On the first day of every month throughout 2025, Craft of the Draft will drop an updated and expanded prospect power rankings, taking into consideration a combination of form and potential.
May's edition is the second released, with three club-linked players occupying the top five, and Geelong co-captain Josh Lindsay the prime mover after a big start to the season.
There are also several new names in the mix who have started the season impressively, with the May list up to 15 names from the 13 in April.
Others in the mix: Western Australian midfielder Fred Rodriguez was exceptionally unlucky to miss the cut after a quiet start to the season, albeit all but one of his games have come against senior bodies as he's been given league exposure in the WAFL and played in the AFL Academy series. Collingwood Academy tall Zac McCarthy is starting to gain some momentum after delivering on the pre-season hype as an athletic, hard-running centre-half-forward. Fellow Pies-linked player Tom McGuane is also in the mix, as is Gold Coast Academy member Beau Addinsall. Essendon-linked duo Hussien El Achkar and Adam Sweid have both risen after producing consistently high output to start 2025. Others to rise sharply early in the season include Sandringham midfielder Rory Wright, Bendigo forward-mid Hunter Wright, Eastern interceptor Xavier Taylor, and fellow Ranges player Lachy Dovaston, who has settled as a small forward. Fremantle NGA prospect Toby Whan is also in the conversation after starting 2025 in hot form, as is Richmond father-son midfield prospect Louis Kellaway.
6. Ollie Greeves (+3)
Eastern Ranges, Midfielder
Was talked up by his Talent League club in pre-season as being ready to explode and has absolutely walked the walk.
The Eastern Ranges co-captain is yet to play a poor game in 2025 and was the AFL Academy's most consistent midfielder across the series.
He's mounting a case to be the most well-rounded and talented big-bodied midfielder in the 2025 draft class. His clearance-winning and clean hands are complemented by his running power, and he has a knack of standing up with the game on the line, able to lift when his team needs him to.
If there's one element of his game that hasn't quite reached its potential so far this season, it's his kicking, which those that know him say is much improved, but on game day probably has another level to go.
He's also yet to play forward in 2025, and amid the many Josh Smillie comparisons, the area of the game Greeves is probably superior is his ability to impact as a starting forward, so showcasing that will only further propel his name up draft boards.
