2025 AFL Draft

[Dogga]

I believe Andrew Walker’s son is eligible for the draft in 2026, not this year. So you can lol at Carlton for this years draft.

[TigerLand]

Is Walker in our academy? Why have we got a F/S in our academy? Seems a silly waste of resources. I can't see him choosing us over Carlton. Regardless how much of a basketcase they are. Even weirder he chose to be part of our academy over theirs.

[Tiger Khosh]

LDU re-signed with north so that’s 1 less free agency compo pick we have to worry about impacting our picks.

[one-eyed]

Australia 18s today: (according to the commentators)

Beau Addinsall 28 disposals (Suns academy)

Oliver Greeves 26 disposals and 4 behinds - Eastern Ranges

Archie Ludowyke 3 goals - Sandy Dragons

[one-eyed]

Top 10 draftees for 2025, April Edition


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAf2PABzGI

[one-eyed]

AFL Draft Board

By Harrison Reid
7news
15 April 2025

Welcome to 7NEWS.com.au’s new monthly AFL draft series The Draft Board.

In the lead-up to November’s draft, we will hand-pick players each month who are impressing around the country.

The Draft Board will not try to be perfect and does not intend to publish an entire ranking system of every top prospect around the country — it will simply highlight some good performances which catch the eye from month to month.

Throughout the opening few weeks of the season, Eastern Ranges midfielder Oliver Greeves has solidified his credentials as a top-20 contender, and maybe higher.

Oliver Greeves

VIC Metro, Eastern Ranges, midfielder, 191cm

What a start to the year for the midfield bull. Averaging 27 touches from his two Coates Talent League games for the Eastern Ranges, including a best-on-ground performance against Sandringham in Round 2. Was one of the AFL Academy’s best in their exhibition match against Richmond VFL on Sunday, pushing his claims strongly as a top-20 selection. Hawthorn will be bleeding after having their late submission to list the 191cm ball-winner, who has an Indigenous background, as an NGA product rejected by the AFL in March.


Oliver Greeves is rising up draft boards around the country. Credit: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images


Dyson Sharp

SA, Central Districts, midfielder, 188cm

Sharp is yet to find his absolute best in 2025, but is a victim of his own extremely lofty standards, to be fair. Among the draft crop’s best contested ball-winners and showed glimpses of that ability for the Academy against the Tigers. Right in the frame as a potential top-five pick.


Cooper Duff-Tytler

VIC Metro, Calder Cannons, ruck, 200cm

The potential No.1 pick made a statement in the first 20 seconds of the Coates Talent League season, kicking one of the more extraordinary goals you’re ever likely to see from a big man. But don’t think of Duff-Tytler as a typical lanky ruck whose instructions are to mark and handball; he’s more like a midfielder stuck in a ruck’s body, and is averaging 25 touches from his first two games with the Cannons. Was below his absolute best against Richmond VFL but still had his moments, including a carbon copy of his Round 1 goal out of the centre square when the going was tough for the Academy early in the contest.


Cooper Duff-Tytler is among the contenders for the No.1 pick. Credit: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images


Willem Duursma

VIC Country, Gippsland Power, midfielder/forward, 191cm

Another red-hot chance for the No.1 pick in the draft who didn’t quite reach top gear for the Academy on Sunday, but has still shown plenty in the opening month of the season. In a wide-open race for the mantle of the No.1 pick, the youngest brother of Xavier (Essendon), Zane (North Melbourne) and Yasmin (Carlton) made the early running to have his name read out first with a statement 36-disposal game for Gippsland in Round 1. Recruiters will be watching closely when the Academy plays next against VFL outfit Coburg later this month.



Archie Ludowyke

VIC Metro, Sandringham Dragons, key forward, 197cm

That Ludowyke wasn’t quite at his best for the Academy against Richmond but still managed to kick three goals is an ominous sign for the raw and lanky key forward. Watching Ludowyke so far this season, he has always looked so close to tearing a game apart, without ever quite doing it. Even when he kicked 5.1 in the Dragons’ thrilling Round 2 victory over the Ranges, it felt like he left a few more out there. Nowhere near the finished product, but has all the tools to get there. It will be interesting to see how much he can progress throughout the year, and how early a club is willing to take him in the draft.


Archie Ludowyke is one of the best key forwards in the 2025 draft class. Credit: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images


Other notable mentions

Sandringham Dragons star Rory Wright went toe-to-toe with Greeves in an epic midfield battle in Round 2, which will do his draft stocks no harm at all. Over-ager Zac Walker didn’t even make his Coates Talent League debut for the Gippsland Power until Round 1 this year, but is already proving a draft smokey as an impressive medium-sized interceptor at half-back.

Murray Bushrangers big man Liam Hetherton is among the best key forwards in the draft class, while Central District winger Matt LeRay offers something different as an outside midfielder at 189cm. Claremont forward Cody Curtin has made a great start to the WAFL Colts season and had some good moments in defence for the Academy on Sunday.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-board-hawthorns-rejected-bid-to-get-nga-status-for-oliver-greeves-could-hurt-c-18315666

[Simonator]

Would be considering Tom Evans in the MSD. Small rebounding defender, we have no small defenders coming through at all.

[WilliamPowell]

Would be considering Tom Evans in the MSD. Small rebounding defender, we have no small defenders coming through at all.

We currently don't have a spot available to take anyone in the MSD

[Damo]

Would be considering Tom Evans in the MSD. Small rebounding defender, we have no small defenders coming through at all.

We currently don't have a spot available to take anyone in the MSD

We will make a spot if there is a standout option surely?

[Simonator]

Yeah, Prestia could very well retire too

[one-eyed]

FUTURE PICK FLOODGATES OPEN

Clubs will be able to trade away all of their 2026 picks with the extension of future trading to two years in advance.

Under the new rules, clubs will be allowed to trade a full suite of their future picks one year ahead as the AFL this year introduces two years' worth of future picks being up for grabs in deals.

Under the previous future trading rules, clubs would need to retain a 'full suite' of second and third-round selections in their future draft hand to be permitted to trade their future first-round pick. That caused some challenges among clubs as deals were left hanging by the need to retain picks to meet the criteria.

But with the advancement of future trading to two years, that rule now applies to the second year of future trading and no longer to the first.

For example this season, clubs will be able to trade their 2025 picks and all of their 2026 picks, but then have to carry their 2027 second and third-round selections to trade that year's first-round pick, or to trade out their 2027 second and third-round picks, they need to retain that year's first-round pick.

The AFL has kept its 'two-in-four' condition to future trading, meaning clubs must use at least two first-round picks over a rolling four-year period to be able to trade out their future first-round selections.

The extra hand of picks, plus no limits on the number of selections a club can trade one year in advance, means clubs will have far more assets to play with at the trade table this year. It is why many list bosses believe big deals can be arranged later than ever with more chips to play with and why clubs believed the AFL's call not to introduce the move last year stopped any chance of Christian Petracca being able to land anywhere as no clubs had enough assets to satisfy a deal. – Callum Twomey

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1300399/inside-trading-young-gun-set-for-talks-blues-duo-wait-swan-keen-to-play-on

[one-eyed]

AFL Draft: Race to be pick 1 wide open; lots of academy-linked players

Jasper Chellappah
ESPN
Apr 16, 2025

Willem Duursma lands at the top spot on ESPN's big board in a wide-open pool. The dynamic utility has dominated in periods on-ball for Gippsland, proving his credentials as a ball-winner who excels in transition. There were a number of highly-touted open pool prospects to raise their stock in the AFL Academy hitout against Richmond VFL, including Dragons high-flyer Archie Ludowyke and WA midfielder Fred Rodriguez.

2025 is the year of the Academies. Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sydney are preparing to match potential top-10 bids on club-tied talent, while Victorian NGAs are producing first-round footballers. It means we could see the first round of the 2025 AFL Draft extending out past 30 selections.

With a month of top-age football under their belts, this is ESPN's top 20 Power Rankings for April.

1. Willem Duursma
Gippsland Power/Vic Country
DEF/MID, 191cm
AFL Academy: 14 disposals, 2 marks

Duursma has had an inconsistent campaign to date, but there's no questioning his AFL-level traits on display. At 191cm, the boundless athleticism and competitiveness give him a high floor, but it's the capacity to play across all three areas of the ground and impact that makes him such an in-demand prospect. Duursma was quiet on the weekend against Richmond VFL without access to the ball through the midfield in a scrappy match. He played a lockdown role in defence with the midfield riches at hand, holding his own against AFL-listed talls.

2. Daniel Annable - Lions Academy
Lions Academy/Allies
MID, 183cm
AFL Academy: 22 disposals, 2 goals

3. Zeke Uwland - Suns Academy
Suns Academy/Allies
MID/DEF, 178cm

4. Cooper Duff-Tytler
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
RUC, 200cm
AFL Academy: 10 disposals, 1 goal

'CDT' has been immense to begin 2025, pushing his name into pick one calculations. He would be the first ruckman to be taken at the top spot since Matthew Kreuzer in 2007. Duff-Tytler is a roaming tall, clean with his hands in the contest and a good ball user by foot on the outside. His athleticism when the ball hits the deck is his biggest strength, buttering up from ruck contests to boot running goals from the 50m arc. Questions about his placing in this pool come mostly via the role of modern-day rucks - at 200cm he's slightly undersized and needs to build his body to compete at the next level. If he proves his contested marking around the ground there's no reason, he can't be the top choice.

5. Fred Rodriguez
South Fremantle/Western Australia
MID, 184cm
AFL Academy: 14 disposals, 3 marks

There were moments on the weekend when Rodriguez's class shone through on a blustery afternoon. The midfielder is equally adept off both feet and it proved vital in a contested, high-pressure game against bigger bodies. His work rate is strong and the burst of speed to clear congestion allows him to use those lovely skills. Rodriguez is an exciting prospect in the open pool for clubs to consider in the top 10.

6. Dyson Sharp
Central Districts/South Australia
MID, 188cm
AFL Academy: 11 disposals, 3 marks

It's been a shaky start to 2025 for Sharp, who has begun the season in the SANFL as a half forward. He hasn't been able to stake his claim as the contested beast he's been known as through juniors and lacks the outside polish of others to elevate his stock in the forward 50. Sharp is physically imposing and has the contested tools to become an excellent inside midfielder but may lack positional versatility at the next level.

7. Max King - Swans Academy
Swans Academy/Allies
FWD/MID, 191cm

8. Archie Ludowyke
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
FWD, 197cm
AFL Academy: 12 disposals, 3 goals

Ludowyke is a big winner from the first AFL academy hitout, booting three goals and looking dangerous on the move in forward 50. He proved to be the talisman of a talented group of talls, with his springy leap and proactive movement causing headaches all day. The Dragons high-flyer has started the season strongly and looks more controlled in his set shot routine off his left boot.

9. Beau Addinsall - Suns Academy
Suns Academy/Allies
MID/FWD, 180cm
AFL Academy: 28 disposals

10. Noah Hibbins-Hargeaves
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
FWD/MID, 185cm

Hibbins-Hargreaves missed on the weekend after sustaining a shoulder injury for Dandenong, but it shouldn't rule him out for too long. The AFL Academy was lacking a forward-half conduit which the Stingrays maestro does so well, finding the ball in pockets of space to set up teammates or finish off opportunities. He's a big game player and will be hoping to make it back for the second outing against Coburg.

11. Josh Lindsay
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
DEF/MID, 183cm
AFL Academy: 16 disposals, 6 marks

Lindsay is a smooth-moving halfback who racks up the ball and uses it gloriously off a carving left boot. It's difficult to see how his game doesn't translate to the next level, though he's had his battles graduating into an on-ball role and winning his own footy. Lindsay is at his best when he can cut up the opposition with kicks in the forward half.

12. Ollie Greeves
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
MID, 191cm
AFL Academy: 26 disposals, 5 marks

Greeves is a remarkably similar player to his former Ranges teammate Josh Smillie in physique and ball-winning capability. The inside midfielder is clean and strong over the ball and didn't have any trouble finding the footy down back in the second half on the weekend. He will go as high as his kicking allows him, which is the one big detractor - he finished with four behinds on the day.

13. Wes Walley - West Coast NGA
Subiaco/Western Australia
FWD, 181cm
AFL Academy: 9 disposals, 2 marks

14. Cody Curtin
Claremont/Western Australia
FWD/DEF, 197cm
AFL Academy: 5 disposals, 3 marks

Curtin has filled out his frame over the off-season and has become a strong marking target up forward for Claremont. It was down back that he rose to prominence last season and again for the AFL Academy he played an important role on talls in the first half. He's a stronger aerial presence than brother Dan but lacks the skill and mobility of his older brother.

15. Riley Onley
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
MID, 194cm
AFL Academy: 15 disposals, 3 marks

Onley is a hulking presence in the midfield but has found most of his success on the outside of congestion to date. That was true again on the weekend with extended periods on the wing where he was good in transition. Onley's ability in the air and penetration in his kick set him apart from other midfielders.

16. Louis Emmett
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
RUC/FWD, 199cm
AFL Academy: 5 disposals, 1 goal

Where Emmett settles at the next level will be of keen interest to recruiters. The ruck-forward has played extended football in both positions and likely finds himself as a roaming tall with his athletic qualities and skill. Emmett is slightly undersized to impact in ruck contests and doesn't have the physicality yet.

17. Tom McGuane - Collingwood father-son
Western Jets/Vic Metro
MID, 178cm

18. Dylan Patterson - Suns Academy
Suns Academy/Allies
DEF, 183cm
AFL Academy: 15 disposals, 2 tackles

19. Adam Sweid - Essendon NGA
Calder Cannons
MID/FWD, 175cm

20. Sam Cumming
North Adelaide/South Australia
MID, 185cm
AFL Academy: 13 disposals

A balanced midfielder out of SA, Cummins has been excellent in the U18s but found the step up for the AFL Academy a big task. He plied his trade on-ball for long stretches and had moments of class where he exited stoppages with safe hands but struggled to find the ball on the outside where he can become a metres-gained player. Cumming's defensive work is a highlight of his game.

In the mix:

A Swans Academy duo in utility Noah Chamberlain and midfielder Lachie Carmichael had quiet outings but are considered first-round options, while McGuane's Jets teammate Tom Burton is a dashing defender that accumulates like few others.

Essendon NGA small forward Hussien El Achkar leads all comers for goals in the Talent League to highlight his extraordinary form and left some on the table kicking 3.5 on the weekend.

WA midfielder Toby Whan could rise into this crop with continued dominance in the Colts, power forward Liam Hetherton should get exposure to the VFL level this year and Collingwood NGA pair Jai Saxena and Zac McCarthy are rising up boards.

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/44676369/afl-draft-2025-april-power-rankings-duursma-ludowyke-annable-uwland