AFL Draft trends: The balancing act
WHILE this year’s National Draft produced record low numbers, several clubs still took the opportunity to cash in on major hauls of new players. With that often comes a balancing act, configuring a draft haul around the ability to add depth in multiple areas of the ground and with diverse traits. Perhaps the most pertinent […]
2025 AFL Draft Review: Fremantle
FREMANTLE had a relatively quite AFL Draft with just the two selections made in the National and then three in the Rookie Draft, two of which were homegrown Next-Generation Academy (NGA) members. With four of the five selections being forwards – three considered small forwards – the Dockers certainly had a positional target in their […]
2025 AFL Draft Review: Essendon
ESSENDON was one of the key players at this year’s AFL Draft, continuing to accelerate its rebuild with three quality additions in the first round. The Bombers were forced to pass up on one Next Generation Academy (NGA) talent, but picked up another among their haul of five draftees. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Rookie Draft>> 100+ […]
AFL DRAFT | 2025 Night One fallout
NIGHT one of the 2025 AFL Draft is in the books, with 25 players realising their dreams of reaching the elite level. West Coast wielded pick one and, as expected, selected Gippsland Power utility Willem Duursma. He was presented his new jersey by Eagles star and 2023 pick one, Harley Reid. >> 100+ PROFILES: View the 2025 […]
EVERY PICK: 2025 National AFL Draft
THE 2025 AFL Draft has concluded, with the next crop of stars having their dreams achieved. To no one’s surprise, Willem Duursma was selected by the West Coast Eagles with the top pick, before it was bids aplenty as club-tied players and father-sons were picked early in proceedings in Round 1. Night two saw plenty […]
2025 Phantom AFL Draft: ‘What would RMC do?’
HOW the many dominoes will fall just about borders on common knowledge a day out from the AFL Draft, though many experts and fans alike enjoy putting on their recruiters hats nonetheless. With that in mind and a wealth of pathway football in the memory bank, we pose the question ‘What would Rookie Me Central […]
2025 AFL Draft Preview: Fremantle
HAVING broken through for a finals berth, the postseason didn’t go how Fremantle would have intended, but hope remains for another strong run at it in 2026. The Dockers possess a late-first round pick and have two Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospects to promote in this year’s intake. >> 100+ PROFILES: View the 2025 AFL […]
2025 AFL Draft Preview: Essendon
AMONG an indicative draft order resembling Noah’s Ark, Essendon possesses two early selections which will go a long way to shaping the remainder of the first round. The Bombers then lay claim to a pair of Next Generation Academy (NGA) members who may well attract bids within the top 30. >> 100+ PROFILES: View the […]
Academy Update: The graduates in line for promotion
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 […]
2025 Coates Talent League Season Review: Metro Quarter Finalists
AFTER meeting in Wildcard Round, both the Calder Cannons and Oakleigh Chargers were eliminated from the Coates Talent League premiership race over the weekend. Boasting star prospects and plenty of Vic Metro representatives, there were a bunch of positives to come out of either side’s seasons. >> Season Reviews: Country QF | Country WC | […]
