The silly season has arrived and with it rises the intrigue surrounding the 2025 AFL Draft.
Craft of the Draft has followed the talent pathways all season, with this the latest instalment of our monthly rankings.
There is a standout seven players who have created a gap on the rest of the draft class, with plenty of variety across what will be a highly compromised first round that could extend towards 30 picks.
Several bolters have emerged late in the season, headlined by Sullivan Robey and also including Oskar Taylor, Avery Thomas, Blake Thredgold and more.
The 2025 crop has widely been discussed as a weak draft and there is a school of thought among many that, after the established talents, clubs may be more likely to take a speculative punt than go after a known commodity.
Xavier Taylor is a big riser after a sterling finals series capped a big season, while Jack Ison, too, continues to capture attention late in the season.
Taj Murray was the unluckiest omission - a mobile tall who fits the profile perfectly of being high upside, but less proven players who could be selected earlier than typical.
Others around the mark included Fremantle Next Generation Academy prospect Toby Whan, West Coast-tied Charlie Banfield and Western Jets forward Oskar Ainsworth.
SEE: 2025 PROSPECT POWER RANKINGS FOR SEPTEMBER
2. 45-41
45. Talor Byrne - GWV Rebels
The crowning moment of Byrne's season was a five-goal ‘draft me' game in Vic Country's clash with Vic Metro, where he provided recruiters with a synopsis of his full package. Is strong over the footy, deceptively hard to beat in the air, clean at the foot of marking contests and has good speed off the mark which enables him to power away from stoppages. A complete front-and-centre forward who also proved energetic when injected into the midfield.
| N/A RANK |  | Talor Byrne GWV Rebels Forward HEIGHT: 174cm | ▶ |
44. Tom Burton - Western Jets
The Vic Metro co-captain's run-and-gun ways make him effective on counterattack, and he proved his high-end speed, endurance and vertical leap at the National AFL Draft Combine. Spent plenty of time in Western Jets' engine room this year but has also spent time off halfback where he can gain metres with his drive and willingness to get overlap possession.
| 49 RANK |  | Tom Burton Western Jets Midfielder/Defender HEIGHT: 178cm | ▶+ |
43. Koby Coulson - Gold Coast Academy
A hard-working midfielder who earned U18s All-Australian honours after an uber-consistent campaign for an injury-ravaged Allies engine-room, Coulson has enhanced his stocks throughout 2025. Hard working, clean below his knees, and with great pressure and an appetite for the contest, Coulson took out Gold Coast Academy's best player at the Suns' best and fairest last week. His balanced, two-way skillset, which he showcased in some late-season VFL games, will hold him in good stead wherever on the field he starts his career.
| 47 RANK |  | Koby Coulson Gold Coast Academy Utility HEIGHT: 180cm | ▶+ |
42. Max Kondogiannis - Oakleigh Chargers
A medium-tall defender who plays above his size with his aerial impact, Kondogiannis' U18s National Championships for Vic Metro increased his stocks. Showed an ability to lock down and take the game on with his kicking and reads the game excellently.
| 34 RANK |  | Max Kondogiannis Oakleigh Chargers Defender HEIGHT: 190cm | ▶+ |
41. Hussien El Achkar - Calder Cannons
The Essendon Next Generation Academy small forward has power and innate goal sense, booting 38 majors across 16 games at all levels in 2025. Clean at ground level, his damage factor at the fall of the ball is an impressive trait for the Calder attacker. Also has great strength and can burst through forward-50 stoppages.
| 48 RANK |  | Hussien El Achkar Calder Cannons Forward HEIGHT: 171cm | ▶+ |
