IN THE wake of the latest AFL Draft, the time to reflect allows for insights around how each club approaches their intakes. Trends appear and shift all the time, and looking at the post-Covid era (2022 onwards), a few recruiting teams have opted to dip into the mature-age talent pool. It continued in 2025 with a handful of players picked out of state leagues – namely the VFL and SANFL.

>> AFL DRAFT TRENDS: Running power dictates play

The easy factor to point towards is this year’s crop being relatively weak, particularly in the way of depth. Port Adelaide’s approach would support that notion, having opted against making a live National Draft selection. But for some clubs, the tactic has been forged into their philosophies. Collingwood coach Craig McRae famously told his list management team “I don’t want picks, I want players”. He’s not alone.

The Magpies recently selected 22-year-old midfielder Angus Anderson with pick 57, their final selection of the 2025 draft. Targeting inside midfielders, Shane O’Bree and his crew compiled a haul which they think will “compliment each other” and can “adapt pretty quickly” to compete for spots straight away.

Along with Anderson, Lions Academy export Tyan Prindable and West Perth accumulator Sam Swadling both have senior state league experience. The only difference being they are of conventional draft age. If able to impact immediately, the Magpies can theoretically extend their window of contendership.

Sydney has taken a similar approach over the last couple of years. The Swans quickly injected Werribee recruit Riley Bice into their lineup after he was take at pick 41 last year, and will hope their newly minted pick 42 – Billy Cootee – can follow a similar path out of SANFL club, Norwood.

While two picks in as many years isn’t quite an elongated trend, Head of List Strategy Chris Keane signalled that form of regeneration may become so.

“We feel like at that part of the draft it’s good to balance your list out with a mature-age option if you can, given that we’re bringing five or six 18-year-old kids in through the draft,” he said.

So, while for an ageing Collingwood squad it’s about recruiting readymade reinforcements and depth, for Sydney the approach revolves more around list balance. For the most part, players like Anderson and Cootee fit the mould of classic ‘high floor, low ceiling’ types who provide instant stop-gaps.

Another club which has recently targeted older talent is Fremantle, arguably more frequently that anyone. The Dockers selected Tobyn Murray with pick 40 this year having made Jaren Carr a father-son selection in 2024, and opted for Tom Emmett and Corey Wagner in 2023.

Apart from Latrelle Pickett (pick 12) this year, all bar one mature-age selections over the last four drafts have come after pick 40. The one outlier was Shaun Mannagh (pick 36) in 2023, who led a haul of three mature-agers to land at Geelong – joined by Oliver Wiltshire and Lawson Humphries.

What that tells us is that while more clubs are looking at other avenues to restore their lists via the National Draft, they aren’t entirely compromising on the young talent in front of them.

Even on the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) scene, clubs are increasingly looking at mature-age options. 11 of the 19 train-ons thus far fall outside the conventional draft age (18-19), supporting the mid-season draft trend of more experienced talent earning AFL opportunities.

A prime example is Essendon likely re-adding Will Setterfield to its list in the wake of Nic Martin‘s vacancy. The Bombers have landed bumper draft hauls over the last two years, so having a hardened, big body who can protect that youth in the seniors and reserves is a shrewd move.

For those who end up earning their maiden AFL call-up after being overlooked several times, strong development and shifting game trends spawn fresh opportunities.

As previously outlined in our AFL Draft trends series, running power has become a significant target area at the draft. Brisbane leant into it by recruiting 21-year-old wingman Tai Hayes out of Southport, siting “how quickly he developed” in just one VFL season.

Similarly, Fremantle enjoyed watching how Murray “improved year on year” in the VFL. After some breakout performances late in the season, Dockers list manager David Walls felt they had a role for him as a hard-running forward. Helping his case for a Round 1 debut is his physical power and readiness.

Collingwood also saw improvement in Anderson after “doing it the hard way”. The Magpies liked the fact he has gotten a lot fitter, while adapting to different roles on the wing, or as both a high or deep forward. Those elements compliment his strong base as a tough and strong inside ball winner.

So, while several players who would have expected or hoped to hear their names called out at the draft will understandably be disappointed, a wealth of opportunity awaits. Whether via the SSP, mid-season draft, or as a growing number of mature-age selections, if you’re good enough they’ll find you.