AFL Draft: The 10 best prospects still available

The first night of the 2025 AFL Draft didn't come without surprises, with the 25 selections made in the opening round leaving a handful of draft stars on offer for night two in the aftermath. Players rated in the top 20 by some are still up for grabs, with a handful of club-tied teenagers also featuring among the best players available. North Melbourne will open the second round, with the Dogs, Blues and Eagles to follow to kickstart the conclusion of this year's draft. Here we look at the 10 best AFL Draft prospects still available. Tylah Williams Perhaps the biggest surprise of the first round was that West Coast Next Generation Academy small forward Tylah Williams did not attract a bid. Fremantle was among the clubs heavy linked to placing a bid on the athletic livewire, but him slipping through to the second night of the AFL National Draft adds to a strong night for the Eagles, where they acquired Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler and Josh Lindsay, as it means they won't require as many points to match a bid. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Tylah Williams"] Blake Thredgold Expect North Melbourne to heavily consider Thredgold with the first pick of night two, having done plenty of work on him in the latter stages of 2025. Thredgold was linked to Fremantle and some other clubs in the first round, with a prevailing belief from many industry sources that, given he was the clear standout tall defender in the open pool of his draft class, he could have his name read out early. Played just one game at the U18s National Championships but starred in the SANFL U18s Grand Final with a best afield performance on first round draftee Mitch Marsh. Locks down effectively, marks confidently and is athletically sound. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Blake Thredgold"] Jack Ison The late mail on the high-impact forward was that he could attract a bid in the closing stages of the first round after a standout finish to the season for Oakleigh Chargers. The Carlton Next Generation Academy prospect will likely be bid on early on night two, with his piercing left foot, forward presence and aerial ability all attractive traits. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jack Ison"] Max King There was a great unknown entering the draft about exactly where Max King would attract a bid, given he had a quiet season but has an enormous ceiling as an athletic and strong marking powerful forward. Could attract a bid early, but Sydney appear likely to match it, having overlooked Lachy Carmichael in the first round. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Max King"] Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves The Dandenong Stingrays co-captain was linked to several clubs late in the first round but remains on the board despite his match-winning ability. An X-factor player capable of playing off half forward or the wing, Fremantle, West Coast, Hawthorn and Essendon were the clubs he was most closely linked to entering the draft, but could find a surprise buyer if he is viewed as the best available talent. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves"] Archie Ludowyke The Sandringham Dragons forward was in top 10 calculations midway through 2025 before Aidan Schubert's unbelievable U18s National Championships resulted in the South Australian overtaking him as the best key forward in the pool. A knee injury ruled Ludowyke out of the second half of the season, but recruiters are well aware of his talents, which he has shown consistently during his time in the talent pathway. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Archie Ludowyke"] Kye Fincher The St Kilda Next Generation Academy prospect was considered an outside chance of attracting a bid on the first night of the AFL National Draft after a brilliant finish to the season in Sandringham Dragons' midfield, playing through injury after showing what he could do off half-back. The Saints are considered unlikely to match a bid unless it comes after their pick, so could be one for clubs to weigh up early on night two if they are after a modern footballer with athleticism and precise kicking. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Kye Fincher"] Max Kondogiannis There are whispers that Kondogiannis could be one of the earlier players taken in the second round of the AFL National Draft after a season of monumental growth as a raw rebound and intercepting defender for both Oakleigh and Vic Metro. Has spoken to 16 clubs across the course of 2025 and is a player with significant upside. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Max Kondogiannis"] Jevan Phillipou A talent that was in conversations as a potential top 10 pick not that long ago, Phillipou is a prospect of great value to any club keen to add some explosiveness to its midfield. The South Australian didn't get to feature at the U18s National Championships as the Corweaters enjoyed a near-faultless carnival, with a broken arm keeping the Woodville-West Torrens talent sidelined. St Kilda, who aren't on the clock until Pick 40, are a club keen on Phillipou, and could now make a play via a live trade given his availability at this stage of the draft. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jevan Phillipou"] Zac McCarthy Collingwood will be rapt that a rival bid for McCarthy is yet to arise. He could be in North Melbourne's sights, but the Pies will have the capital to match a bid, possessing Picks 32 and 37, among some later selections. The Oakleigh Chargers key forward is one of several players of his position still up for grabs, with the aforementioned Ludowyke, as well as Liam Hetherton and Louis Emmett, all viable options for clubs keen on adding some height to their attack. Either way, McCarthy will find his way to Collingwood, it's just a matter of whether he'll be their first selection of the draft or not. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Zac McCarthy"]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

AFL Draft: The 10 best prospects still available

A look at the best teenagers yet to be drafted, and the clubs circling.

7Kye Fincher

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Latest News

The FIVE trade recruits under the most pressure for the 2026...

AFL QUIZ: 12 VERY early questions on the 2026 season

The players at your AFL team who are set to miss...

Selecting every AFL team’s best 23 for 2026: Brisbane Lions

“Hurt those closest to me”: Neale fronts media, discusses “personal matters”...

FOLLOW US