong offensive game, and those at the Power report he has had a strong pre-season, which could see him spend more time further up the ground to expose his ball-use.
Other familiar names for Adelaide fans include Northern Knights forward Seb Murphy – the brother of Lachie – and WA swingman Cody Curtin – the brother of Dan – though the club does not have links to either player.
Following the acquisitions of Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall in the 2024 draft, the Lions look set to again match a bid in the first round, with Dan Annable looming as a top 10 prospect.
The inside midfielder who shone for the Lions Academy and Allies last year is set to get VFL exposure this year, listed with the Lions VFL.
Electric small forward Raph Geesu, under-16s All-Australian Harrison Bridge and developing tall Isaac Waller are other Academy members set to attract AFL interest.
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.
Tom McGuane is the name to watch for Pies fans.
The son of premiership-winning Collingwood icon Mick, Tom is a ball-winning midfielder with clean hands and a high work rate.
He trained with Collingwood over the summer and could surprise a few people in 2025 as a leader of the Jets' midfield group.
A bid for McGuane could come in the first round, while Zac McCarthy is developing well as forward/ruck at Oakleigh, and father-son prospect Oscar Lonie is listed at Dandenong Stingrays.
After going close to two decades without a quality small forward, the Dons could welcome two top-enders within 12 months.
Following the Isaac Kako hype last year, Hussien El Achkar looms as a powerful, creative small to watch at Calder in 2025. El Achkar may not have the widespread plaudits of his predecessor, but he is set to play a similar role to Kako in 2025 and was part of the Metro Summer Hub, so will be given every opportunity.
Adam Sweid, returning from an ACL injury, stood out in Calder's practice match last week, while Olu Olulaken, Jad Naim and bottom-ager Blake Justice are also at the Cannons.
Elsewhere, Alijah Davey, the younger brother of Alwyn junior and Jayden Davey is listed at Oakleigh and eligible as a father-son player.
A high defender, Geelong Falcon Noah Caracella will return to the Coates League as a 19-year-old after completing a VFL pre-season and increasing his strength.
South Fremantle left-footer Toby Whan is the most promising Dockers-tied talent in 2025. A hard-working midfielder who played in the U17s Futures match, his dynamism would be a point of difference for a midfield led by Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw.
East Fremantle defender Josh Nomlatyu is another name to watch for Fremantle fans, having shown promising glimpses. Small forward Basil Hart played as a bottom-ager in the AFL Academy match last year after a standout 2023, with the aforementioned trio and fellow Academy members Ryan Bizzell, Rhama Evans, Oliver McManus (father-son) and Jonah Klemke all training with the Dockers over summer.
Whan is at the forefront of the pack currently, part of the WA summer squad alongside Nomlatyu and Hart.
The Geelong Falcons have a quartet of Cats-tied players headed by AFL Academy member Ben Rongdit.
A high-octane, athletic rebounding defender, Rongdit is still raw and missed part of his bottom-aged campaign but has a high ceiling, with the Falcons describing him as the most competitive player on their list.
Fellow Falcon Jesse Mellor, an NGA member, has set himself up well to put himself on the radar as a forward presence and clearance-winning midfielder. Geelong also has Jagger Mooney, the son of Cam, and Boston Riccardi, the son of Peter, who have a direct route to the Cats.
Where do we begin? If you thought the 2023 crop was strong, try to find a superlative for this year's talent.
AFL Academy player Zeke Uwland made a statement as a powerful half forward at the 2024 National Championships, with some putting him at the very top of the order heading into this season.
Speed machine Dylan Patterson is an inside-outside midfielder who impressed both in the U17s trial and Futures game, preceding his selection in the AFL Academy.
Tenacious midfielder Beau Addinsall is also in the Academy, as is tall swingman Kalani White – though the latter is also tied to Melbourne as a father-son.
Behind that quartet are plenty more. The versatile Koby Coulson plays with a dash of flair, Max Hudson is a lockdown defender, Jai Murray is a precise-kicking rebounder/winger and the left-footed Cooper Collins has set himself for a strong season in the front half of the ground.
As was widely reported earlier this month, the Hawks asked the question of top 10 prospect Ollie Greeves' eligibility but were knocked back.
Goy Jiath, therefore, shapes as the main name to watch. The brother of Hawthorn's Changkuoth and Collingwood's Tew, Goy is a more powerfully built prospect and has had a strong pre-season.
Father-son prospect Kobe Williams, son of Mark, is another to name to know, listed at the Western Jets.
Kalani White provides Melbourne fans with cause for excitement. The son of former Dee Jeff, Kalani is a key-position AFL Academy member who has shown he can play at either end and can take a mark.
He'll have to decide between nominating as a Gold Coast Academy prospect or Melbourne father-son.
Next Generation Academy prospect Toby Sinnema also trained with the AFL program in pre-season. He was one of Vic Country's better players in the U17s futures trial last August, offering speed and good ball use on the wing and was part of the Vic Country Summer Hub.
The Kangaroos-tied crop is headed by Sandy Dragon Archer Grant, the son of former Shinboner Shannon. Grant is noted as a dangerous player in the front half.
Bottom-aged Calder Cannon Sam Harris, son of Daniel, is a versatile player to be familiar with for Roos fans. Through the Roos' links to Tassie, they also have first dibs on several Tassie prospects headlined by highly-regarded bottom-ager Archie Devine.
It's much quieter for Port Adelaide compared to most other clubs this year, though they still have a couple of father-son prospects to keep an eye on.
Ben Francou, the son of Josh, is a North Adelaide left footer, while Gillon Wakelin, the son of former Power player Darryl, is at Sturt.
The latter is also eligible to nominate as a St Kilda father-son, but has spent time training at Alberton.
South Australia's Louis Kellaway, the son of former Tiger Duncan Kellaway, is the main player for Richmond fans to watch in 2025. A clean, ball-winning midfielder, he'll play a prominent role for the Croweaters at the U18s National Championships later in the year.
Top 2026 draft prospect Cody Walker is part of the Tigers' Next Generation Academy zone, but is also tied to the Blues as a father-son selection. His Pioneers teammate Russell Clark is another to watch for the 2026 draft after getting exposure last season as a double bottom-ager, as is Tanner Armstrong, a Vic Country-listed bottom-ager from Murray.
Geelong bottom-ager Archie Daffy, the son of Nick, is also eligible as a father-son player next year.
The Sandy Dragons always have a handful of Saints Next Generation Academy prospects and 2025 is no different, with Kye Fincher heading the list.
The Vic Metro rebounder has been in brilliant touch in pre-season and could get some midfield minutes.
Other players for Saints' fans to keep an eye on include explosive midfielder James Mikhael, interceptor Keanu Nadji, half-back Quentin Hofmann – the brother of Geelong's Lennox - small forward Rio Barry, and 2026-eligible pair Rowan McKenzie – the brother of Hawthorn's Cam – and Luke Mahimarajan.
The Swans have three elite talents they will have the option of matching a bid for in November.
Lachie Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain are both in the AFL Academy, but some good judges will tell you Max King, who just missed the cut, is the best of the lot.
Carmichael is a medium defender who marks well, Chamberlain is a powerfully built forward, while King is an athletic, big-bodied midfielder who was less exposed than his teammates in 2024 due to injury.
All are first-round prospects set to feature prominently for the Allies in 2025.
There are plenty of local Next Generation Academy lads for West Coast fans to keep an eye on, headed by small forward Wes Walley, a player with plenty of tricks who is part of the AFL Academy.
Key forward Tylah Williams and the energetic Koby Williams also trained with the Western Australia state summer hub.
Father-son prospect Charlie Banfield, the son of premiership Eagle Drew, is another versatile prospect likely to play a big role at the National Championships.
Western Jets-listed Kobe Williams shapes as the main top-aged prospect to watch given his ties as a Next Generation Academy prospect, while Levi West, the son of Scott and brother of Rhylee, shapes as one for 2026. He missed the U16s National Championships through injury, but is highly regarded as a forward-midfielder at Calder.
At the Falcons, bottom-ager Jaxon Cooney, son of Adam, is an elusive forward to watch.
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