{"id":297374,"date":"2025-11-20T16:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297374\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T16:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:15:15","slug":"fox-footy-report-card-every-teams-draft-picks-graded-and-analysed-who-your-team-picked-best-and-worst-selections-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297374\/","title":{"rendered":"Fox Footy Report Card, every team\u2019s draft picks graded and analysed, who your team picked, best and worst selections, analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 AFL national draft is over, with 58 players having their professional footy dreams realised<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Gold Coast and Essendon were the big winners of the count, while West Coast and Hawthorn were difficult to grade in the aftermath. <\/p>\n

Foxfooty.com.au runs through every team\u2019s picks at the 2025 AFL Draft and gives a grade on their haul in our Report Card!<\/p>\n

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.<\/a><\/p>\n

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n

BOLTERS & SLIDERS: Shock as unranked Swan \u2018pulled out of the box\u2019; \u2018Bont-like\u2019 bargain<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL PICK TRACKER: See all 60 players selected in the 2025 National Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

NIGHT 2 WRAP: Quartet realise rare AFL fairytale; bolters left in awe after brutal snub<\/a><\/p>\n

ADELAIDE CROWS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 16, 48, 55, 61<\/p>\n

Selections: Mitchell Marsh (22), Archie Ludowyke (50)<\/p>\n

The Crows\u2019 first bold play of the national draft actually came before their first pick, as they attempted to nab Essendon\u2019s pick No. 13 in a bid to swoop on homegrown talent Dyson Sharp. Adelaide remarkably offered both this year\u2019s and next year\u2019s first-round picks for the selection, with a fair bit coming back in exchange for the enticing offer. But alas, the club\u2019s first selection ended up being Mitchell Marsh \u2014 a medium-sized forward who also hails from South Australia. Fox Footy draft expert Ben Waterworth correctly predicted Marsh\u2019s landing at West Lakes, who is touted as the club\u2019s Taylor Walker replacement with the veteran\u2019s impending retirement. Remarkably, the Crows were tossing up whether they\u2019d take Marsh or Archie Ludowyke with their first pick \u2014 and despite a 28-pick gap between selections \u2014 and they still managed to get their hands on the latter after a failed bid on Sydney Academy player Max King. Could they have mixed it up a bit, though? Two highly touted forwards added to their list is obviously a win, but the club may still feel like it missed out on a world where it could\u2019ve jagged a top-end midfielder. <\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/p>\n

Draftee teary after missing big moment! | 01:24<\/p>\n

BRISBANE LIONS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 17, 23, 44, 51, 57<\/p>\n

Selections: Daniel Annable (6, Academy), Koby Evans (38), Cody Curtin (43), Tai Hayes (44)<\/p>\n

The reigning back-to-back premiers continue to get stronger and top up with elite young talent. Academy prospect Dan Annable arrived at the Lions with the No. 6 pick to bolster their young nucleus. Suddenly Brisbane, the favourite to win a third-straight flag in 2026, also has its future midfield set with the likes of Annable, the Ashcroft brothers, Jaspa Fletcher and Sam Marshall \u2014 all of whom arrived as Academy or father-son picks. Scary times for the rest of the competition. Followed that up with two West Australian prospects \u2013 midfielder-forward Koby Evans, who had NGA links to West Coast, and key forward Cody Curtin, younger brother of Dan. They also took Southport midfielder Tai Hayes, the nephew of Saints great Lenny. That trio are speculative picks but Brisbane has a great track record under list bosses Dom Ambrogio and Stephen Conole. In terms of their other Academy-linked prospects, they let Tyan Prindable go to Collingwood and but now have an opportunity to take Harrison Bridge and Isaac Waller as rookies if they want. <\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

CARLTON<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 9, 11, 43, 54<\/p>\n

Selections: Harry Dean (3, father-son), Talor Byrne (45), Jack Ison (47)<\/p>\n

Getting Harry Dean through the door as a father-son pick was priority one, two and three for the Blues. Unfortunately for them, though, a bid came nice and early from West Coast at Pick 3, forcing Carlton to play a hefty price for the young gun defender. It also made the Blues complete a series of pre-draft pick swaps to increase their overall points total and effectively cost them another first-round player. But they\u2019ve come away with the best key defender in the draft, so a big tick for that. And a player who can help anchor their defence long-term and form a potent pairing with Jacob Weitering in the next few years. Jack Ison slipping out to no.47 was a big win, and the Blues traded back three times in the process and gained three future picks to help set them up for a Cody Walker matched bid. They were thought to be eyeing a small forward in addition to Dean and Ison, and they came away with what they were looking for in Talor Byrne \u2014 a classic small forward type. Byrne kicked five goals in a game for Vic Country against Metro that hugely boosted his stocks. Carlton did the business it set out to. <\/p>\n

Grade: A-<\/p>\n

COLLINGWOOD<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 39, 45, 56, 58, 67<\/p>\n

Selections: Tyan Prindable (32), Samuel Swadling (37), Zac McCarthy (55, NGA), Angus Anderson (59)<\/p>\n

They were never going to be big players, with a bunch of later picks, but still took four players. Hopefully for the sake of Pies fans, they\u2019ve plucked some diamonds in the rough. It was very midfield focused as they look to replenish around Nick Daicos in that area of the ground. Began their draft on night two with Pick 32 bolter and Brisbane Academy prospect Tyan Prindable after the Lions opted not to match the bid. They followed that up with West Perth midfielder Sam Swadling five picks later. He\u2019s a ball magnet who represented WA in the National Championships and can kick on both sides. Swadling racked up 47, 34 and 28 disposals respectively over a three-week stretch of Swans Districts Colts. The Pies would also be happy to come away with Academy tall Zac McCarthy, who could be anything but is extremely raw and the definition of a long-term investment, with one of the last picks of the draft. <\/p>\n

Grade: C-<\/p>\n

Eagles select Duursma, Duff-Tytler | 02:50<\/p>\n

ESSENDON<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 5, 6, 21, 27, 30<\/p>\n

Selections: Sullivan Robey (9), Jacob Farrow (10), Dyson Sharp (13), Max Kondogiannis (36), Hussien El Achkar (53, NGA)<\/p>\n

Essendon was one of the bigger draft winners, benefitting hugely from Richmond taking Sam Grlj at no.8 and passing on Sullivan Robey, whom the Bombers took along with Jacob Farrow before pouncing on South Australian ball-getter Dyson Sharp. The biggest bolter since Clayton Oliver was drafted by the Demons, Robey has all the attributes required to be a difference-maker at the top level. The Rowville product is super competitive with a clear willingness to hunt the ball. He spreads well from congestion and uses the ball well. Farrow\u2019s best attribute is his kicking, adding much-needed quality to Essendon\u2019s half-backline, while Sharp gives the Bombers a larger presence at the contest that they arguably haven\u2019t had since Jobe Watson. \u201cThe Bombers have been screaming for a big-bodied midfielder for a number of years, now … they\u2019ve got their man \u2014 huge night tonight for the Bombers,\u201d Ablett said on the Fox Footy broadcast of the Sharp selection. \u201cWe spoke about that. Rob Forster-Knight (Essendon recruiting manager) has just gone bang, bang, bang and got some absolute class in a number of different roles for the Bombers.\u201d Montagna added of the haul: \u201cI think they\u2019ve done an excellent job. They\u2019ve just got three players that can all play through the midfield, but are all different types, with some poise and some power … so, I think they\u2019ve done a great job.\u201d The Bombers were effectively forced to let Adam Sweid walk to Fremantle after the Dockers lobbed a bid at the NGA talent at no.25, with the club not blessed with options given it would\u2019ve had to go into 2026 draft deficit to match \u2014 and Matt Rosa conceding the bid-matching discount change from 20 per cent to 10 this year made a crucial difference. Instead, his club nabbed defender Max Kondogiannis at the end of the second round and matched Richmond\u2019s bid on its other NGA prospect, Hussien El Achkar, late in the third. <\/p>\n

Grade: A<\/p>\n

FREMANTLE<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 20, 47, 64<\/p>\n

Selections: Adam Sweid (25), Tobyn Murray (40)<\/p>\n

The Dockers were expected to be late first-round bidders. Not only did they launch on Adam Sweid, they officially landed him after the Bombers opted not to match for their NGA graduate. The Dockers had Sweid a lot higher on their draft board due to his natural ball-winning ability, cleanliness, class and composure at stoppages, but scouts also love his willingness to apply pressure at all levels. On night two, Freo pounced on mature-age small forward Tobyn Murray \u2013 a speedy, powerful player out of Geelong VFL who\u2019s tough in the contest and covers the ground well with good endurance. The Dockers wanted speed and energy forward of centre, which seems an appropriate strategy considering their list position. <\/p>\n

Grade: B-<\/p>\n

GEELONG CATS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 19<\/p>\n

Selections: Harley Barker (24), Hunter Holmes (33)<\/p>\n

More run at the Cats! The likes of Bailey Smith, Ollie Dempsey and Max Holmes have transformed Geelong in recent seasons. And across the 2025 national draft, the Cats have pounced on a couple of talented wingers. Barker has a lot of tools and top-10 talent, proving across multiple levels this year why he\u2019s arguably the best natural winger in the class with his breakaway speed, ability to gain territory and keep his width. Unfortunately for Barker, he ruptured his ACL midway through 2025, but the Cats have the luxury of easing the SA gun into his AFL career. On night two, the Cats united the Holmes brothers at the top level, drafting Hunter Holmes. And he\u2019s very similar to his brother with his elite running power. Two players that will suit the Cats\u2019 style. <\/p>\n

Grade: C<\/p>\n

GOLD COAST SUNS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52<\/p>\n

Selections: Zeke Uwland (2, Academy), Dylan Patterson (5, Academy), Jai Murray (17, Academy), Beau Addinsall (18, Academy), Avery Thomas (28), Koby Coulson (46, Academy)<\/p>\n

The Suns were one of the big winners of the draft, and they\u2019ve got their Academy program to thank. The Suns began by matching a bid on Errol Gulden-clone Zeke Uwland, who could step straight into Damien Hardwick\u2019s Opening Round side next year on a wing or at half-back. Dylan Patterson was added with pick 5, a dashing defender who breaks games open with his pace, dare and precise kicking. The Suns matched two more bids from rival clubs in the first round, adding talented midfielder Jai Murray and tough onballer Beau Addinsall to their ranks. That\u2019s now seven first-round Academy draftees for the Suns in three years after bringing in Leo Lombard, Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham over the previous two drafts. For a side that made it all the way to a semi-final in 2025 and added Christian Petracca and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan during the trade period, Gold Coast\u2019s off-season has been arguably the best of any AFL club. Beyond the opening round, the Suns on Thursday night got their hands on Tasmanian prodigy Avery Thomas earlier than other rivals expected. Fittingly, they finished their night with the matching of a bid on Academy product Koby Coulson in a selection they didn\u2019t make to overpay for. It\u2019s impossible to spin their national draft any other way \u2014 they have once again, absolutely knocked it out of the park. <\/p>\n

Grade: A+<\/p>\n

‘You’re still crying!’: Grlj breaks down | 02:04<\/p>\n

GWS GIANTS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 12, 35<\/p>\n

Selections: Oskar Taylor (15), Finnegan Davis (51), Jake Stringer (65)<\/p>\n

The Giants got busy on Wednesday night, trading up to nab Oskar Taylor after first launching an early bid on Sydney-tied academy talent Harry Kyle. It was shrewd business, and Taylor \u2014 whom they\u2019d been linked to pre-draft \u2014 projects as another low-key boom pick for the expansion club. Taylor is thought of as the quintessential modern-day attacking half-backer with speed, kicking ability, one-on-one strength and a defence-first mindset. Taylor just looks like a Giants player. After trading out of the second round to help the Suns match academy players, the Giants weren\u2019t expected to pick again on Thursday night. Instead, they traded back in late in the night and pounced on Finnegan Davis \u2013 another speedy medium defender. Both Davis and Taylor have the attributes to enhance the Giant tsunami. <\/p>\n

Grade: B-<\/p>\n

HAWTHORN<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 10, 22, 59, 66<\/p>\n

Selections: Cameron Nairn (20), Aidan Schubert (23), Jack Dalton (34), Matthew LeRay (58)<\/p>\n

The Hawks were as agile as any on night one of the draft, trading selections multiple times inside the first round before landing slight slider Cameron Nairn from South Australia with their first pick. Nairn shapes as an asset who could step into Jack Gunston\u2019s role once he eventually retires, while Schubert profiles as a slightly taller option. Although the duo are undoubtedly promising, it is somewhat perplexing that the club drafted both players given their already strong forward-half depth. The Hawks are well stocked for tall forwards, so don\u2019t be surprised to see Nairn ply his trade further up the ground \u2014 potentially on a wing \u2014 to begin his AFL career. Sam Mitchell\u2019s side also managed to bring in two future second-round picks during the process of sliding down the order, giving them more assets to play with next year as they pursue a big-name recruit. On night two of the event, the Hawks traded up the draft board with West Coast to secure Jack Dalton at pick No. 34 \u2014 a prolific ball-winner at junior level who could well break into the senior side inside his first 12 months. It\u2019s admittedly harder to give them a grade than most other clubs, but ultimately it didn\u2019t feel like they addressed their most glaring need: a breakout midfielder. The talent they acquired with each of their picks is certainly promising, but if they get through another trade period without landing a marquee on-baller, this draft may be scrutinised a little more harshly in a year\u2019s time. <\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

MELBOURNE<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 7, 8, 37, 63, 65<\/p>\n

Selections: Xavier Taylor (11), Latrelle Pickett (12), Thomas Matthews (30)<\/p>\n

The Demons would have been stoked to see Xavier Taylor fall to their no.11 slot, with the mid-sized Eastern Ranges interceptor filling an immediate need after Judd McVee departed during the trade period and Steven May and Jake Lever inch towards the end. Taylor\u2019s one-on-one ability and defensive positioning are particularly eye-catching, while his offensive game is also potent. The backman\u2019s reliability as a stopper has seen him compared to Richmond triple premiership champ Nathan Broad, while his counterattacking exploits have seen him likened to electrifying Hawk Josh Weddle. One pick later, Melbourne made the heartwarming call of the draft, pairing Kozzie Pickett with cousin Latrelle \u2014 a mature-age bolter \u2014 to bolster its forward half. The 20-year-old strut his stuff for Glenelg\u2019s reserves this year, booting 32 goals from 18 games to turn heads, no doubt set to add a dynamic element to Steven King\u2019s attacking unit. The Demons made only one selection on night two, scooping up Thomas Matthews in a second small-forward addition following Charlie Spargo\u2019s departure and Kozzie Pickett\u2019s likely increased midfield time. <\/p>\n

Grade: B+<\/p>\n

PILE ON! Father-son draftee swarmed | 05:07<\/p>\n

NORTH MELBOURNE<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 25, 26, 46<\/p>\n

Selections: Lachy Dovaston (16), Blake Thredgold (26), Hugo Mikunda (48)<\/p>\n

A ripping result for the Kangaroos with their first two picks. They might\u2019ve gotten their hands on the next Nick Watson in Eastern Ranges dynamo Lachy Dovaston \u2014 a 177cm small forward with serious nous around the big sticks, kicking 38 majors in the Ranges\u2019 premiership campaign to earn team of the year honours. He adds to a North Melbourne attack in need of some smaller-sized firepower alongside Paul Curtis, having also added Charlie Spargo during free agency. And the Roos got him at Pick 16, which was a few spots lower than some initially anticipated he might\u2019ve gone. The Roos then ticked the key defender box at Pick 26, taking SA backman Blake Thredgold, who had fans in the first round. A strong, competitive and well-balanced defender, Thredgold soared up draft boards in the back-half of the season. The Roos had a chance to draft a key forward with their last pick but opted to overlooked Archie Ludowyke and instead pounce on Hugo Mikunda \u2014 a competitive, energetic half-forward with serious running power and confidence to take aggressive kicks. Only time will tell, but the Roos had a late golden opportunity to take a tall goalkicker who\u2019d slid down the board to support Nick Larkey and Jack Darling. <\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

PORT ADELAIDE<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 49<\/p>\n

Selections: N\/A<\/p>\n

A weird old draft for the Power \u2014 or lack thereof! For Port took, *checks notes*, no players in the draft! It was never going to be a busy night for the Power, who went in with just Pick 49 after pushing a bunch of selections into next year. There\u2019s talk the Power were interested in some of the mature aged players in the draft, but clearly there was no one there they liked at Pick 61, passing on their only selection. It\u2019s part of the club\u2019s plan dating back 12 months ago, targeting the 2025 draft where it had three picks Joe Berry (15), Jack Whitlock (33) and Christian Moraes (38) \u2014 inside the first two rounds. The Power are also prioritising the 2026 and 2027 drafts, with academy and father-son ties to Dougie Cochrane (2026), Louis Salopek, Tevita Rodan and Zemes Pilot (all 2027). They\u2019re reasonably well placed for 2026 and matching an early bid on Cochrane, who could be the No. 1 pick, for Port has the third-most total draft points total value of any club next year. But no incoming youngsters for now ahead of Josh Carr\u2019s first season as coach. <\/p>\n

Grade: N\/A<\/p>\n

RICHMOND<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 3, 4, 38<\/p>\n

Selections: Sam Cumming (7), Samuel Grlj (8), Zane Peucker (31), Noah Roberts-Thomson (54)<\/p>\n

It was hard for Richmond to go wrong with its opening pair of selections, having the choice of the open pool after Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler were the first two non-club-tied players off the board. In a telling pre-draft move, the Tigers \u2014 who\u2019d been strongly linked to Sam Cumming, Sullivan Robey, Xavier Taylor and Sam Grlj with their first two picks \u2014 visited Cumming and his family in the days prior to the draft in a clear indication of the club\u2019s interest. And the Tigers got a good one in the North Adelaide product, who\u2019s highly regarded for his class, power, speed, agility and competitiveness. Cumming has drawn Isaac Heeney comparisons due to his ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard. Then Richmond swung a surprise, opting to take Eastern Ranges line-breaker Grlj with the eighth overall pick after it seemed he was destined to fall out of the top 10. Could they have traded down from no.8 and still gotten Grlj? That\u2019s a question worth asking. \u201cWas surprised, we thought maybe Sullivan Robey might get taken, but they have gone for maybe more of the need,\u201d dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy. \u201cThey have loaded up through the midfield and forward half of the ground, now they get the explosive half back that can set the game off on counter-attack.\u201d Passing on Robey and Taylor in particular was notable, but it\u2019s hard to pick a fault in the two top talents the Tigers came away with. Gieschen and company then took bolter Zane Peucker in the second round. The forward-midfielder averaged 25 disposals, 1.5 goals, and 5.5 score involvements this year for the Woodville West-Torrens under-18s. They capped their work by pouncing on Noah Roberts-Thomson \u2014 cousin of former Sydney Swans dual premiership player Lewis \u2014 in the late third round, but Louis Kellaway went undrafted, suggesting he\u2019ll be a rookie pick come Friday. <\/p>\n

Grade: B-<\/p>\n

No. 2 pick ticks off childhood goals | 02:01<\/p>\n

ST KILDA<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 50, 62<\/p>\n

Selections: Charlie Banfield (41), Kye Fincher (52), Ryan Byrnes (62)<\/p>\n

It took until Pick 41 for the Saints to enter the draft, but they made an immediate splash, bidding on Eagles father-son prospect Charlie Banfield \u2013 the son of dual premiership Eagle Drew Banfield \u2013 and landing him after West Coast opted not to match. The Saints have targeted strong runners in past drafts \u2013 think Tobie Travaglia and Hugh Boxshall last year and Darcy Wilson in 2023 \u2013 and didn\u2019t hesitate to take Banfield, who ran the WA state combine 2km trial in 6:08. Kevin Sheehan said: \u201cA versatile tall midfielder who can also go forward and have an impact, Banfield is strong and courageous overhead and can be damaging by foot.\u201d But the big win for the Saints was the late bid on their NGA prospect Kye Fincher. Sources suggested pre-draft St Kilda would be less likely to match for Fincher if his name was called before Pick 35. Well, the bid came at Pick 52 for the 184cm Fincher, who has the appealing combination of strength and speed, as well as good kicking and marking ability, to break games open. After going so hard during the trade period, to add another two draftees in this manner is a solid result. <\/p>\n

Grade: C<\/p>\n

SYDNEY SWANS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 31, 32, 42, 60<\/p>\n

Selections: Harry Kyle (16, Academy), Jevan Phillipou (35), Billy Cootee (42), Max King (49, Academy)<\/p>\n

So much of the night revolved around managing bids on their Academy prospects. The Swans matched crosstown Giants\u2019 bid on Kyle \u2014 which came earlier than they would have liked, at 14th overall \u2014 but chose to let Lachie Carmichael head to the Bulldogs in a decision they\u2019ll hope doesn\u2019t come back to haunt them. Kyle, a 188-centimetre defender-midfielder, has the potential to play in the midfield down the track, with his run and dash a big feature of his game \u2014 drawing comparisons to Giants star Finn Callaghan. But Sydney wasn\u2019t going to let Max King walk, especially with a bid coming much later than expected at Pick 49 as one of the big steals of the draft at Pick 49. Also brought in Jevan Phillipou, younger brother of Saint Mattaes, and mature-aged SANFL bolter Billy Cootee, who was unranked on the Fox Sports Lab list. <\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/p>\n

Pick No.1! Duursma becomes an Eagle | 04:17<\/p>\n

WEST COAST EAGLES<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 1, 2, 13, 34, 41<\/p>\n

Selections: Willem Duursma (1), Cooper Duff-Tytler (4), Josh Lindsay (19), Sam Allen (29), Tylah Williams (39, NGA)<\/p>\n

West Coast\u2019s moves at the top of the draft were widely expected, but it still had to make them. Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler is a tantalising tandem to add to Andrew McQualter\u2019s young brigade. Duursma was widely considered the draft\u2019s number-one player, having this year exhibited his elite kick, great lateral movement and versatility to play in multiple positions on the field. He\u2019ll join forces with Duff-Tytler \u2014 an athletic 200-centimetre ruck in the Luke Jackson mould \u2014 and Harley Reid in an Eagles midfield with delicious long-term potential. They then nabbed Josh Lindsay at Pick 19 after trading up a spot, with the Geelong Falcons product arguably the best pure kicker in this year\u2019s class. But you sense their higher priority at that point of the draft was a pure midfielder, hence their bids on Suns academy prospects Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall. While the Murray match was expected, there was a good chance Addinsall got to them, only for the Suns to find the points to retain their midfielder. Addinsall would\u2019ve been a great get for the Suns. The Eagles were able to get another open-pool player in (Sam Allen) before a Tylah Williams bid came. The small forward was clearly ranked the top-ranked Eagles-tied player for the club, so to get him at Pick 39 was a huge tick. They were hopeful Koby Evans (NGA) and Charlie Banfield (father-son) would fall to the rookie draft, but they both attracted bids close to where Williams was taken, so they let the duo slide to the Lions and Saints respectively. Fox Footy draft expert Mick Ablett said of the Eagles\u2019 haul during Wednesday night\u2019s broadcast: \u201cThis is a huge draft for them. This could really be defining for the next 10 years. They\u2019ve started the rebuild in earnest now \u2026 We know they just need to get the best talent on the board and play them early. Let them play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grade: A-<\/p>\n

WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n

Picks (at the start of the draft): 14, 33, 53<\/p>\n

Selections: Lachlan Carmichael (21), Louis Emmett (27), Will Darcy (67, father-son)<\/p>\n

They clearly wanted a halfback and got one with Lachlan Carmichael after Sydney decided against matching a bid on its Academy-linked player. But you sense Josh Lindsay and Oskar Taylor might\u2019ve been higher on their draft boards. Their second pick, Louis Emmett, is an exciting ruck-forward with great athleticism and running ability. But most clubs think Emmett can be a key defender at AFL level. Could he be the answer to their void in that position over the coming years? Capped off their draft – and the final pick of the draft – with Will Darcy, younger brother of Sam. It\u2019s as much of a romantic pick as anything. Will, 198cm, isn\u2019t quite as tall as Sam, 208cm, and clearly isn\u2019t as highly touted. But the raw youngster is very much a long-term, high upside play as a potential unicorn. And fair to say the Dogs have had a good track record with Darcy\u2019s. <\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2025 AFL national draft is over, with 58 players having their professional footy dreams realised. Gold 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