Three club-tied players loom as bargain draft selections for teams at next month’s national AFL draft, according to their peers.
Earlier this month, foxfooty.com.au asked 17 top players in this year’s AFL draft pool to nominate a ‘bolter’ prospect who they’d be prepared to use a first-round pick on.
And three players received two nominations each.
Watch live coverage of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft on Kayo Sports 19-20 Nov | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Both Cooper Duff-Tytler and Adam Sweid conceded they were biased, but the two first-round prospects nominated Calder Cannons teammate Hussien El Achkar as their first-round bolter.
A 171cm goalkicker, El Achkar’s forward craft and ability to keep his feet has big appeal. He’s speedy and powerful, while his ability to read the ball off hands and get into the right attacking positions at the right time is dangerous.
Above all, he knows where the goals are. He booted 6.9 from four Vic Metro matches – he left a few goals on the table, it must be said – and 28 goals from 18 Coates Talent League appearances. When he made his VFL debut for the Bombers in late May, he kicked three goals from four games.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 05: Hussien El Achkar on October 05, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“He’s shown at all levels this year he can kick goals, whether it’s Cannons, Vic Metro, VFL,” Duff-Tytler told foxfooty.com.au. “He’s a lively small that provides us with energy every game he plays.
“He’d give the fans something to smile about most games. He finds a way to kick a pretty cool goal most weeks, so he’s definitely exciting.”
Like Sweid, El Achkar is tied to the Bombers via their Next Generation Academy. And there’s a good chance both are on Essendon’s list for 2026.
“He’s just so talented. His goal awareness and smarts around the goal, I don’t think there’s anyone in the draft that can see the goals like he does,” Sweid told foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s just so smart, so talented, so special, so clean – I could list a million things of what he’s good at.
“Obviously, we all have weaknesses and improvements and areas of growth, but if there was someone I would list, it’d genuinely be a Hussy.”
Another NGA prospect that got some love was Kye Fincher, who’s tied to St Kilda.
A 185cm Brighton Grammar product, Fincher had a strong season for the Sandringham Dragons, amassing at least 18 disposals in all nine of his Coates Talent League matches. He was also one Vic Metro’s strongest performers at the national champs, averaging 20.5 disposals and 5.5 rebound 50s playing off half-back.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 05: Kye Fincher at State Netball Hockey Centre on October 05, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But it was Fincher’s VFL debut for the Sandringham Zebras where he had 26 disposals, six tackles, five marks and four clearances against Essendon, that sealed Lachy Dovaston’s vote.
“He’s such a good ball user and just such a competitive beast,” the Eastern Ranges forward said of Fincher to foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s shown he can play midfield. He had that one VFL game and was best-on in his first game. I think he’s just going to continue to improve.”
Dragons teammate, Archie Ludowyke, said he could see Fincher making a smooth transition to AFL level.
“Although he’s my best mate, I think he’s got all the attributes to become a great AFL player and really help a team win, especially a premiership, in the future years,” Ludowyke told foxfooty.com.au.
“His size, his strength, his speed and his kicking ability, marking ability – all those make him a great player and I think he can really translate that to AFL.”
And the Allies boys got around Swans academy prospect Lachlan Carmichael, who had a terrific national championships campaign.
A product of the North Shore Bombers, Carmichael averaged a team-high 24.8 disposals, 6.0 score involvements and 382m gained across four games to claim the Allies’ MVP award.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 05: Lachlan Carmichael running on October 05, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Carmichael has been described as one of the most bankable prospects of this year’s class. You just know what you’re going to get with him: A love to run and carry and generate rebound for his side out of the back half.
“I feel like he’s a really consistent performer and I really look up to his game,” fellow Swans academy player Max King told foxfooty.com.au. “He’s an amazing footballer and we’re really good mates.
“It’s been really cool, we’ve been able to share experiences together and talk about things that are going on, each being at a similar level. It’s really helped me that I’ve had those boys to share the path and the struggles and success with.”
Top-five Lions academy midfielder Daniel Annable, who played alongside Carmichael for the Allies at the national carnival, said Carmichael “probably deserves a bit more recognition”.
“His championships were just unreal, the leadership he showed throughout that program was great,” Annable told foxfooty.com.au. “He’s performed great for the last three years.”
The two wingers of South Australia’s undefeated national champs campaign also received votes, for the left-footed Matt LeRay and right-footed Harley Barker were a damaging one-two punch.
A damaging, run-and-carry winger with an athletics background, Barker kicked four goals and averaged 16.0 disposals, 5.8 score involvements, 5.5 marks and 335m gained.
While he ruptured his ACL returning for Sturt in early July, Barker did prove across multiple levels he’s arguably the best natural winger in this year’s draft class with his breakaway speed, ability to gain territory and keep his width.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 27: Harley Barker of the AFL National Academy runs with the ball during the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys match between Australia U18 and Coburg VFL at Whitten Oval on April 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“At the moment with his ACL, some people maybe consider him in the second round, but he’s a very good player and has very high standards that he goes by,” Central District forward Aidan Schubert told foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s a very good kick, very good bloke. I’d definitely take him in the first round.
“He’s been playing that wing role for three or four years and he knows what he has to do. I think this year he’s added the ability to go forward, so he’s able to kick goals as a winger now – like Ollie Dempsey does.
“Tall winger, excellent kick – yeah he’s ready for the next level.”
LeRay’s workrate is excellent, which was on display during his four games for SA where he averaged 16.8 disposals, 5.8 marks, 5.5 score involvements and 330m gained. His athletic profile (power and speed) and willingness to take the game on has scouts excited.
“His upside is unbelievable,” North Adelaide star Sam Cumming told foxfooty.com.au.
“I think he proved that in the champs having some unbelievable moments playing on the wing with his overhead marking and elite skills. Physically he’s got room to grow, but definitely going to be one to look out for.”
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 12: Dyson Sharp, Matthew LeRay, Harley Barker and Samuel Cumming of the AFL National Academy pose after being presented with their jumpers during the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys Jumper Presentation at Mercure Albert Park on April 12, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Here’s who other likely draftees nominated when asked by foxfooty.com.au to name a first-round bolter in their eyes.
No.1 pick favourite Willem Duursma said: “I might go with Tom Matthews, who’s our captain at Gippy Power. He’s a great leader. He’s had a tough year with injury, but his best as a small forward is absolutely unreal. To start the year, he was kicking bags but unfortunately got injured. But he’s ferocious, kicks goals, takes big marks. He can do anything as a small forward and he’d be someone I’d really like to take a chance on.”
Top-five Suns academy prospect Dylan Patterson said: “I’d say my teammate Koby Coulson. I’ve grown up with him and I’ve seen the hard work he’s done – and I think clubs are going to recognise that. The fact he’s been able to put it into practice this year and prove himself, I think he deserves a Round 1 pick just as much as anyone else. He made All-Australian and you can’t take that away from him because he’s had such a good year.”
Fellow Suns academy star Zeke Uwland said: “I think Thomas Burton is a pretty good player. He’s pretty fast and dynamic off the half-back line. He’s quick, he’s rapid, he puts pace on the game, can use it by foot and makes good decisions.”
Murray Bushrangers key defender Harry Dean: “Probably Mitch Marsh. He was one of the more dominant forwards this year, kicking five goals against us (Vic Country), four in the first game and won nationals goalkicking. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went top 20. I probably slept on him a bit with just how mobile and quick he is. He can also take a pretty good contested mark, but just how shifty he is for a guy who’s around 193cm.”
Top-10 Oakleigh Chargers prospect Sam Grlj said: “I definitely think Zac McCarthy. He had a lot of injuries this year and dealing with some stuff with his body not being completely right. He’s so raw right now but such a prospect. He’s playing good footy and I think with a couple of years of development, he could be a really quality player. For a big man, he moves really well with his agility and running power, plus his tapwork is unbelievable.”
Eastern Ranges bolter Sullivan Robey said: “I think Blake Chambers. He’s an awesome kick, he had a good game in the grand final. With a bit of development, he’ll be a really good player.”
Top WA prospect Jacob Farrow said: “Definitely one of my good mates, Sam Swadling. He’s a real hard worker and a really, really good player and someone I love playing with. Any club that takes him would be very lucky to have him … He does like 500 touches of the footy a day in his living room on a little rebound net, so he’s always willing to go the extra mile. That’s why he accumulates the footy so much. He’s clean and when he gets the opportunity to get it, he’ll get his hands on it. He loves to be the one to get it, do the grunt work and then give it off to the receivers. He did that a lot with me when we were playing colts together.”
Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway said: “I’ve got a few SA mates that are going under the radar. Jim Kelly, who I’ve played a lot of footy with, I think he’s a really skilled player. He was on a wing in a rotation with Harley Barker and Matt LeRay, I reckon he was a similar level as them. Just maybe not quite as tall and hasn’t got quite the reputation, but he’s a really good player.”
Woodville-West Torrens prospect Jevan Phillipou said: “Zane Peucker from the Eagles. I don’t know what clubs are thinking but from the naked eye, I feel like he could be a player at the next level, I really do. He’s got some serious speed and serious skill as a small forward. I think he’s a bit of a smoky for sure.”