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
8. 15-11
15. Mitch Marsh - West Adelaide
The West Adelaide spearhead put himself on the map during South Australia's title-winning U18s National Championships as a player difficult to beat in one-on-one matchups given his ability to win contests aerially and ground level and natural forward craft. Projects as a hit-up forward or player who will spend time further up the ground given he is undersized, but he's athletic, an effective field-kick and decision-maker, and oozes class.
| 19 RANK |  | Mitch Marsh West Adelaide Forward HEIGHT: 191cm | ▶+ |
14. Ollie Greeves - Eastern Ranges
Some have the big-bodied midfielder in the top 10; others have him well outside the first round. It's rare to have such a big contrast in opinions at such a late stage in a season on a player. Those that have him higher will point to his stoppage work and kicking efficiency, in particular, as points of difference, while he's also been exposed forward more to finish the season.
| 23 RANK |  | Ollie Greeves Eastern Ranges Midfielder HEIGHT: 191cm | ▶+ |
13. Josh Lindsay - Geelong Falcons
Has the best kick in the draft and unmatched professionalism, which has driven his strong and consistent 12 months for both Vic Country and the Geelong Falcons. Has been given the opportunity to grow the defensive and contested side of his game to complement his ball-use, decision-making, rebounding, overlap and intercepting.
| 16 RANK |  | Josh Lindsay Geelong Falcons Defender/Midfielder HEIGHT: 183cm | ▶+ |
12. Aidan Schubert - Central District
Schubert is now widely tipped to be the first pure key forward to be called out on AFL Draft night. Enhanced his stocks significantly during the National Championships, where he proved his talent as a marking target and showed different types of skills in all four games. Has a high work rate, so is a reliable option long down the line and can play as a relieving ruck. Got a SANFL senior debut in a do-or-die final and performed well.
| 12 RANK |  | Aidan Schubert Central Districts Forward HEIGHT: 198cm | ▶+ |
11. Sam Grlj - Oakleigh Chargers
Smooth-moving, quick, hard-running and tenacious, the Vic Metro co-captain was one of the big early risers of 2025 and has mostly maintained his status in the top handful of prospects despite a quieter National Championships. Provides overlap and can hurt opponents with multiple polished possessions in a chain as a player likely to start his AFL career off halfback before graduating into a midfield role.
| 10 RANK |  | Sam Grlj Oakleigh Chargers Midfielder HEIGHT: 182cm | ▶+ |
