The 2025 national draft is finally upon us, as all 18 AFL clubs gain a better understanding of how the two highly-anticipated nights will play out.
A solid draft crop, even if this year’s is compromised, is often the cornerstone of a premiership side. So what recruiters do on draft night can often make or break a club’s future flag hopes.
Foxfooty.com.au breaks down every club’s situation and well and the potential best-case — and some worst-case — scenarios they face.
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ADELAIDE CROWS
Current draft hand: 16, 48, 55, 64, 73, 75
The 2025 minor premiers go into the draft with one first-round selection at its disposal. But with several exciting South Australian prospects likely to go higher, such as Sam Cumming, Dyson Sharp and Aidan Schubert, could the Crows explore moving up the board from their Pick 16? Adelaide is in fact believed to be keen to move higher up in the first round, with Sharp or Cameron Nairn in their sights. Doing so, and landing Sharp, is probably a best-case-scenario for Adelaide. The midfielder is coming off a massive four-game national carnival, leading his state to a drought-breaking title and winning both the Larke Medal and the SA MVP award as his stocks soared. He could be the perfect emerging on-baller to pair with Sid Draper long-term. But it appears unlikely the Crows will end up moving up the board, for their next pick isn’t until No. 48, and club recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie told CODE Sports they’d be reluctant to trade a 2026 first-rounder as they “actually like next year’s South Australian group.” It’s more likely local product Mitch Marsh or Victoria’s Archie Ludowyke land in their lap as a long-term replacement for Taylor Walker. If anything, the Crows’ biggest concern involves another draft — the pre-season draft — should another club pluck Cal Ah Chee after they couldn’t strike a deal with Brisbane.
Dyson Sharp of South Australia. Picture: David Mariuz/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
BRISBANE LIONS
Current draft hand: 17, 23, 44, 51, 59, 68, 79
It all surrounds Academy prospect Daniel Annable, with the reigning back-to-back premiers are set to get even stronger in a scary prospect for the rest of the league. List manager Dom Ambrogio and his team will be hoping they can get him for the cheapest price possible, but it’s splitting hairs given he’s going to go with one of the early picks. In saying that, the difference between the young gun getting a bid between say Pick 4 and 7 would make a difference. If Annable is the last of the top-tier academy/father-son prospects to get a bid, which is likely, great. In an even better scenario, he falls past Richmond’s picks and gets nominated by Essendon. The Lions would also be hoping they can find a suitor for Pick 17 as they could split it for later selections and allow them to get another player in the open pool with an earlier pick, instead of it getting entirely swallowed up for Annable. But fail to find a Pick 17 suitor and they’d have leftover picks in the mid-to-late 40s and early 50s after an Annable bid (still, a very good outcome, all things considered, for the best team in the competition).
CARLTON
Current draft hand: 9, 11, 43, 54, 67, 72
The Blues are set to shake up draft night, with Carlton to trade both its first-round picks — 9 and 11 — given West Coast is expected to bid on gun father-son prospect Harry Dean as early as Pick 2 or 3. Essendon and North Melbourne are poised to acquire Carlton’s picks in swaps that would effectively see the Blues gather a wider range of selections and draft points, which would largely be used to match bids on Dean and NGA prospect Jack Ison. Prior to the weekend, the Blues would’ve been hoping a Dean bid wouldn’t come until Pick 6 or 7. It would’ve seem the Blues’ Picks 9 and 11 essentially turn into Dean and a pick in the early teens, which they’d use to draft a open-pool player before an Ison bid. But Carlton would now require 2233 points to match a bid at Pick 2 or 1960 points to match a bid at Pick 3, with the latter more likely. Therefore, the worst case scenario is already unravelling, given Dean’s elevated stocks will effectively cost Carlton another first-round player. They’ll hope an Ison bid doesn’t come until, at the earliest, the second round.
Daicos & Warner named in Victoria squad | 01:13
COLLINGWOOD
Current draft hand: 39, 45, 56, 58, 67
The third-lowest total draft points value of any club. The Pies have just a late second-round pick and several third and fourth-rounders at their disposal in recruiting manager Shane O’Bree’s first draft behind the wheel. The lack of high-end capital makes their draft night a bit of a mystery, outside of their link to key position NGA prospect Zac McCarthy. Though there’s talk Collingwood could look to move up the draft board to get into the first round including links to top South Australian prospect Dyson Sharp. You’d think that would cost them a future first-rounder. So if there’s a first-round talent they really like or a slider in general they want to move up for, doing so could be considered a win. Otherwise, the Pies will be hoping a McCarthy bid comes as a late as possible — certainly not in the first round — and Jai Saxena slips through as a rookie. It comes at a crucial time given the void of young talent, outside of Nick Daicos, on their list. Speaking of famous Collingwood names, they opted not to nominate Tom McGuane, son of premiership great Mick McGuane, as a father-son prospect.
ESSENDON
Current draft hand: 5, 6, 21, 27, 30
If one of Sam Cumming or, more likely, Sullivan Robey, is still on the board at Essendon’s first pick, that’d be a great result for the Bombers. In arguably a perfect world, the best result would be pairing Bombers fan Robey with fellow Eastern Ranges prospects Xavier Taylor and Lachy Dovaston — less than a week after the trio was seen watching the club’s training session. But South Australian star midfielder Dyson Sharp also looms as a perfect fit both on and off the field, for he could play as early as Round 1 next season, fill an on-ball chasm and help set standards at the club. Keep in the mind the Bombers are set to move up to Pick 9 in a swap with Carlton for selections 21, 27 and 30. That would mean Essendon ends up taking three players in the top 13 to form the crux of their night. They also have two NGA prospects in Adam Sweid, who could get a bid in the first round and force Essendon to go into points deficit, and Hussien El Achkar, who they could get through as a rookie in an ideal situation. So really, when a Sweid bid comes — and thus how much damage it does by way of points deficit — is key for a club that doesn’t coming off a bottom four finish.
Lachy Dovaston (left) and Xavier Taylor (right) of the Eastern Ranges. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
FREMANTLE
Current draft hand: 20, 47
Don’t have much capital in this draft, with the fourth-worst total points value. But they do have a late first-round pick, having effectively split their earlier selection to help them get Judd McVee. That in itself is already good business for a club with no glaring holes and still a very young side across the board. In a perfect world, Freo would love it if South Australian duo Aidan Schubert or Mitch Marsh slipped to their first pick, but it seems an outside chance. They’ve also been linked to club-tied prospects Harry Kyle and Jai Murray, but it seems other teams will get in ahead of them, as well as Beau Addinsall and Lachlan Carmichael. They’d hope NGA prospects Toby Whan and Ryda Luke slip to them as rookies and don’t require using national draft picks.
GEELONG CATS
Current draft hand: 19, 40, 60, 78
Didn’t plan on having a first-round pick after missing out on Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall during the trade window! Best-case scenario is Josh Lindsay, the best Geelong Falcons player in this year’s crop, is still on the board at their natural selection, but it’d be a surprise if he got past the Bulldogs at Pick 20. If they got Lindsay and Ollie Greeves, whose great-great uncle is Cats legend Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves, that’d be some sort of romantic draft for the Cats. The thing is, they’re one of the most unpredictable clubs on draft night, so they could pull something out of nowhere. The Cats also have two NGA prospects, Jesse Mellor and Ben Rongdit, but neither have huge national draft chances at this stage. Then there’s Hunter Holmes as another player the Cats could consider to pair him with star brother Max. Again, it’s always a bit risky predicting what the Cats will do with, seemingly, a wider range of outcomes than most teams.
Josh Lindsay of Victoria Country. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL PhotosSource: AFL Photos
GOLD COAST SUNS
Current draft hand: 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52
Set to further bolster their list after a busy trade period, with five Academy players in their sights. It’s like there’s some sort of factory creating Gold Coast young guns at this point! We know what they need to do on draft night, it’s just a matter of how they manoeuvre it to get all their players in while ideally avoiding going into points deficit. The priorities, clearly, are Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson, who are both set to draw bids with the first five picks. From there, the Suns will be crossing their fingers that bids for their other academy prospects — Jai Murray, Beau Addinsall, and Koby Coulson — come as late as possible. A Murray bid is likely to come later in the first round, while they’d love Addinsall to push to night two and Coulson late in the draft or even as a rookie pick. A series of pick swaps will give Gold Coast more stock in this draft — set to be armed with seven picks between No. 15 and 36 — and increase its points total from 3,773 to 4,299 to help the club land all its players. It’s ideal timing to get all these players in ahead of a tightening of draft rules in 2026, with clubs set to pay a higher price for academy/father-son-linked bids than ever before. But a West Coast double bid on Murray then Addinsall in the middle of the first round would likely see the latter join the rival club.
GWS GIANTS
Current draft hand: 12, 35
Technically just one selection, No. 12, for the Giants, who’ll complete a pick swap with Gold Coast to add more stock to the Giants’ 2026 draft hand. The Giants could go in many different directions with Pick 12, which they moved up two spots to get, so clearly they value a player/s in that range. But they’re historically difficult to read and aren’t afraid to go against the grain with a bold pick. They’ve been strongly linked to Oskar Taylor, Latrelle Pickett and Sam Grlj as smalls, while Archie Ludowyke could be a tall option. So if all four were available at their spot, that’d be an ideal outcome. The Giants are prepared to trade down the order if their top tier of players are all off the board. When you’re having just one pick at the draft, you’d want the best possible player available to select, so a slide down the other wouldn’t be ideal. Riley Hamilton is the best of the Giants’ top Academy-linked players, so if they could get him through without needing to use a national draft pick, that’d be a win.
Hawks back squad after Merrett chase | 01:09
HAWTHORN
Current draft hand: 10, 22, 59, 66
The Hawks, whose 10th overall pick will slide back four spots due to earlier matched bids, would be absolutely thrilled if they could land Jacob Farrow as a slider. The rebounding left-footed defender is Western Australia’s top prospect, possessing elite foot skills and the longer-term capability to move into the midfield — Jordan Dawson-style. He just looks like a Hawks player. In particular, Farrow would be a fruitful addition given Hawthorn saw like-type Changkuoth Jiath leave in the trade window. But even if it’s not Farrow, the Hawks could see someone else slide, such as a Sam Grlj or a Dyson Sharp, and swoop. Sharp could be a like-for-like replacement for the departed James Worpel, who was one of Sharp’s AFL player comparisons as a hard-headed ball-getter. Regardless, Hawthorn can draft for need early on — an enviable position to be in. Later in the first round, the Hawks could look at a different type of player, such as a potential slider in Ollie Greeves, who the club unsuccessfully tried to gain priority NGA access to this year.
MELBOURNE
Current draft hand: 7, 8, 37, 63, 65
Mid-sized Eastern Ranges interceptor Xavier Taylor is right in top-10 calculations and is expected to be a strong consideration for the Demons if he’s still available at what’ll end up being Pick 11 after four matched bids in the top 10. Richmond and Essendon both have interest in Taylor ahead of the Dees, but if he slips through, he’s exactly the sort of long-term defensive piece new coach Steven King and company would want to get their hands on — particularly after the club lost Judd McVee to Fremantle in the trade period and the ageing state of its backline. If one of Sullivan Robey or Sam Cumming slid to Melbourne’s slots, that would also be grand result for the red and blue — although the likelihood of either of those happening seems less likely than Taylor falling slightly. Otherwise, Lachy Dovaston, Cameron Nairn and Latrelle Pickett — the cousin of Kysaiah — should be considerations for the Dees with their second early selection. If the Dees don’t opt for a small forward type with either of their early picks, they could assess the likes of Leon Kickett or the West Coast-tied Tylah Williams with their second-rounder.
Sullivan Robey during the AFL National Combine 2km Time Trial. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
NORTH MELBOURNE
Current draft hand: 25, 26, 46, 57
Originally without their first-round pick after selling it to Richmond 12 months ago, draft night has become more relevant for the Roos again. A pick swap with Carlton is set to give North Pick 11 — seven picks after the spot it was originally set to choose from. A best-case could see Alastair Clarkson’s side land small forward Lachy Dovaston, which is an outside chance to secure him at their fresh first-round selection (Pick 11). If they could pair Dovaston with either Blake Thredgold, Aidan Schubert or Archie Ludowyke, if the trio are still on the board with their second pick, that’d cap off a successful night for Brady Rawlings and his recruiting team. You could argue the worst has already played out for North in how it gambled on itself having a better year in 2025 but ultimately finished 16th and, thus, handed Richmond the pick tied to it. But it mightn’t necessarily be a disaster. The Roos will have essentially come away with key defender Matt Whitlock, who’ll take some time to develop, over the likes of Sullivan Robey, Sam Cumming and Xavier Taylor or whoever is available at Richmond’s second pick, which will technically be the fourth chosen player in the open draft.
PORT ADELAIDE
Current draft hand: 49
Just one pick with some value, No. 49, as things stand, but even that’s going to get pushed into next year in a looming swap with Gold Coast. It’s part of a wider plan for the Power dating back 12 months ago when the Power targeted the 2024 draft and had three picks — Joe Berry (15), Jack Whitlock (33) and Christian Moraes (38) — inside the first two rounds. The club is also keen to prioritise the 2026 and 2027 drafts, with academy and father-son ties to Dougie Cochrane (2026), Louis Salopek, Tevita Rodan and Zemes Pilot (all 2027). So think of it as a wider four-year recruiting scheme as Josh Carr takes the reins as senior coach. Based on finishing positions in the season just gone, Port currently has the third-most total draft points value of any club in the 2026 draft. And they’ll need it to ensure they get Cochrane, having recently gotten the green light from the AFL to have NGA access to the young star after he and his family explored their Indigenous heritage, with the tightening of draft rules around matching bids.
Xavier Taylor of the Eastern Ranges, Samuel Grlj of the Oakleigh Chargers and Lachy Dovaston of the Eastern Ranges. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
RICHMOND
Current draft hand: 3, 4, 38, 68
The Tigers are set to gain two more young guns just one year after snagging seven 18-year-olds in the draft’s first 28 picks. While their third and fourth overall selections are set to slide four spots due to matched bids inside the top 10, Richmond seems likely to pick two of Sam Cumming, Sullivan Robey, Xavier Taylor and Sam Grlj, with rebounder Jacob Farrow linked to one of Richmond’s picks late in the pre-draft process. It’d be hard to go wrong with any of those names. Robey and Cumming are centre-forward types who’ll add a dynamic attacking element wherever they land, while Taylor is a mid-sized interceptor with offensive capability and Grlj is a back-half line-breaker. Regardless, after the Tigers’ first-round involvements, a best-case scenario would see them land father-son prospect Louis Kellaway late in proceedings without having to match a rival bid. On the other hand, having to match a bid wouldn’t be ideal. Richmond would also be absolutely thrilled if it landed small forward Latrelle Pickett with its third choice, having been in on now-Sydney forward Malcolm Rosas ahead of the trade period.
ST KILDA
Current draft hand: 50, 65
A busy trade period has left the Saints with very limited capital. In fact, they have the lowest total draft points value of any club. It’s unlikely, but the Saints could find a way to get back into the first round. Particularly with the potential to pluck Jevan Phillipou, younger brother of Mattaes, who could be picked up late in the first round at the earliest. Best-case scenario would be Phillipou just slides to that pick! That’d be a cool and romantic story as much as anything. The other watch is when Kye Fincher, who the Saints have NGA links to and is expected to get a bid in the 30s, attracts attention. If it comes after Pick 36, St Kilda could match with its next selection. If not, the club will need to make a call on whether it goes for Fincher. Bearing in mind that could mean going into points deficit in 2026 — and the Saints are already without their second-round pick next year.
Do Ross Lyon’s Saints have a surprise in mind? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
SYDNEY SWANS
Current draft hand: 31, 32, 42, 63
Their draft night surrounds navigating a delicate bidding situation with Academy quartet — Harry Kyle, Lachlan Carmichael, Max King and Noah Chamberlain — namely the former trio, who could draw bids in the top 35. Or, in an even worse scenario, there’s a chance the trio all draw bids on night one. Kyle, who has interest from cross-town rival GWS with its first pick, is set to receive the earliest bid. Then, the Swans might need to make a hard call on Carmichael or King, depending on when those bids come. A Bulldogs bid on Carmichael at Pick 14 would be far from ideal for the Bulldogs. Meanwhile Chamberlain could be attained with a late pick or even slip through as a rookie. It comes after Sydney’s trade period juggling act where in securing Charlie Curnow while keeping some stock in the draft.
WEST COAST EAGLES
Current draft hand: 1, 2, 13, 34, 41, 58
In a perfect world, the Eagles probably land Blues father-son gun Harry Dean, who’d fill a key defender need. But the Blues will be well prepared to match. Outside of that, the Eagles could land top two priorities Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler then find a way to move Pick 13 up the order to take Dyson Sharp — one of the best on-ballers in this year’s draft pool. Ultimately, it’s hard to lose if you have the first two picks (at least, in the open draft), but a bid on top NGA prospect Tylah Williams at, say, Pick 12 from the Giants would leave the Eagles in a tricky spot. Ideally, they’d like Williams to slip to the second round.
Willem Duursma of Vic Country.Source: Getty Images
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Current draft hand: 14, 33, 53, 70, 74
The Dogs have been heavily linked to half-backs at their first selection. So it’d be ideal if one of Josh Lindsay and Oskar Taylor was still on the board at their selection. If both are gone, the Dogs could bid on Swans academy defender Lachlan Carmichael, who they clearly have interest in but, for most rival clubs, is ranked below Lindsay and Taylor. The Dogs would love it if father-son prospect Will Darcy — the son of Luke and brother of Sam — didn’t receive a national draft bid, which would allow the club to either select him with their last national draft pick or even rookie him.