WITH the 2025 season quickly drawing to a close, the pieces are close to being set in stone on how club-tied players will impact the draft order. Inevitably, many will be scattered throughout the order in what is being labelled as the most compromised draft in history. We run through where the leading top-age prospects from each Northern Academy and Next Generation Academy sit in the pecking order.

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NORTHERN ACADEMIES

BRISBANE LIONS:

Brisbane is once again poised to pick up a club-tied talent in the top five, with Daniel Annable firming for early selection. The midfielder ran out his season at VFL level, playing eight total games for an average of 21.3 disposals. A consistent ball winner with great stoppage craft, he has the capacity to translate his smarts and hard running to a role up forward, given how stacked the Lions’ midfield group is.

Annable was one of three Lions Academy prospects to earn a National Draft Combine invite, suggesting wider club interest. Fellow midfielder Tyan Prindable was one of them, having forced his way into the Allies squad and played a handful of VFL games. He’ll be one to consider later in the piece.

Ruckman Isaac Waller is the other, a mobile 202cm talent with great mobility and reach. He by no means produced flattering numbers throughout the year but created murmurs in the crowd with his moments of impact, including strong marks around the ground and nimble follow-up work below his knees.

Dashing distributor Harrison Bridge will also be in contention despite having his year cut short by injury – sustained in the first Allies game. Clubs will value his ball use and ability to transition the play. Another to keep an eye on is talented small forward Raphael Geesu, who came into the year with some hype but was sidelined for much of it. He doesn’t have a combine invite as it stands but is on the radar.

GOLD COAST SUNS:

Much has been made of the Suns’ crop this year, lauded as one which could rival that of 2023. The depth of the group has been flagged by other clubs as a potential opportunity to snatch some talent off Gold Coast’s hands, given matching bids for so many high-end prospects is becoming more difficult.

The consensus is that Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson will likely join Annable in being called out within the first half-dozen picks on draft night. Uwland is considered by some to be the number one prospect nationwide despite missing much of the year with back stress fractures.

The hard-running utility draws comparisons to Sydney star Errol Gulden for his versatility, smarts, and incisive left-foot kicking. He returned to action in Round 18 of the VFL season, averaging 16.5 disposals across four games. Meanwhile, Patterson showed his dare and speed throughout the season.

Midfielders Beau Addinsall and Koby Coulson joined the pair at VFL level, with the former shaking off a hamstring injury which kept him out of three National Championships games. Addinsall is considered a top 25 chance, while Coulson is keen to become a senior Sun and should land around the 30-40 mark.

Perhaps a player sliding under the radar is Jai Murray, who some clubs believe is well within the top 30 bracket. The smooth moving midfielder worked hard on adding speed to his game heading into the year, having already exhibited high-level skills and decision making. He hasn’t been sighted since his second Coates Talent League appearance in May, sidelined by an ankle injury.

Murray joined the four aforementioned Suns in earning a national combine invite, while Cooper Collins will attend the state combine. The running machine has been utilised at both ends of the ground this year, showcasing his aerial ability and adaptability. He’ll be one to watch later in the piece.

Those in Queensland believe Jonah Harris is a good chance to make the top grade, following in the footsteps of elder sister Havana. The towering ruck is a terrific runner but also boasts a readymade frame and has been exposed to state league football this year.

Of course, Melbourne father-son nominee Kalani White pledged his allegiance to the Dees having had the choice of opting to stay in Queensland. The Suns also had over-ager Caleb Nancarrow and Grady Turner turn out for the Allies this year, though neither garnered a combine invite.

GWS GIANTS:

Greater Western Sydney doesn’t quite have the same embarrassment of riches of its three contemporaries, but has some fair talent to consider nonetheless. Three Giants Academy members earned state combine invites, helping make up a group of five who represented the Allies.

Dynamic 189cm utility Riley Hamilton shapes as the club’s top prospect. He notched up plenty of score involvements (including seven goals) across four games in the Allies’ forwardline, before mixing up his role in the Giants’ VFL side. He ran out the season at state league level with four appearances.

Also among the relatively tall Allies squad were fellow combine invitees Jim Houston and Tallis McMillan. The former was GWS’ mainline ruck but shifted to play key position roles at either end of the ground, while the latter is a mobile forward who played out the Coates Talent League season with Murray.

Outside of the combine list, Brody Kane did enough to earn an Allies call-up. He impressed early in the year while donning Giants Academy colours before earning his representative stripes. Eventually, the nifty outside runner broke through for a VFL berth, playing a single game in Round 19.

SYDNEY SWANS:

The Swans Academy group shaped as one which could produce multiple first round selections, though has had some key talent slide. Lachlan Carmichael only bolstered his stocks, however, rising to claim the Allies MVP and make his VFL debut. He looks poised to garner a bid within the top 40 picks.

Athletic utility Max King is a prospect with arguably more upside than anyone in the draft pool, but sits in a tricky range. At his best, there is no doubt he sits within the top 10 players in the crop, but hasn’t quite reached that level consistently in 2025. His aerial ability, speed, and versatility will likely yet lure a club into calling out his name within the first round, which will be quite long this year.

Another Swan with terrific traits is Noah Chamberlain. The National Academy member battled though an interrupted start to the year to once again represent the Allies alongside Carmichael and King. He also joined the pair in breaking through to the VFL grade as a tall forward who can second on the wing.

Making it four national combine invitees from the Swans is Harry Kyle. The bounding 188cm midfielder/defender was a name on lips from as early as the Summer Series, and followed through to make his Allies debut. He was also tried at VFL level and exhibits explosive speed on the outside.

One from outside the combine group is Kaiden McNamara, who was an integral member of the Swans’ group this year. The competitive prospect has mostly plied his trade in defence, but was also utilised in midfield and up forward for the Allies – kicking three goals in his final representative appearance.

NEXT GENERATION ACADEMIES

Several clubs will be in line to match bids on Next Generation Academy (NGA) talent, likely as early as the first round. Among the most highly rated prospects are mobile ruck-forward Zac McCarthy (Collingwood) and crafty midfielder Adam Sweid (Essendon) – both widely rated within the top 25.

The Bombers will also have to consider a bid on small forward Hussien El Achkar within the top 40 or so picks. Together, their NGA products are aiming to become the first pair of Muslim players to be picked up in the same National Draft. They have both trained with the senior group and debuted in the VFL.

Another talent around the top 30 mark is Carlton-tied utility Jack Ison. At 190cm, the smooth moving left-footer is a weapon when kicking inside 50 and ran out the season strongly. Much like Collingwood with Jai Saxena, the Blues may consider their own small forward in Tyson Gresham from outside the group of combine invitees. He’s the younger brother of Essendon’s Jade.

Still in Victoria, Geelong has access to Falcons pair Jesse Mellor and Ben Rongdit. The latter unfortunately had his top-age campaign scuppered by an ACL injury, but was a member of the National Academy and earned a state combine call-up. Meanwhile, Mellor was an All-Australian and showcased genuine match-winning ability during his late-season run in the Coates Talent League.

Another player who is still finishing the season strongly is Kye Fincher, linked to St Kilda. The usual defender enjoyed exposure in Sandringham Zebra’s midfield on his VFL debut, translating that form upon returning for the Dragons. He’s a competitor with good size and explosiveness, potentially set for a top 40 berth. Let’s see if the vocal St Kilda shows faith in its club-tied talent this time around.

Other NGA prospects for Melbourne clubs include Dees hopeful Toby Sinnema, whose turn of speed and piercing left-foot make for exciting traits. The Western Bulldogs also have Kobe Williams on the radar and handed him a VFL debut, though he is also tied to Hawthorn via father-son rules.

Out west, the Eagles boast some genuinely exciting academy members. Wesley Walley was part of the National Academy and broke through for a pair of League appearances with Subiaco. Explosive midfielder-forward Koby Evans was also part of said program but has battled injury throughout the year. Most recently, he went down with an ankle knock in his second senior appearance with Perth.

The Eagles have another to consider in Tylah Williams. Some held him as the third best performed West Australian at the National Championships, behind MVP Fred Rodriguez and leading prospect Jacob Farrow. He’s a crafty small forward who often lights up the GPS with his work up the ground. All three earned national combine invites and will be in contention to receive bids.

Fremantle fans have been all over the potential shown by Toby Whan this year. A left-footed midfielder who has dominated Colts level, he projects as a potential later pick and could offer good value for the Dockers. He and Ryda Luke earned state combine invites having represented WA.

FATHER-SONS

Along with its NGA considerations, Carlton boasts clearly the best father-son prospect this year – and likely even in 2026. Harry Dean, a chip off the old block in many ways, missed most of his bottom-age campaign through injury but shot up draft boards this year as a marking machine down back.

He has the potential to be a top 10 selection, while many Collingwood fans have been high on Thomas McGuane for some time now. The midfield accumulator can play on any line and is a smart runner who uses the ball well. He gained VFL exposure and is likely to be a later pick for the Pies.

Other father-sons in the frame include Kalani White, who chose Melbourne over his academy ties to Gold Coast. West Coast has Charlie Banfield in the offing on top of three talented NGA prospects, while Richmond can bring in South Australian midfielder Louis Kellaway, who has some patented Tiger traits.

The Western Bulldogs are also likely to be kept accountable for Will Darcy, whose school football form has been rated highly. He’s a wiry key defender with high upside, and clubs have a clear visual of what he could turn into given the breakout season of his elder brother, Sam.

All of the above players earned either national or state combine invites, along with Adelaide-tied utility Mitchell Stevens. He represented Vic Country this year, plying his trade in defence, on the wing, and in midfield. Hawthorn has ties to Kobe Williams, who is also linked to the Bulldogs’ NGA.