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.
30-26
30 - Sam Swadling
West Perth, midfielder
A beacon of consistency in an inconsistent campaign for the Black Swans, Swadling averaged 19 disposals and three tackles throughout the National Championships, effective with the ball in hand and making sure decisions. In close, he uses his frame well, stands up in tackles and has innate poise, which allows him to release teammates. He kicked goals in three of his four games for Western Australia, helping to earn him All-Australian honours and has two League games at WAFL level through July, including a 24-disposal outing on the weekend where he got things going for West Perth.
29 - Hussien El Achkar
Calder Cannons, small forward
Essendon Next Generation Academy
Strong, powerful, elusive and with a great nose for goals, the Bombers Next Generation Academy prospect is among the best small forwards in this year's crop. Gets on the move at stoppage and has the nous to work his opponent over and find space when the ball is coming into attack. Has 17.9 from six Coates League underlining his consistency.
28 - Koby Coulson
Gold Coast Academy, midfielder
You know what you will get from Coulson: 100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time. Adds the grunt to any midfield he is part of with his contested ball-winning and pressure, and is developing other parts of his game, which were on show at the National Championships, where he earned All-Australian honours. His work ethic and willingness both ways give him the flexibility to play other roles, and he's had a consistent run in the Suns VFL side in recent weeks, where his pressure in attack has been impressive. The consistency is all the more remarkable given how injury-interrupted he's been in recent years, and those around him have also noted his coachability.
27 - Adam Sweid
Calder Cannons, midfielder
Essendon Next Generation Academy
The small midfielder/forward was consistent through the engine room for Vic Metro, with his side often lifting off the back of his intensity and appetite for the hard ball. Has averaged 25 disposals and six tackles at Coates League this year, underlining his balance with his speed just as dangerous with the ball in hand as without. Does his best work in close, where his clean hands and burst help him find space out the front of stoppage.
26 - Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
Dandenong Stingrays, wing/half forward
After playing a decisive role in Vic Country nearly snatching the first game, it was a quieter Championships for the mercurial Mornington Peninsula talent, which ended with injury midway through the fourth game. It's continued a frustrating, interrupted season for Dandenong's co-captain, which has impacted his consistency. When he's on, there are few that are more impressive, and he's repeatedly shown a propensity to deliver in big moments, with his liveliness, finishing ability and marking all strengths.
