The AFL is brimming with young talent, and as we head into the 2025 season, several clubs boast exciting young cores that could define the league's future.

To determine the top five, we've ranked teams based on their best players aged 22 or under* for the year ahead.

These rising stars are set to shape the competition in the years to come, so which team has the brightest future?

*Players listed 22 and under must've been 21 or under as of December 31, 2024. 

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5. Melbourne

There were plenty of contenders for the fifth spot, but Melbourne just edges in. The standout of this young core is Jacob van Rooyen, a rising star with the potential to be a game-changer.

Supporting him are underrated role players in Blake Howes and Judd McVee, who provide crucial depth to the team. Meanwhile, Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup wasted no time making an impact in their debut seasons last year, proving they have the firepower to thrive at AFL level.

Adding to the excitement, reports surrounding promising talents Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay should have Melbourne fans eager for what's to come.

Sky's the limit for "unbelievably outstanding" new Demon
Caleb Windsor of the Melbourne Demons in 2024 (Image via Quinn Rooney/Getty, AFL Photos)

Players 22 and Under: Harvey Langford, Ricky Mentha, Xavier Lindsay, Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, Kynan Brown, Luker Kentfield, Jed Adams, Matthew Jefferson, Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Blake Howes, Jacob van Rooyen, Judd McVee, Taj Woewodin

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