This is it. Our final say. The cream of the crop, the best of the best. With the AFL Draft now less than three weeks away, Craft of the Draft has released its definitive top 50 power rankings after following the talent pathway all year and releasing an expanding list each month.
The 2025 crop is expected to be a shallow pool with roughly 55 names expected to be taken in the National Draft. Despite conjecture about the strength of the Victorian crop, it remains the talent hotspot, with 17 players from Vic Metro programs and six from Vic Country programs.
The U18s National Championships winning South Australia are well represented with 11 members of the top 50, including eight in the top 21. Another major narrative of the AFL Draft in 2025 has been the compromised nature of the pool, with 14 members of the top 50 tied to clubs, including four players in the top seven.
To be clear: This is not a mock draft. This masthead has released two separate first-round mock drafts ahead of the AFL Draft and will release another, expanded one in the week immediately prior to the big day; but this story does not attempt to correspond the ranking with a suited club or interested suitor. This is simply a ranking of the top 50 best prospects available in this year's intake.
Around the mark
Rory Wright is unlucky to miss the list after a brilliant finish to his season across half-back resulted in him drawing widespread comparison to champion Luke Hodge, though clubs question his lack of pace. GWV Rebels small forward Talor Byrne is also stiff after a strong season highlighted by a five-goal game for Vic Country. Sam Swadling is thereabouts as a proven ball winner, but his disposal efficiency is causing some hesitation about where he sits in the pecking order. Swadling's Western Australian teammate Cody Curtin has a wide range, with some viewing him in the 30s and others much further back. Fremantle Academy prospect Toby Whan is also close after an excellent season for South Fremantle as a powerful midfielder in the vein of Hayden Young. Western Jets pair Oskar Ainsworth and Finn Davis are also around the mark. Brisbane Academy prospect Tyan Prindable could attract a bid after a strong season for the Allies and Brisbane VFL as a pressure forward, while Harry Scott and Tom Blamires are viewed as the leading VFL prospects in a shallow pool.
625-21
25 - Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Dandenong Stingrays)
An exciting and match-winning talent at his best, injuries contributed to Hibbins-Hargreaves not finding game-in, game-out consistency in 2025. A smooth-mover with excellent aerial skills, good nous and the ability to find the big sticks when his team needs a spark, he looms as a shrewd addition to an AFL list. Threatened to push closer to the top 10 at stages of 2025 but never got a sustained block of form at any stage this season, so could slide a little.
| 25 RANK |  | Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves Dandenong Stingrays Midfielder/Forward HEIGHT: 186cm | ▶+ |
24 - Adam Sweid (Calder Cannons)
A strong and powerful midfielder with deceptive speed and offensive flair, Sweid entered 2025 off the back of an ACL-ruined bottom-aged campaign, and rose significantly across the course of the season. The Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect was afforded plenty of midfield time for Calder Cannons and Vic Metro throughout 2025, where his contested craft and defensive pressure were among the features of his game, but he is likely to spend lots of time off half-forward at the next level. Has been compared to Richmond's Dion Prestia.
| 24 RANK |  | Adam Sweid Calder Cannons Midfielder/Forward HEIGHT: 175cm | ▶+ |
23 - Ollie Greeves (Eastern Ranges)
The most polarising player in the pool. The positive spin on his skillset is that he's a contested ball-winning, big-bodied midfielder whose kicking on the outside can be a weapon, as highlighted at a Vic Metro MVP-winning U18s National Championships. But some hold concerns over his running capacity and how his skillset translates to the next level. Is a hard one to get a read on.
MORE: BIG-BODIED MIDFIELDER LAUDED AS "MR CONSISTENT"
| 23 RANK |  | Ollie Greeves Eastern Ranges Midfielder HEIGHT: 191cm | ▶+ |
22 - Archie Ludowyke (Sandringham Dragons)
A difficult one to place. Was the standout forward for his side in both AFL Academy games as a mobile marking forward and was dominant for Sandringham Dragons early in 2025. But an MCL injury limited his game time at the U18s National Championships and he hasn't played since mid-year as a result. Projects as a skilled player and confident aerialist with a brilliant vertical leap that a team could build their forward line around.
| 22 RANK |  | Archie Ludowyke Sandringham Dragons Forward HEIGHT: 197cm | ▶+ |
MORE: LUDOWYKE LAUDED AS "QUICK LEARNER"
21 - Harley Barker (Sturt)
An ACL injury has sidelined Barker after an All-Australian U18s National Championships had the winger firmly in top 20 calculations. There remains a strong chance he is selected in that range given his speed, ball use and marking are all attractive traits and he is the best pure winger in the draft class. Has also looked adept playing in other positions across the field.
| 21 RANK |  | Harley Barker Sturt Midfielder HEIGHT: 187cm | ▶+ |
