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.
5-1
5 - Zeke Uwland
Gold Coast Academy, utility
Made his return from a long-term layoff for Gold Coast VFL on the weekend, which is positive for one of the most professional players in the crop. Realistically, regardless of what he achieves this year, his compelling bottom-aged season, which earned Uwland U18s All-Australian status, will result in a very early bid coming given his power and dynamism across a range of positions.
4 - Dylan Patterson
Gold Coast Academy, utility
Has the star-factor that few others possess in this year's draft class, which is why this masthead has consistently ranked him higher than the consensus throughout 2025. The athletic freak averaged 20 disposals and four marks and has almost unmatched confidence to take the game on and kill teams with his speed and ball-use. He finds space, takes metres and hurts you regardless of what position he plays and who he plays for.
3 - Dan Annable
Brisbane Academy, midfielder
The Brisbane Academy prospect continued his stellar campaign on the weekend with 28 disposals for Brisbane's VFL side, proving he has traits transferable to state league footy. His ability to get to so many contests maximises Annable's influence on the match. The gap between his best and worst game is narrow, and while clinical around stoppage, he has a beautifully balanced skillset that makes him dangerous in all phases of the game.
2 - Cooper Duff-Tytler
Calder Cannons, ruck-forward
His last game of the National Championships against Vic Country was highly viewed by those in the industry and helped seal the tall All-Australian selection. The Calder Cannons prospect has split his time between the ruck and forward line in recent times, showing glimpses of his craft and marking in the forward half and finishing in front of goals.
1 - Willem Duursma
Gippsland Power, utility
Forced to bide his time in defence for his first five games across the AFL Academy series and National Championships, what Duursma showcased when unleashed in the midfield was compelling. He was arguably best afield and showed the blend of athleticism and contest work that have become features of his game at Coates League level, while his aerial game has become more consistent as the year has developed. The utility also got an opportunity at VFL level for Casey on the weekend and looked comfortable, playing mostly off halfback. Versatility, character and attitude are other big ticks for the fourth sibling from the famous Foster family.
