Welcome to Craft of the Draft's maiden Mock Draft for 2025, with a total of 23 selections made in a 'live' count of how opening night for this year's intake might unfold.
Matched bids for Academy and father-son draft prospects are included in the Mock Draft, as are the estimated landing spots for free agency compensation selections.
Matched bids for clubs have seen their subsequent selection(s) dissolve from the draft order, pending the timing of the bids.
The 14 clubs involved in the Mock Draft were split between Craft of the Draft analysts Jonty Ralphsmith and Mitch Keating.
Jonty's Picks - West Coast, Essendon, Hawthorn, Sydney, Fremantle, GWS and Geelong
Mitch's Picks - Richmond, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Brisbane
Not Involved - North Melbourne, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Collingwood
Pick 9 - Essendon: Xavier Taylor
| 8 RANK |  | Xavier Taylor Eastern Ranges Defender HEIGHT: 191cm | â–¶+ |
After having their bid for Harry Dean matched by the Blues, Essendon look toward the next leading defensive option in Xavier Taylor, who may also be seen as the best prospect available from the open pool.
Taylor, at 191cm tall, isn't built as a new-age key defender, but more in the Nick Vlastuin mould that has seen the Tigers champion be a reliable asset in defence on players bigger than he is.
And while Taylor can be the accountable clamper on the opposition's best medium or small-sized forward, his speed out of defence is just as exciting.
