2025 AFL Draft Preview: Brisbane Lions
TWO-TIME reigning premiers Brisbane Lions are once again set to benefit from their club-tied talent come draft time, with a leading Academy graduate bound for the top five. Elsewhere, there are plenty more local prospects vying for promotion to the current most dominant club in the land.
>> FREE: View the 2025 AFL Draft Guide
2025 RECORD: Premiers | 16-6-1 | 114.2%
2025 PICKS: 17, 23, 44, 51, 59, 68, 79
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1, ’26 R2, ’26 R3, MEL ’26 R3, ’26 R4 | ’27 R1, ’27 R2, ’27 R3, ’27 R4
CLUB-TIED PROSPECTS: Daniel Annable, Harrison Bridge, Fergus McFadyen, Tyan Prindable, Isaac Waller (all Academy)
FIRST PICK:
Pick 17
While the Lions’ first pick is officially listed at 17, it will end up being wiped out in order to match a bid for Daniel Annable. That could land anywhere within the top 10, likely even among the top five, with the Academy star consensually considered one of the draft’s best and most consistent midfielders.
Annable is the type who rarely plays poorly and looks destined to be a 200-game lock. Boasting clean hands on the inside and strong running capacity on the outside, he contributes along several links in the scoring chain. He will also be familiar with the Lions’ system having managed eight VFL games this year.
Already boasting a stacked midfield, perhaps Brisbane can find a spot for their latest Academy recruit on the wing or at half-forward. He’ll compliment a brimming on-ball group and can take confidence in the likes of Jaspa Fletcher, Sam Marshall, and the Ashcroft brothers making immediate impacts of late.
REMAINING CROP:
Picks 23, 44, 51, 59, 68, 79
The Lions’ draft hand is mostly geared around matching the early bid for Annable, along with a few more potential additions down the line. Shadeau Brain and Bruce Reville will earn upgrades from the rookie list, while the club has committed to re-listing veteran Lincoln McCarthy as a rookie.
A few outgoing players can directly be replaced by Academy graduates. While free agents Oscar Allen and Sam Draper bolster Brisbane’s tall stocks, Isaac Waller looms as a long-term option with genuine upside. At 204cm, he adds depth in the wake of the Sam Day and Oscar McInerney retirements.
Along similar lines, over-ager Fergus McFadyen broke out at VFL level this year with 37 goals in 19 games. He could be promoted to the senior or rookie list as a likely replacement for Callum Ah Chee, whose trade to Adelaide fell through, but is likely to get to West Lakes via the pre-season draft.
With the Lions poised to make three or four selections, perhaps one of Harrison Bridge or Tyan Prindable will be considered. The former is a decorated junior whose year was scuppered by injury, while the latter is a mid-forward with efficient skills. Both will have a level of interest from other clubs, but remain solid rookie choices should they slip through the National Draft, or over-age candidates to develop in the VFL.
KEY QUESTIONS:
– How early will the Annable bid land?
– Will the Lions get active with live trades, or fall into points deficit?
– Which other Academy graduates are in the offing?
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