AFL Draft: The top 13 prospects heading into the 2025 season

The 2025 AFL Draft is shaping up as a greatly compromised intake, but there remains some quality talent at the top end.

There is a greater spread of A-Grade talent across the country than most years, with a stronger supply of key-position players than existed in last year's crop, while there is typically a bevy of midfielders.

With so much footy still to be played, the list is very malleable, with updated and expanded lists to continue throughout the year by Craft of the Draft.

At the conclusion of the pre-season, these are the players adjudged the top prospects for 2025.

Worthy of a mention: Talls Cody Curtin and Archie Ludowyke are the next best key-position players in a crop with a high quantity of top-end talls. Curtin kicked eight goals in a WAFL practice match, which highlighted his proven contested marking, and he also has the capacity to play down back, while Ludowyke is a rawer, mobile tall from Sandringham. Swans Academy pair Noah Chamberlain and Lachie Carmichael are also highly rated, while Collingwood father-son prospect Tom McGuane and big-bodied Murray midfielder Ryder Corrigan are arguably the two best Coates Talent League players outside the AFL Academy. Suns Academy prospect Beau Addinsall was also right on the cusp after looking comfortable in the VFL last year, and alongside Riley Onley is probably the best pure midfielder off the list. Dandenong's Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves has a lot of attributes, while Sandringham's Xavier Bamert got limited opportunity for various reasons last year but could jump quickly.

Fred Rodriguez

South Fremantle - Midfielder

The consensus best prospect from Western Australia in 2025, Rodriguez adds great energy and dynamism in the midfield, with his ability to kick off both feet making him tough to track and dangerous in time and space.

Will lead the Western Australian midfield at the 2025 National Championships after offering a glimpse into his high upside in 2024.

Polished and with a dash of flair, he has the capacity to shift momentum in short periods of time.

Sam Cumming

North Adelaide - Midfielder

The balanced midfielder from South Australia has been a pillar of consistency so far in his talent pathways career, setting himself up excellently for 2025.

A brilliant ball-winner who has the ability to keep his hands free in traffic and feed teammates, he burns his opponents across matches with sheer will and hard work.

Is dangerous with his movement, step and clean hands around the contest.

Josh Lindsay

Geelong Falcons - Midfielder

Making a statement with a best-on-ground performance in the U17s Futures match, Lindsay cuts teams apart with his sizzling ball-use and willingness to use the corridor coming out of the backline.

He is calm and always appears to have an extra second to set the game up, and has the ability to take a good grab and counterattack, but having shown his wares on the outside last year, expect him to get some midfield exposure in 2025.

Dylan Patterson

Gold Coast Academy - Midfielder

Overshadowed by top-five contender Zeke Uwland and Burleigh's Beau Addinsall, who played eight VFL games in 2024, Patterson is among the most watchable players in the crop.

His acceleration, top-end speed and ability to dance through traffic, combined with his darting ball use means it always feels like something will happen when he has the ball in his hands.

Was a standout in Queensland's U17s trial last August and will likely get some VFL games in 2025.

Ollie Greeves

Eastern Ranges - Midfielder

A player that Craft of the Draft rates much higher than the consensus, Greeves has had an unbelievable pre-season, and looks set to shoot up draft boards.

He will lead the Eastern Ranges midfield in 2025 and like Josh Smillie before him, Greeves hasn't received the plaudits of some of his big-bodied midfield counterparts but has plenty of tools.

He uses his size to win contested ball and clearances, is a great decision-maker and his overlap run, work rate and field kicking set him apart, and he'll also get some opportunities to show his forward capabilities.

After standing out in the U17s Futures match, he'll likely impact early in 2025.

Louis Emmett

Oakleigh Chargers – Key Forward/Ruck

Part of the modern breed of ruck/forwards who mix contested marking with staying relevant and involved in the play when the ball hits the deck who has excellent athleticism and skills.

Has probably played his best footy as a ruck that can become a fourth midfielder, but at 199cm, he projects as a forward who pinch hits in the ruck, so look for him to spearhead Oakleigh's forward line in 2025.

Willem Duursma

Gippsland Power - Utility

The fourth Duursma in the famous Foster family, Willem is arguably the most silky player in the crop.

He's a clean ball-handler, hard to stop in space and a brilliant athlete. Athleticism, versatility and reading the play are other impressive traits for a player who represented Vic Country as a bottom-aged player.

Having played predominantly off halfback and the wing in 2024, expect Duursma to get some on-ball minutes to prove his contested ball-winning ability this season. The 2025 pre-season was Duursma's first without any basketball commitments, so look for him to hit the ground running.

Liam Hetherton

Murray Bushrangers – Key Forward

The key forward that Craft of the Draft rates most highly, Hetherton is a player who is hard to stop when he gets going.

Has incredible reach which makes it tough to outmark him, gets great penetration through his set shots and snaps and would have learned plenty from playing alongside the Whitlock twins last season.

Expect his work rate, contested marking and ball handling to come to the fore as he spearheads the Bushrangers' forward line in 2025.

Dan Annable

Brisbane Academy - Midfielder

A strong-bodied midfielder, the prospect of Annable lining up alongside Levi and Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher and co. for years to come should terrify opponents.

He is a tenacious hunter who puts his head over the footy and wins the hardball, and then has the acceleration and kicking penetration to get to the outside and take full toll with his possessions.

As well as his ball-winning, clearance work and spread, the midfielder's pressure and defensive running also stand out and add a balance to his game distinct from most attacking-minded draft prospects.

Where he plays between his midfield minutes will be an interesting watch.

Max King

Sydney Academy – Midfielder/Forward

Has a point to prove in 2025 after missing the AFL Academy.

The explosive big-bodied midfielder has an athletic profile most smaller midfielders would be satisfied with, and is arguably the most proven forward of the footy of the top-end midfielders, having shown his aerial ability and power.

Perhaps the biggest watch will be on his durability, having been injured at inopportune times recently.

Zeke Uwland

Gold Coast Academy – Half Forward/Midfielder

Should Gold Coast's lead Academy prospect continue shining, where a bid comes will be intriguing.

On one hand, history will suggest that a bid will come later than if he were to be available in the open draft; but on the other, will clubs be more willing to hold the Suns accountable to limit their opportunities to match bids for the bevy of draft talent they possess later in the draft?

A powerful player who impacts in the front half, his 2024 national championships gave an exciting insight into what to expect in 2025.

Dyson Sharp

Central District – Midfielder

A big-bodied midfielder with power and brawny strength, Sharp already has experience playing senior state league footy and looked just as adept in tight as when he was dominating against players his own age.

Probably the favourite for the number one pick entering 2025, the volume of his contested ball-winning and difficulty to track with ball in hand suggest he has the potential to impact early in his career.

Makes his presence felt even when he doesn't win the footy, with his punishing size and forceful tackling poleaxing opponents. Leans heavily on his stoppage work to impact games and will be given every opportunity to showcase what he can do on the outside in 2025.

Cooper Duff-Tytler

Calder Cannons – Ruck/Key Forward

The basketball convert choosing footy is a big win for the sport – and its spectators.

Duff-Tytler has the skillset and potential to become a prototype modern-day tall. The old adage that you don't want big men trying to do too much with ball in hand is becoming less and less true – but Duff-Tytler takes that case to the next level.

His brilliant kicking, ability to chain possession and silky movement mean he's a player teammates should be seeking to advance the game forward. As well as his skillset, he has a strong athletic base and can take contested marks around the ground and outrun most big men.

At 199cm, impacting forward will be necessary for him to fulfil his scary potential and he'll be given the opportunity to develop that forward craft in 2025.

Despite having shown so much, the 2025 pre-season was his first fully focused on the Sherrin, so his consistency and volume could reach another level.