It doesn’t click for every footballer at the same time.
For the Ashcroft, Daicos and Rowell’s of the world, they progress through the junior pathways highly-touted. For others, like Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh and Tom Stewart, or Pie-turned-Dee Brody Mihocek, it takes them slightly longer to hit their straps – or to make it onto an AFL list.
As every new draft arrives, club recruiters scour the market for their next hidden gem, the player out of the rough that can take their side to the next level.
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Two players well and truly in the mix this year are Frankston Dolphins VFL duo Tom Blamires and Jackson Voss.
Blamires claimed the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medal this year as the most promising player in the VFL aged 24 or under. Fun fact, the past 18 winners have gone on to make it to an AFL list.
And now Blamires has his sights set on becoming the 19th.
Blamires has had a “sensational year” according to coach Jackson Kornberg, playing a key role in the Dolphins’ surge to a preliminary final. The Sandringham Dragons product averaged 24.5 disposals, 4.1 tackles and 2.5 clearances a game.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Tom Blamires of the Frankston Dolphins is seen after winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Rising Star Medal during the 2025 VFL and VFLW Awards at the Victory Room, Marvel Stadium on September 15th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But it hasn’t all come easy for Blamires, who’s worked incredibly hard to put himself in this position ahead of the national draft.
Kornberg first came across Blamires during their time together in the Sandringham Dragons program. Unfortunately for Blamires, he wasn’t one of the 13 players drafted out of the program that year. He was “comfortable sitting back and playing his role”.
Blamires tried his luck at the Sandringham Zebras VFL program in 2022, but was cut during pre-season. Kornberg describes it as a “kick in the guts” for the talented youngster, who instead went and plied his trade in the VAFA with Old Brighton.
“It was probably not the worst thing in the world for it to happen for him to have to go back to local, play some good footy and ply his trade,” Kornberg told foxfooty.com.au.
A year later, Blamires had another crack and this time he was successful. Blamires played two years at the Zebras, finishing as the club’s best first year player in 2023 and fourth in the best and fairest last year.
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Then Kornberg came calling and the duo were reunited at the Dolphins and it didn’t take Blamires long to make an impact.
One of his best games of the year came against Richmond early in the year, where he racked up 33 disposals and a goal playing across the half-back line. Kornberg had given Blamires a job on dangerous Richmond small forward Massimo Raso, but he was able to quell his influence and produce plenty for the Dolphins offensively as well.
Later that year Blamires produced another outstanding performance against Collingwood, who were playing premiership superstars like Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill at state league level. Blamires spent time opposed to De Goey at stoppages and conducted himself beautifully, amassing 44 disposals and six tackles.
That’s one of Blamires’ biggest strengths. He can play a role in defence, where he can produce drive out of the back half and lock down the opposition’s most dangerous forwards, but he’s also a gun on-baller with an elite work rate who can hurt you both on the inside and outside.
“The beauty about Tom is that he doesn’t just fly off offensively and try to accumulate as much of the ball as possible, he does everything from a defensive starting position,” Kornberg said.
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“I think that’s a really good asset to have. Throughout the year he turned into one of our more trusted midfielders. His ability to get from contest to contest is elite, that’s certainly his AFL trait and I think he’s certainly AFL ready from that perspective.”
Kornberg couldn’t be prouder of how far Blamires has come.
“I’ve just been incredibly impressed and proud of him. He’s never been one to be in the spotlight, he’s probably been overshadowed by a lot of the talented guys in his team,” Kornberg said.
“He’s certainly not overshadowed now, he’s shadowing over others.”
Blamires’ success doesn’t come as a surprise for those who know him best. He’s always been a hard worker who leaves no stone unturned in his quest to get better, but his leadership has come on in leaps and bounds.
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“Nothing’s really changed for Tom this year. He’s always worked harder than the next guy, it was just a matter of getting the opportunity to show it in a position where he can sort of roam free and play to his strengths,” Kornberg added.
“His personal growth, his leadership. He’s speaking up in front of the group in team meetings… he would never have done that a couple of years ago.
“He challenges guys on the field. Some guys get told to do certain things and they just carry on about their business, but Tommy actually listens and enacts. As a result of that he’s such a quick improver, not only this year but over the last seven or eight years I’ve known him.
“He could’ve thrown it away but dug in… his mindset is he wants to prove people wrong which I think is a really healthy thing to have. There’s that internal challenge for him but also that external challenge, I couldn’t be more proud and impressed with him.
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“He hasn’t changed anything off-field, he’s doing the same stuff he’s always done, trains hard, does his gym, is fastidious with his diet, he’s sensational with that stuff.”
Kornberg believes that the Richmond game early in the year was somewhat of a turning point.
“Not only he realised, but I think everyone else who didn’t already know though, ‘Oh, hang on, this kid goes okay’. Then he backed it up the week after,” he said.
“For the people who have known him a long time, it isn’t a shock what he’s doing. It just makes you smile though that everyone else is seeing what we’ve always known.”
Kornberg believes Blamires “wouldn’t be overawed” in an AFL environment and that he would in fact flourish in a similar manner to recent graduates, such as new Eagle Tom McCarthy.
As for what role Blamires could play at AFL level? Kornberg thinks his versatility would be a huge benefit to an AFL side, but above all, an AFL club would be getting a fantastic person.
“I’ve always liked him as a mid-forward, his impact and damage in the front half is really good,” Kornberg added.
“Clubs would be looking at his vision earlier in the year as well, where he played as a half-back, running half-back and also as a lockdown. He can do those jobs as well and his flexibility gives him a bit of a weapon too.”
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Then there’s Blamires’ teammate, Jackson Voss, a powerful left-footer who is the son of ex-Saint Brett Voss and nephew of former Lions champion and now Carlton coach Michael.
Voss has taken his game to another level in 2025, thanks in part to the work he put in before the season with Frankston high performance manager Jordan Love.
Voss has averaged 26.1 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency along with 6.4 marks and 7.4 intercepts.
“He’s probably had his most prolific year statistically and from a damage perspective… he’s turned into a bit more of a front half half-back,” Kornberg began.
“He’s really transformed our offense into a really potent speed of ball team and I think that’s a big result of Vossy. He had a great year last year but he’s really stepped it up this year, that’s a big credit to him and our high performance manager in Jordan Love.
“Their work together in the off-season to get his body right was outstanding. He only missed two games at the back end of the year with a slight soft tissue, outside that he was training and performing fully. For such a powerful athlete with such burst and such a long kick, to be able to play and train consistently has been super off the back of that work they did together over the off-season.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 16: Jackson Voss of Frankston runs with the ball during the round four VFLW match between Sandringham and Frankston at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on April 16, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“They identified some things he needed to strengthen and work on in regards to his body, to allow himself to have full availability.”
Voss is a member of the Dolphins leadership group and wants nothing more than to win and achieve team success.
Kornberg believes Voss’ improvement this year is down to hard work both from Voss himself and the broader Dolphins coaching and medical staff.
They didn’t want Voss to just crawl to the gameday line each week. A big focus was on training strongly, especially during main sessions on a Thursday.
“That preparation work was really important to allow him to do what he did throughout the year,” Kornberg said.
Voss has a booming left foot and is as brave as they come. He’s also strong in the air and is crucial to Frankston’s ball movement out of defence, where his piercing kick and dash and dare are vital.
“His power and burst once he gets the ball, and without the ball, he’s really quick in that 0-25m both with and without the ball,” Kornberg said.
“He’s a territory taker and he can kick the ball 70-75 metres off one or two steps… he’s very courageous for a small/medium running defender.
“He’s a real asset aerially, he’s not just a runner off half-back. He puts his body on the line and comes back to intercept. He reads the ball and the play well to roll off his man, that’s pretty rare for a guy of his size.”
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The Dolphins have encouraged Voss to play to his strengths and take the game on.
“We don’t want him to be passive and sit back, we want him to play to his strengths,” Kornberg said.
“He’s evolved his game to turn himself into more of a dual threat… he’s transformed his body into a bigger, more powerful player that allows him to play to his strengths.”
While it hasn’t been a rise out of the blue, Voss’ improvement and progress this year has been large. He’s become a well-rounded prospect who loves to run and carry, has great power and is a strong intercept mark.
Blamires and Voss are just two players who have thrived under the tutelage of Kornberg this year, but it isn’t a one-man show. Kornberg is surrounded by a great group of coaches and staff who allow the players to perform at their best.
Many of Frankston’s players are playing career-best footy. But the message is simple. Enjoy your footy and have fun.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 01: Jackson Voss of Frankston runs with the ball during the round six VFL match between Sandringham and Frankston at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on May 01, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“A lot of credit has to go to the coaches, the staff and the players,” Kornberg said.
“We have made it enjoyable and fun. We wanted to make the drive from work to training an enjoyable one because you want to be there to see all your mates, you don’t want it to be a grind.
“We put a big emphasis on connection and fun and enjoyment. I don’t want to sound corny or cliche, but on my whiteboard on the footy club is that we’re here to have fun and win in that order.
“We’ve put a big focus on that, we want boys to play to their strengths and play to their weapons and encourage freedom.”
In Kornberg’s first year the Dollies rose from 19th to 10th and played in a wildcard match. This year they went from 10th to a preliminary final. It shows they’re on the right path and it makes the Dolphins an appealing option for prospective players.
“The players trust the plan that the coaches, the high performance and medical have put in place. They love spending time together and playing together.
“They don’t want to leave, I have conversations with boys about what they’re thinking for the next year because a lot of them get lures for local. Everyone says why wouldn’t you go play local with your mates, the answer for me is that you play with all your mates at VFL, why would you need to go to local to do that?
“When you’ve got that culture and environment that encourages that, boys want to be there. It makes my job pretty easy because the staff do such a good job of setting up the program to make the boys feel like they can play to their strengths.”
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Both Blamires and Voss would be tremendous acquisitions for an AFL program, but one thing is for sure, the culture being built at Frankston will make it a VFL footy factory for years to come.
But which other state league prospects are in the mix to join an AFL club next year?
Foxfooty.com.au takes a look at another ten prospects from around the state leagues who could be in the mix for this year’s draft as mature-age recruits.
HARRY SCOTT
Harry Scott could be another success story out of Richmond’s VFL program. Scott caught fire in the final ten or so weeks of the season, becoming an integral part of the Tigers’ on-ball brigade. Scott is a hard-working midfielder who runs all day and does some of his best work at the coalface. He’s clean with the ball in hand and makes good decisions. Scott averaged 21.1 disposals, 4.4 tackles and 4.1 marks per match in 2025 to receive a state combine invite, where he ranked second in the agility test with a time of 8.07 seconds. Scott is the son of former Tiger Allister, who played 19 games for Richmond back in the early 1990s.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 05: Harry Scott running during the 2km time trial at Melbourne University Athletics track on October 05, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TAI HAYES
A name that will be familiar to footy fans, Hayes is the nephew of St Kilda great Lenny. Similar to his uncle, Tai is an absolute workhorse who runs hard both ways and has a nice kick. Hayes burst onto the scene last year after a strong QAFL campaign to earn a spot on Southport’s list. He’s played in the midfield throughout his junior career but carved out a role as a winger this year. His year was interrupted by a fractured leg in August, but he did enough to earn a state combine invite, which means he is on the radar of AFL clubs. Hayes averaged 15.9 disposals and 4.5 marks across 16 games for Southport this season.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 13: Lenny Hayes, Saints Development Coach looks on during a St Kilda Saints AFL training session at RSEA Park on August 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MASSIMO RASO
The young Tiger had some interest ahead of the mid-season draft but ultimately didn’t find his way onto an AFL list. Raso is an exciting small forward who is quick, dynamic inside 50 and clean at ground level. A product of the Western Jets, Raso has an uncanny knack to find the goals and is a strong crumber. Raso averaged 12.6 disposals, 1.3 goals and four score involvements a game, but has signed with Werribee for 2026.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 13: Massimo Raso of Vic Metro kicks the ball during the AFL U17 Futures Boys match between Vic Metro and NSW/ACT at Avalon Airport Oval on August 13, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MUTAZ EL NOUR
Yet another Richmond VFL player to feature on this list, El Nour has been around the mark for a while now. El Nour has great aerial capabilities and loves flying for marks, while he’s also a handy ball user out of the back half. El Nour is very athletic and reads the play well, but injuries have hurt his chances of making it onto an AFL list so far. He finally had a better run of things in 2025 and thrived, averaging 17.1 disposals, 4.8 marks and over eight intercepts per game.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 8: Mutaz El Nour poses for a photo during the 2023 Victoria AFL State Combine at Margaret Court Arena on October 08, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FERGUS MCFADYEN
Fergus’ brother, Connor, spent time on Brisbane’s AFL list previously and now there’s a genuine chance Fergus finds his way there this year. In fact, according to Code Sports, some clubs think “it’s a given” that the Lions add him to their rookie list. The 19-year-old McFadyen had a strong campaign with the Lions VFL side this year, booting 37 goals to finish as a finalist in the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. McFadyen’s rise last year was so prominent that there were those in recruiting circles who believed he would have been a chance to feature in the AFL finals series if he was listed.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Fergus McFadyen and Harry Arnold of Brisbane arrive ahead of the 2025 VFL and VFLW Awards at the Victory Room, Marvel Stadium on September 15th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
COOPER CRAIG-PETERS
Best known for his outstanding performance in this year’s VFL premiership triumph, Craig-Peters is one of the best and most consistent performers at state league level. The star Footscray midfielder is as tough as nails and was crucial in Footscray’s rise last year. The Dogs had a whopping 18 AFL-listed players that day, but it was 23-year-old Craig-Peters who was unanimously voted best afield. Craig-Peters earned a VFL Team of the Year selection after averaging 23.2 disposals, 6.6 score involvements and 7.2 tackles per game. He’s the sort of player who’s developed his craft nicely and could fill a role at AFL level straight away.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Cooper Craig-Peters of the Bulldogs poses for a photograph with the best on ground medal after the 2025 VFL Grand Final match between Footscray Bulldogs and Southport Sharks at Ikon Park on September 21, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRANDAN PARFITT
The former Geelong midfielder has been plying his trade for Perth in the WAFL this year after being axed from Geelong’s list ahead of the 2025 season. Parfitt played 130 games for Geelong throughout his career and could immediately fill a void given his experience at the level. He looked a class above in the WAFL this season, averaging 29.2 disposals. Foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Cotton reported earlier this year that the Eagles were among a host of clubs monitoring Parfitt ahead of the mid-season draft. The factor working against Parfitt here is that he’s now 27 years of age, which could be a deterrent for a side wanting to rebuild and rejuvenate their list.
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – MAY 16: Brandan Parfitt of the Cats is tackled by Matt Rowell of the Suns during the 2024 AFL Round 10 match between The Gold Coast SUNS and The Geelong Cats at TIO Stadium on May 16, 2024 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MILAN MURDOCK
One of the WAFL’s most decorated players, Milan Murdock had interest around the competition ahead of the mid-season draft and no doubt clubs will continue to monitor the star midfielder. The East Fremantle gun is a back-to-back state game Simpson medallist and he was also named best on ground in the 2023 premiership success. Murdock is a big game player who gets better each and every year. Now in his mid 20s, Murdock is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit for an AFL list spot.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 13: Zac Foot of the Swans kicks the ball during the 2020 AFL Round 12 match between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants at Optus Stadium on August 13, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ZAC FOOT
Named on the half-forward line in the VFL Team of the Year, Zac Foot looked a class above for Southport this year. The former Sydney Swan booted 28 goals and averaged 24 touches from 19 games, showcasing his smarts and talents on the way to a grand final appearance. He’s a powerful athlete with a good turn of foot and he’s worked hard to improve his game since being cut from the Swans list at the end of the 2020 season. This year he edged out Jacob Dawson, who won the JJ Liston Trophy, for the Sharks’ best and fairest.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Jacob Dawson of the Southport Sharks poses with his father after winning the 2025 J.J. Liston Trophy for the VFL Best and Fairest during the 2025 VFL and VFLW Awards at the Victory Room, Marvel Stadium on September 15th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
JACOB DAWSON
Southport star Jacob Dawson won the VFL Coaches’ MVP for the second time in four years after yet another outstanding season at the level. The former Sun played nine games in three years at the Gold Coast, but has been one of the competition’s most consistent and best performers in recent years. While he ultimately fell short of premiership glory with the Southport Sharks this year, Dawson was named captain of the VFL Team of the Year and became the first Shark to win the JJ Liston Trophy. Dawson would be 26 at the beginning of a 2026 campaign but would hit the ground running in an AFL pre-season.