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.
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20 - Blake Thredgold (Sturt)
An athletic lockdown defender, Thredgold played just one game at the U18s National Championships but is widely viewed as the best openly available tall defender at the AFL Draft. Some assignments on Mitch Marsh have strengthened his stocks as a forceful one-on-one matchup who suits a club looking for a player to build their backline around. With such a gap between he and the next best openly available tall back, he's one who could be picked quite high.
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| 20 RANK |  | Blake Thredgold Sturt Defender HEIGHT: 194cm | ▶+ |
19 - Mitch Marsh (West Adelaide)
The strong marking South Australian forward's stocks have proliferated this season, and he was one of the best-performing players at the U18s National Championships. Hard to beat one-on-one, an excellent field kick and highly skilled, he has plenty of traits that suggest he could become a dangerous general forward or push higher up the ground. There were talks throughout the year that he could push towards the top 10, but he has come back a touch in recent times.
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| 19 RANK |  | Mitch Marsh West Adelaide Forward HEIGHT: 191cm | ▶+ |
18 - Jevan Phillipou (Woodville West Torrens)
Has plenty of suitors as a fleet footed and competitive midfielder. The supremely confident South Australian missed the U18s National Championships due to an arm injury, but is a skilful midfielder who distributes soundly and has great balance.
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| 18 RANK |  | Jevan Phillipou Woodville-West Torrens Midfielder HEIGHT: 183cm | ▶+ |
17 - Latrelle Pickett (Glenelg)
The mature-aged Glenelg small forward has met with every club and looms as one of the big bolters worth taking a chance on in a weak pool. Is viewed alongside Lachy Dovaston as the best small forward in the pool and some even view him ahead of the Eastern Ranges product given the speed and flair he possesses as a ground level threat. Kicked four goals on senior debut late in the season, having mostly played reserves, highlighting his scope.
| 17 RANK |  | Latrelle Pickett Glenelg Forward HEIGHT: 180cm | ▶+ |
16 - Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons)
The pinpoint-kicking Falcon has fallen a touch but remains firmly in the mix to be selected in the teens. An ultimate professional, Lindsay's year started on a high with a best afield performance for the AFL Academy after using his rebound, intercepting and kicking efficiency to open the game up in the early Coates League rounds. His returns were slightly more modest to finish the season as he was given the opportunity to grow defensive and contested elements of his game.
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| 16 RANK |  | Josh Lindsay Geelong Falcons Defender/Midfielder HEIGHT: 183cm | ▶+ |
