AFL Draft Power Rankings: National Champs are here, and shaping the rankingsJasper Chellappah
ESPN
Jun 19, 20251. Willem Duursma (last month: 1)Gippsland Power/Vic Country
MID/DEF, 191cm
National Championships: 1 game, 27 disposals, 7 marks
Duursma has been thrown around the ground this year through team needs. His flexibility has led to inconsistency in role, be it an intercepting defender, deep forward or inside midfielder. Duursma's greatest strength is his elite athleticism in transition with speed, power and a brilliant leap. His strong first-up performance for Vic Country through the midfield flashed Duursma's top tier upside as a prototype on-baller.
Shades of: Will Day
2. Dyson Sharp (6)Central Districts/South Australia
MID, 188cm
National Championships: 3 games, 28.3 disposals, 1.3 goals
Dyson Sharp has reminded us all of his elite traits. Odds on to take out the Larke Medal for best player at the National Championships, the SA captain has proved overwhelmingly powerful on-ball, ferocious and game-changing with his defensive efforts. Sharp routinely puts SA on his back to shift the momentum of games, and is pushing forward to hit the scoreboard regularly. His clearance work, pressure without the ball and leadership are all best in class.
Shades of: Matt Rowell
3. Zeke Uwland (Suns Academy) (2)Suns Academy/Allies
MID/DEF, 178cm
Uwland's back stress fracture has officially ruled him out of the National Championships with a view to playing VFL in August. An extended period out of the game may only be a good thing for the Suns who have been anticipating a top-five bid for the dynamic small. Uwland's precise left leg and elite running ability has seen him dominate off halfback, but it's his midfield upside that sees him retain his spot in the top three.
Shades of: Errol Gulden
4. Dan Annable (Lions Academy) (3)Lions Academy/Allies
MID, 183cm
National Championships: 1 game, 28 disposals, 5 tackles
Annable has been ultra-consistent for every team he's turned out for, including as captain of the AFL Academy. He's one of the pool's most clean midfielders below his knees and does all basics well. The ultimate professional, Annable boasts a very high floor as a midfielder bound for Brisbane at the next level.
Shades of: Noah Anderson
5. Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (14)Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
FWD/MID, 186cm
National Championships: 1 game, 18 disposals, 4 goals
Hibbins-Hargreaves is elite overhead, a deadeye in front of goal, uses the ball beautifully around the ground and can create time and space for himself like few others. He's also become one of the most clutch prospects to progress through the junior pathways, kicking vital fourth quarter goals for club and state across 18 months including two classy finishes to put Vic Country ahead of WA in the fourth term. We're no closer to figuring out where Hibbins-Hargreaves will play his best football at the next level. That isn't a bad thing - he currently appears most comfortable at half forward or on a wing, but it hasn't stopped the Stingrays from exposing him to inside midfield time.
Shades of: Harry Sheezel
6. Cooper Duff-Tytler (4)Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
RUC, 200cm
National Championships: 1 game, 18 disposals, 21 hitouts
Duff-Tytler continues to flash tantalising upside with his ball skills and athleticism at 200cm. He led Vic Metro's ruck division valiantly against SA first up and the future is clear to see - the skill level below his knees and high speed processing with ball in hand is remarkable for a ruckman.
Shades of: Tim English
7. Josh Lindsay (5)Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
DEF/MID, 183cm
National Championships: 1 game, 28 disposals, 8 marks
Blessed with a laser left foot, Lindsay is at his best picking off passes through the corridor off halfback. He wants the ball in his hands and loves to take the game on with dash, making him a damaging weapon for club and state. Elite ball users are always in vogue, which could see Lindsay rise into the top five come year's end.
Shades of: Josh Daicos
8. Fred Rodriguez (11)South Fremantle/Western Australia
MID, 184cm
National Championships: 2 games, 18 disposals, 1 goal
Rodriguez has competed strongly as WA's captain through two games, and his numbers bely the impact he has on games. Wonderfully adept off both feet and offering a burst of speed to exit congestion, Rodriguez hunts the football in the contest and transition with his most damaging traits coming as the designated kicker into forward 50. He picks out targets under duress and executes more often than not.
Shades of: Hugh McCluggage
9. Ollie Greeves (7)Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
MID, 191cm
National Championships: 1 game, 27 disposals, 1 goal
A hulking midfielder made for the clinches, Greeves is continually adding to his game and has progressed to be rated as one of the elite midfielders of the pool. He was Vic Metro's best in a dour performance against SA with a strong influence on the game. He's found a penchant for hitting the scoreboard from range and is steadily improving his defensive application.
Shades of: Tom Green
10. Aidan Schubert (new)Central Districts/South Australia
FWD/RUCK, 198cm
National Championships: 3 games, 16.3 disposals, 2.7 goals
The biggest riser through the National Championships is undoubtedly Schubert. The SA tall has become the spearhead of a dynamic forward mix, and is proving to be the best contested mark in 2025. Schubert's hands are vice-like and he's showing it both deep forward, around the ground and in extended periods as a genuine ruckman. There's a lot of buzz in recruiting circles around the emergence of Schubert, who could end up the best key forward in the draft.
Shades of: Riley Thilthorpe
11. Sam Grlj (8 )Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
MID, 182cm
National Championships: 1 game, 18 disposals, 16 handballs
The speedy Grlj has caught the eye of recruiters but his National Championships will go a great deal to proving his worth in this draft. Grlj (pronounced Grill) is evasive and confident either snaking through traffic or hitting the afterburners in space. He's the quintessential line-breaker but found the conditions tough against SA and couldn't find the space to use his foot skills.
Shades of: Colby McKercher
12. Max King (Swans Academy) (9)Swans Academy/Allies
FWD, 191cm
National Championships: 1 games, 10 disposals, 3 marks
The high-flying King hasn't had a standout performance yet, but the Allies have three games for him to make his statement. His game as a half forward doesn't bring in big numbers, but it's the impact King can have as an otherworldly athlete and goalkicker that has recruiters excited. He's set to land at the Swans in a haul that includes utility Noah Chamberlain, small defender Lachlan Carmichael and halfback Harry Kyle.
Shades of: Mitch Owens
13. Dylan Patterson (Suns Academy) (16)Suns Academy/Allies
DEF, 183cm
National Championships: 1 games, 23 disposals, 6 marks
Patterson is a halfback that takes the game on with reckless abandon. He only knows one way and it's exhilarating to watch. Though quieter in the VFL recently, he's proved his ability to impact against mature bodies for the AFL Academy and has a strong athletic profile to back up his dare.
Shades of: Bailey Dale
14. Sam Cumming (15)North Adelaide/South Australia
MID/FWD, 185cm
National Championships: 3 games, 17.3 disposals, 1 goal
Cumming has been high impact through the National Championships with his strength, power and endurance all features through the midfield and up forward. He's tough and aggressive in the clinches plus continually sets teammates up or hits the scoreboard himself. Cumming is a vital cog in SA's brilliant run and is flying under the radar with his AFL traits.
Shades of: Bailey Humphrey
15. Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy) (13)Suns Academy/Allies
MID, 180cm
National Championships: 1 games, 16 disposals, 7 clearances
Addinsall has been a ball magnet through junior football in the Suns' pathways, and is now being exposed to VFL competition. There's deft touch and incisive ball use at the fore of his game through the midfield, but he's also shown the capacity to play further up the ground and impact as a half forward.
Shades of: Sam Flanders
16. Toby Whan (Fremantle NGA) (10)South Fremantle/Western Australia
MID, 184cm
National Championships: 2 games, 18 disposals, 0.5 goals
Whan has the hallmarks of an excellent midfielder at the next level. He's clean in congestion and possesses the skill and power to impact with the ball in the forward half. There's also a defensive appetite to pressure and tackle that isn't present in all top midfielders. He's held his own through two champs games but hasn't had a statement moment.
Shades of: Jai Newcombe
17. Mitch Marsh (new)West Adelaide/South Australia
FWD, 191cm
National Championships: 3 games, 8.7 disposals, 2.7 goals
Marsh's impressive ground coverage at his size has made him a difficult match-up all season, and he's an important piece of SA's forward-half dominance. Marsh finds a lot of scoring opportunities through his strength in packs and ability at ground level, though has failed to convert accurately at times.
Shades of: Patrick Voss
18. Archie Ludowyke (12)Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
FWD, 197cm
National Championships: 1 game, 6 disposals, 1 mark
The soaring Ludowyke was held well in trying conditions through Metro's first hitout but has three more opportunities to make it count on the big stage. The left-footer's excellent mobility and aerial prowess is evident, but for it to translate to the next level he needs to build strength.
Shades of: Eric Hipwood
19. Harley Barker (new)Sturt/South Australia
MID, 187cm
National Championships: 3 games, 16 disposals, 1 goal
Barker has been special to watch this year off a wing for SA, taking the game on and consistently beating his opponent through work rate and dare. He boasts an electric side step and finds pockets of space to assess his options, plus has a penchant for getting forward to take big marks. Barker projects to become an excellent role player at the next level.
Shades of: Ollie Dempsey
20. Xavier Taylor Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
DEF, 191cm
National Championships: 1 game, 13 disposals, 4 marks
There isn't much more Taylor can do to impress as one of the pool's best defenders. While not at the height of most matchups, his reading of the game and closing speed has seen him beat opponents consistently, including Mitch Marsh against SA. Taylor's excellent intercept marking game is his key trait, but there's burgeoning growth as a genuine rebounding option off halfback too.
Shades of: Josh Weddle
In the mix:Carlton father-son Harry Dean may be the best key defender in a shallow pool for talls, with his intercepting a highlight. The Pies will also have a keen eye on the performances of father-son Tom McGuane (17 last month) for Vic Metro.
Louis Emmett (20 last month) has the tool as a ruck-forward to break back into the top group and his Metro teammate Lachy Dovaston is the premier small forward of the crop. A host of SA prospects are shining, with Tigers father-son Louis Kellaway hitting top form and Cameron Nairn booting a sensational seven goals on the weekend.
Cody Curtin and Liam Hetherton are key position prospects clubs are tracking closely, Jacob Farrow may be WA's next best prospect and Essendon NGA on-baller Adam Sweid (19 last month) will get a lot of exposure through the midfield for Vic Metro this carnival after making his Essendon VFL debut.
https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/45520934/afl-draft-2025-june-power-rankings-national-championships-academy-linked-players
