2025 AFL PHANTOM DRAFT: POST-GRAND FINAL EDITION
It’s time to go for the 2025 AFL Phantom Draft, with some quick ground rules because these questions are happening every year and we just gotta get these out of the way.
- No trades. It’s a headache. I don’t do them. Ever.
- This draft does not reflect the current draft order, because bid matches and forfeited picks from said matches will mess with the order. It happens every year.
- This is not going to be right. Have fun with it, and please leave me with your responses.
Pick 1: West Coast – Willem Duursma, Utility, Gippsland, 193cm
While plenty can change between now and draft day, the early reports are that the Eagles have decided on their two selections).
The fourth Duursma sibling to enter the AFL, and unanimously the highest-touted of the lot, it would be a minor shock to see Willem Duursma picked at #4 with most people having him #1 on the draft board. Truthfully, it could be him or Duff-Tytler here given how much West Coast likes both, but they’ll likely be Eagles nonetheless.
Pick 2: Gold Coast – Zeke Uwland, Utility, Suns Academy, 180cm (Academy)
The run on attached players begins with Zeke Uwland, who would be a very good chance to go #1 overall if he wasn’t attached to the Suns. Gold Coast will be more than happy to pay up as the first of their vaunted 2025 crop.
The best thing about Uwland is his ability to play in any line of the field. It doesn’t matter if you want him to be a defender or a forward early in his career because he can quite easily play whatever while he earns his midfield minutes in a very stacked Suns engine room. A strong runner with a lethal left foot, he’s easily one of the top picks in the class.
Pick 3: Carlton – Harry Dean, Defender, Murray Bushrangers, 194cm (Father/son)
This would be the worst case scenario for Carlton, but the lack of key defensive depth could force the Eagles to make an earlier than expected bid for Harry Dean. Under the new bidding rules where the Blues can only use their first two picks and the discount is now at 10% and not 20%, a bid at Pick 3 would cost 1960 points in the new system (pick 3 is 2178 – 217.8 for the discount for 1960.2 points). This will swallow up Picks 10 and 12 (originally #9 and #11 but pushed back one spot for the above Uwland bid) which is valued at 2416 points. This will net them Dean and Pick #30 or thereabouts in return.
But the truth is the Eagles love Dean and they clearly need key defensive help (well, they need help everywhere). Dean has battled some big name key forward prospects this season and is a true pure shutdown defender. He’s also an excellent intercept mark, and he can contribute right away at AFL level.
Pick 4: West Coast – Cooper Duff-Tytler, Ruck/Forward, Calder Cannons, 200cm
While plenty can change between now and draft day, the early reports are that the Eagles have decided on their two selections. The AFL hasn’t seen a ruckman go #1 overall since Matthew Kreuzer was drafted by Carlton in 2007, but Cooper Duff-Tytler is one of the favourites to go with the top pick and he and Duursma are the heavy favourites for the top pick.
It’s not hard to see why the Eagles reportedly covet CDT however. He finished in the top 10 for the 2km time trial (6:21 minutes) and the 20-metre sprint (2.92 seconds) despite his size which showcases his athletic ability. Tall prospects like this don’t come around very often and while most have CDT as the #2 or #3 prospect, I personally think he’s virtually tied as a top prospect.
Pick 5: Brisbane – Daniel Annable, Midfield, Lions Academy, 184cm (Academy)
It’s scary to think Brisbane’s midfield is going to be even more stacked with top talent but like their younger brothers down South, they’re going to become even richer with a top 5 prospect coming to them in Daniel Annable.
A strong ball winner who is equally suited as an inside midfielder as well as on the outside with his running power. He’s probably better as a contested ball winner in the long term, but it’ll be interesting to see what his initial role will be at the Lions.
Pick 6: Gold Coast – Dylan Patterson, Midfield/Defender, Suns Academy, 183cm (Academy)
Four attached players in the first six picks of this draft shows how, for lack of a better word, compromised it is at the top of the draft. It’s not a sign the draft is failing despite what doomsayers say (it’s not like it’s this way every year) but it’s certainly not a good year to be picking early.
Patterson’s raw speed and linebreaking ability is what sets him apart from other top prospects in this draft. He’s wicked fast both in a straight line and when eluding opponents which should get him some early gametime in 2026 in some capacity.
Pick 7: Richmond – Sullivan Robey, Forward/Midfield, Eastern Ranges, 192cm
Sullivan Robey is the biggest draft bolter since Clayton Oliver, coming from absolutely nowhere to be a strong favourite to become a top 10 pick in this draft. Richmond have drafted players last year with the capacity to play all over the ground such as #1 pick Sam Lalor, so Robey makes sense as a similar player who can slot up forward or in the midfield.
While not quite a key tall, the 192cm tall Robey is a strong mark and an excellent kick for goal. He also showcased his capacity as a midfielder with a 40 disposal, five clearances and three goal performance vs the Western Jets.
Pick 8: Richmond – Xavier Taylor, Defender, Eastern Ranges, 192cm
The best non-attached defender in this draft is Xavier Taylor, and it would be a genuine surprise if Richmond didn’t pick the Eastern Ranges product for their exciting rebuild going on in Tigerland.
Xavier Taylor will excite defensive purists with his ability to be a pest to all kinds of forwards. 192cm defenders can be at a disadvantage as too small to go on true key forwards and too slow to work on speedier small forwards, but his strength and football IQ lets him take on bigger opponents while his speed and quick step match up well on smalls.
Pick 9: Essendon – Dyson Sharp, Midfield, Central Districts, 187cm
Essendon absolutely have to go out of this draft taking at least one midfielder from the draft crop. Zach Merrett wanted out to their biggest rival, and everything behind him is a mess with Ben Hobbs let go as a draft bust and Elijah Tsatas approaching that stage.
Dyson Sharp is the top SA prospect in this draft class, and the Adelaide Crows will be desperately hoping he slides down. Not here though, as Sharp is exactly what the Bombers need with his competitiveness, strength, inside midfield game and leadership as the captain in SAs U/18 title win.
Pick 10: Essendon – Sam Grlj, Midfield, Oakleigh, 182cm
Remember when I said they had to take at least one midfielder from the draft class? I think it’s very possible and maybe even desirable to double dip and go all out in repairing the engine room down at the Hanger.
Sam Grlj is the speedy complement to the strength that is Dyson Sharp. A runner who can break teams apart with his running speed and endurance, a strong combine where he showcased his athletic potential has made him a true top 10 contender in this draft class. If he has the ball and wide open space in front of him, watch out.
Pick 11: Melbourne – Aidan Schubert, Forward, Central Districts, 194cm
Someone, please give the Demons a key forward. The Demons are screaming out for someone to be the spearhead and Matthew Jefferson is not developing as the Dees are hoping. Aidan Schubert could very easily garner top 10 consideration before this.
Standing at 194cm tall with excellent length and athleticism, Schubert kicked 28 goals from 13 games for Central’s U/18 team, and also 10 goals in four games of South Australia’s U/18 championship winning team. He needs a bit more muscle to his frame to the long term, but he can be a special player in the league.
Pick 12: Melbourne – Sam Cumming, Midfield, North Adelaide, 182cm
Christian Petracca is gone, Clayton Oliver is gone, and it’s clear that despite some protestations within that there is a rebuild coming at Melbourne. Midfield is suddenly an area of need despite them spending picks at the position last year.
Sam Cumming is another member of the SA team that won the U/18 title winning team and tested well at the Combine recording the 20 metre sprint in 2.97 seconds and 2km time trial in 6:33. An inside midfielder with the ability to influence the scoreboard, he’s one to watch on draft day for the top 10.
Draft note: Carlton’s pick falls here but the pick was forfeited for the Harry Dean bid match above and thus are not picking.
Pick 13: Hawthorn – Oliver Greeves, Midfield, Eastern Ranges, 191cm
This would be a fitting pick. Hawthorn had their bid to add Oliver Greeves to their NGA refused from the AFL, but he could still be here by this pick and end up joining the Hawks anyway. The interest is certainly there.
Oliver Greeves has all the hallmarks of a top midfielder with his size, kicking and ability to hit the scoreboard. A lack of speed probably means he isn’t the top contender that some others are, but his ability to clunk a mark and kick a goal could make Greeves an interesting candidate to replaced Jack Gunston in the future.
Pick 14: GWS – Jacob Farrow, Midfield, West Perth, 188cm
GWS are a team that tend to throw draft boards out the window and go their own way, but surely they couldn’t resist if Jacob Farrow, the kid who owns literally every team’s AFL guernsey, was here when they pick in the teens.
There have been links between GWS and Farrow and it’s not hard to see what the Giants (among some other teams such as the Eagles) like. Someone who can slot in one the halfback flank as he earns his midfield minutes. He got the power and agility to be a really big midfielder at the AFL level and he would surely benefit at such a talented outfit.
Draft note: Carlton’s pick falls here but the pick was forfeited for the Harry Dean bid match above and thus are not picking.
Pick 15: West Coast – Mitchell Marsh, Forward, West Adelaide, 190cm
West Coast are reportedly desperate to land Jacob Farrow with the third pick of the night, and don’t rule out an actual trade on draft night to move up the board to get their man. There’s no trades here however, and Farrow is off the board a pick earlier. How about another tall to help get them going?
Marsh is the second of the SA U/18 forwards and it’s not at all unreasonable for the Eagles to go tall twice on this nice, especially if they see Duff-Tytler as a ruck more than a forward. A powerful kick who topped the U/18 championships goalkicking tally with 12 goals for the tournament, he’s a real question mark of the draft given the need for tall forwards for quite a few teams.
Pick 16: Western Bulldogs – Josh Lindsay, Defender/Midfield, Geelong Falcons, 183cm
I think this would be an amazing value for the Bulldogs at #16. Every draft has a real faller and draft content producers Rookie Me has the ceiling for Josh Lindsay as high as No. 5. While I think that’s a little high and think he could be more around the No.10 to No. 13 ranges, this still represents strong value.
Lindsay is a player who possesses amazing field vision, able to find this target on the field and then pinpoint them with his excellent kicking. Teams could find him a valuable weapon either coming out of halfback or as an outside midfielder.
Pick 17: Adelaide – Jevan Phillipou, Forward/Midfield, Woodville-West Torrens, 183cm
Adelaide reportedly are looking for midfield help, forward help and to tap into the South Australian talent in the 2025 draft, what about someone who can tick all three boxes for the Crows as they look to go even better in 2026?
The younger brother of St Kilda’s Mattaes, what instantly draws you into the play of Phillipou is his athleticism. He’s a strong runner with a mix of power and speed, and the ability to kick with either foot. He’s a strong, versatile prospect that can rise higher than this.
Draft note: Brisbane and Gold Coast’s picks falls here respectively but the pick was forfeited for the bid matches above and thus are not picking.
Pick 18: Sydney – Max King, Forward/Midfield, Swans Academy, 191cm (Academy)
Geelong could go many different directions here, but they’ve never been shy having a bid on a player and this is the right place for Max King to force the Swans into making this match.
The player with the name that will surely not get confusing at all when they play St Kilda, King would go a lot higher but as a forward his finishing isn’t quite at AFL level yet. He’s capable of the miraculous too however and can be a good understudy for new Swan Charlie Curnow.
Pick 19: Geelong – Louis Emmett, Forward/Ruck, Oakleigh, 199cm
Jeremy Cameron won’t last forever and despite wanting to land Charlie Curnow, they found they just don’t have the draft capital. This could help fill their desire for another key forward to develop for the future while also helping build their ruck stocks when they couldn’t fill in yet another failed trade.
A ruck of the more mobile variety as well as a strong mark up forward who’s a strong runner for his size, Emmett is the second best ruck/forward of this class and an intriguing developmental option for those teams in the back end of the first round.
Pick 20: Fremantle – Lachy Dovaston, Forward, Eastern Ranges, 178cm
Fremantle have done their best to add some much needed class and X-Factor up forward with Shai Bolton, but it’s not enough and Bolton might want to play in the midfield some more anyway. This is a great spot for Lachy Dovaston, who can go much earlier than this.
One of the more electric small forwards in this draft, Dovaston kicked 38 goals for Eastern Ranges in 2025 and then killed it at the Combine where he won the agility test with a time of 7.794 seconds, which ranked him fourth in Combine history. But he’s more than a flash in the highlight reel as well, with his defensive pressure and work rate showing that he’s big on his two-way footy.
Pick 21: Essendon – Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Forward/Midfield, Dandenong, 186cm
Another midfielder? Well not quite. While Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves can play in the midfield, he might be more at home as a classy half-forward who would be of great interest to a team like Essendon that needs help across the ground.
Hibbin-Hargreaves is a classy finisher who knows how to make an impact on the scoreboard. He has the ability to make some really ‘Wow’ plays kicking for goal all over the ground and could project as a high upside pick who can light up the highlight reels but also contribute in the middle at times.
Pick 22: Hawthorn – Archie Ludowyke, Forward, Sandringham, 197cm
Jack Gunston is at the end of his career and Mabior Chol is a strong second option but not someone you really would consider a true #1 forward. Hawthorn has Mitch Lewis but his health is a concern, so it makes sense for the Hawks to go for a young key forward prospect.
Archie Ludowyke has been out of action since July when he suffered a PCL injury to his knee, but key forwards are hard to come by and he impressed scouts enough that he can still be a pick on the first night on the draft. Ludowyke is blessed with strong aerial ability that’s seen him take some magnificent grabs. He needs consistency, but he has time to do that with Hawthorn being able to be patient with him for a year or two before Gunston retires.
Draft note: Brisbane picks falls here at the end of the first round but the pick was forfeited for the bid match above and thus are not picking.
