Have you ever wondered which school produces the best AFL talent? And how it translates to the draft?

At its core, our goal was to answer a question that raw draft numbers alone can’t.

This isn’t just another “most drafted” list. Our data team (Blank Theory) developed a world-first Player Success Score (PSS) that measures:

Draft Capital: where they’re picked and the hype they carry
Career Output: games, goals, and on-field impact
Elite Honours: Brownlows, Premierships, All-Australians

The results? A definitive top 15 schools producing the AFL’s brightest stars — plus a few surprising underdog stories that prove talent can come from anywhere…

If you’ve got a little Auskick fanatic tearing up the local oval, chances are you’re already wondering — how do I support their dream of making it to the big league? From weekend training sessions to footy camps, you’re pulling every lever. But here’s a curveball: have you considered their school?

Choosing the right school could give your future footy star a real edge. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as asking which school has produced the most draftees. To find out which schools really deliver the goods, the strategic minds at Blank Theory built a world-first metric that scores not just how many players a school produces, but how good those players actually become.

The AFL school success formula — Explained

It’s called the Player Success Score (PSS). It’s simple, really (we swear).
Let’s break it down:

Draft Capital Score (DCS): A #1 draft pick is worth more than a #50. Why? Because clubs invest heavily in top picks. This score shows which schools produce the most hyped talent straight out of the gate.
Career Output Score (COS): This one rewards longevity and impact. Games played, goals kicked, Brownlow votes — it all counts. It highlights schools that produce consistent, long-term contributors.
Elite Honours Score (EHS): This is the stuff that legends are made of. Brownlow Medals, premierships, All-Australian blazers — the awards every kid dreams of. Schools earn big points here when their players go from good to great.

Each score is added together to create the PSS. A school’s overall PSS is the total of its alumni’s scores — so schools that produce both stars and stalwarts rise to the top.

And the trophy goes to… the ‘Big Four’

Drumroll, please. The data doesn’t lie — four Victorian schools stand head and shoulders above the rest:

Caulfield Grammar (PSS: 48,150)
Xavier College (PSS: 45,980)
Haileybury College (PSS: 41,550)
St Patrick’s College, Ballarat (PSS: 39,890)

These aren’t just talent factories; they’re superstar pipelines. With alumni like Bailey Smith, Chris Judd, Josh Kennedy, Jack Gunston and Brendon Goddard, these schools are elite breeding grounds for AFL greatness.

No surprises that Victoria dominates the rankings. The state’s private school powerhouse continues to reign supreme. But there’s plenty of greatness beyond the border.

Enter the interstate high-flyers. In Western Australia, Aquinas College and Wesley College punch well above their weight, while in South Australia, Prince Alfred College and Sacred Heart College prove they’re no slouches either. These schools are the shining lights of their state systems — and genuine alternatives for top talent.

Honour Roll: Which schools produce the most winners?
Premierships: Assumption College

It’s a school steeped in tradition — and in trophies. Assumption College tops the flag tally thanks to alumni like Francis Bourke (five flags), David King (two), and Dion Prestia (three). It’s a generational success story.

Brownlow Medals: Aquinas College

Two names: Fyfe and Cripps. With Nat Fyfe (two Brownlows) and Patrick Cripps (one), WA’s Aquinas College has quietly become the midfield mecca of the AFL.

Coleman Medals: Wesley College

There’s only one ‘Goalkicking Factory’, and it lives in WA. Wesley College leads the Coleman count thanks to freakish forwards like Lance Franklin (four medals). If your kid’s a full forward, this is your blueprint.

Diamonds in the rough: Why all hope is not lost

What if your child doesn’t go to one of these footy juggernauts? Here’s the good news: the path to AFL stardom is still wide open.

St Bernard’s College in Essendon has turned value picks into stars — most famously, Dane Swan, who was drafted at Pick 58 and went on to win a Brownlow. Likewise, Tom Stewart from Geelong Grammar was a late bloomer taken at Pick 40 — and now he’s a five-time All-Australian.

These stories prove a critical truth: you don’t need to be a top draft pick or attend a top-tier private school to succeed. Grit, growth, and game awareness still count.

The lead AFL talent-producing schools

Rank
School Name
State
Total Player Success Score (PSS)
Total Players Drafted

1
Caulfield Grammar School
VIC
48,150
45

2
Xavier College
VIC
45,980
41

3
Haileybury College
VIC
41,550
38

4
St Patrick’s College, Ballarat
VIC
39,890
35

5
Geelong Grammar School
VIC
37,210
33

6
Aquinas College (WA)
WA
35,100
30

7
Wesley College (WA)
WA
33,650
29

8
Assumption College
VIC
32,800
28

9
Parade College
VIC
31,500
27

10
Melbourne Grammar School
VIC
30,120
25

11
Scotch College (WA)
WA
28,700
24

12
Hale School (WA)
WA
27,550
23

13
St Kevin’s College
VIC
26,900
22

14
Prince Alfred College
SA
25,800
21

15
Sacred Heart College (SA)
SA
24,950
20

(Data 1986 – 2024, inclusive)