On the first day of every month, Zero Hanger's AFL Draft associate, Craft of the Draft, will drop a power rankings with an expanding list for each edition.
The August edition is 30 names, with National Championships form playing a significant role in the rankings, while some prospects have impressed at state league level in recent times.
For the first time all year, there has been a change at the top, with Willem Duursma's MVP-winning carnival catapulting him to pole position, at the expense of Cooper Duff-Tytler, who has still been very good.
There are a total of 11 AFL club-tied prospects, highlighting that the first round of the AFL Draft could push well beyond 30 selections by the time Free Agency compensation and potential priority picks are factored in.
It is also worth noting that Zeke Uwland and Jevan Phillipou, who have been injured for large parts of 2025, fall down the rankings slightly given a lack of exposed form, which is a criteria for this piece.
On the precipice:
Collingwood father-son prospect Tom McGuane has been a staple of these rankings but was squeezed out after a solid, but unspectacular, National Championships. However, he remains right around the mark at this stage of the draft.
Murray Bushrangers tall forward Liam Hetherton is also desperately unlucky not to feature, with injury preventing him from taking part at the National Championships, but he remains a key forward with plenty to offer.
Taj Murray's first game for the Allies proved his high ceiling as a tall utility, and there's every chance he could feature in the first round.
Harry Kyle is a Sydney Swans Academy prospect coming with a bolt, while Oakleigh third tall defender Max Kondogiannis was another to significantly enhance his standing as one of the best-performed players for Vic Metro.
Hugo Mikunda excited plenty with some of his performances for Vic Country, and those around him say there's plenty more to show with his rare blend of endurance and speed, and he's done it off a very limited pre-season, while St Kilda-tied defender Kye Fincher plays the halfback role beautifully and is around the mark.
A bonus one...
31 - Fred Rodriguez
South Fremantle, midfielder
The Western Australian skipper has come back a little in recent times, but still did enough at the National Championships to take out the MVP. He's a bigger body in the engine room, which he uses to win hard balls and lay tackles, and has an athletic profile to give him good balance as an inside midfielder. Gets to lots of contests and wins clearances, with his average of 18 disposals per game for the Black Swans belying his true impact.
25-21
25 - Beau Addinsall
Gold Coast Academy, midfielder
A hamstring injury cruelly robbed the dependable Sun of his chance to impress at the National Championships, but he has plenty of runs on the board. A natural ball-winner with a terrific work rate on-field and work ethic off-field to match, Addinsall has long been regarded in the industry.
24 - Lachy Carmichael
Sydney Swans Academy, defender
Rarely, if ever, plays a bad game. Made his VFL debut on the weekend and acquainted himself well with the level after a National Championships where he controlled the backline for the Allies and earned midfield minutes in the last game. Has the offensive flair with his ball use and run and carry, and is also accountable defensively, with his strength enabling him to lock down small forwards. The Allies MVP was a riser of the National Championships.
23 - Zac McCarthy
Oakleigh Chargers, forward/ruck
Collingwood Next Generation Academy
The Collingwood-linked prospect showed in spurts his brilliant upside during the National Championships, with Vic Metro's tall stocks allowing him to play to his strengths forward of the footy. He's hard to stop when he launches at the footy, works hard up and down the ground, has a fine athletic base to complement his skills and is a more than capable second ruck choice.
22 - Louis Emmett
Oakleigh Chargers, ruck-forward
After a terrific bottom-aged campaign, Emmett has shown glimpses of his glittering upside throughout the season across the National Carnival, Coates League and APS competition without being as consistent. Uses the ball skillfully, is capable of kicking goals on the run and moves across the ground well. Like Duff-Tytler, he has had some opportunities to impress forward and has shown potential.
21 - Jacob Farrow
West Perth, defender/midfielder
The Western Australian is now regarded as the best prospect from the west following an All-Australian winning campaign for the Black Swans. It's no surprise given he has all the ingredients clubs look for in the modern game: size, speed and power. The left-footer is also brilliant with ball in hand, and despite spending most of his time in defence this season, where his confidence to take a mark has been a feature, there's every chance he'll graduate into the midfield in the long term.
