AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-40 (final edition)

As the anticipation builds towards the 2025 AFL Draft, pundits and keen observers are still looking at which football prospect will fall at what pick. Counting down the days, Craft of the Draft has produced a final Mock Draft, taking into account the final draft order. We take a look at the first 40 selections of the 2025 intake, considering all the bids on high-end talents as well as some potential pick trades between clubs. Pre-Draft Trades Carlton trade Pick 9 to West Coast for Picks 13 and 34 Carlton trade Pick 11 to Melbourne for a 2026 1st (tied to Gold Coast) Gold Coast trade Picks 18 and 36 to Essendon for Picks 21 and 27 Pick 1 - West Coast: Willem Duursma [draft_top10_widget player_id="Willem Duursma"] The consensus number one selection for the second half of 2025, if not longer, West Coast will hope Duursma can develop into a long-term midfielder for a club desperately lacking A-Grade talent in that area of the ground. He models his game off Marcus Bontempelli, and the Eagles would love him to develop the same way and provide a perfect foil for Harley Reid. A down-to-earth teenager who has grown up in country Victoria, there is little concern about how he'll handle the hype of being a number one selection, having watched his siblings navigate the AFL/W scrutiny in recent years. Pick 2 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Zeke Uwland [draft_top10_widget player_id="Zeke Uwland"] The widespread expectation is that a bid will come for Uwland at this spot, which would force the Suns to use picks 15, 21 and 24, and get 50 back. He is set to slot into an AFL environment seamlessly and has plenty of scope after almost a full season on the sidelines. Pick 3 - West Coast: Cooper Duff-Tytler [draft_top10_widget player_id="Cooper Duff-Tytler"] Industry sources suggest the Eagles view Duff-Tytler more as a forward than a ruck in the long term, with the Calder Cannons tall having shown aptitude in both positions in 2025. He would add to a strong young core of talls at West Coast, which has drafted Archer Reid and Jobe Shanahan across the past two seasons. Pick 4 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Dylan Patterson [draft_top10_widget player_id="Dylan Patterson"] Has shot up significantly in 2025, and Richmond is widely expected to put a bid on Patterson, whose devastating kick, creativity, dare, physicality, and versatility have him right in this range. Could play a range of roles early in his AFL career. The Suns have used picks 25, 26, 27, 50 and 51 to engineer a matched a bid and will receive pick 52 back. Pick 5 - Richmond: Sullivan Robey [draft_top10_widget player_id="Sullivan Robey"] Both Richmond and Essendon, and to a lesser degree West Coast, have been linked to Robey, who now looks a certainty to be a top 10 selection. Robey's power as a connecting forward would complement Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie, and he has great scope for a list on the rise. Pick 6 - Richmond: Sam Grlj [draft_top10_widget player_id="Sam Grlj"] This is an interesting pick and will have a big bearing on how the next few selections unfold. Few would peg Grlj as the fourth best openly available talent, but this is a draft where clubs are expected to draft for needs - and his speed fills a list hole for Richmond. The Tigers need dash to complement Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie, and Grlj has shown that in spades throughout 2025. If it's not Grlj, Xavier Taylor could go here as a Nathan Broad replacement, while Sam Cumming is an outside chance. Pick 7 - Brisbane (Matched Bid): Dan Annable [draft_top10_widget player_id="Dan Annable"] It would be a steal for Brisbane if he slipped this low. The Josh Dunkley clone has performed unbelievably at VFL level for the Lions and the Allies at the U18s National Championships, and the only thing holding Annable back from impacting early for his new club will be the strength of the Lions lineup. Should a bid fall here, Brisbane would use picks 18 and 23 and get 49 back. Pick 8 - Carlton (Matched Bid): Harry Dean [draft_top10_widget player_id="Harry Dean"] This is at the bottom end of where a bid would come for Dean, with West Coast, and more recently, Richmond strongly rumoured to potentially place a bid for the consensus best marking defender in the draft class. Told Zero Hanger that he has set himself the goal of playing in Round 1 and has the toughness and athleticism to have an immediate impact for the Blues, who get priority access due to the father-son rule. Pick 9 - Essendon: Sam Cumming [draft_top10_widget player_id="Sam Cumming"] The marriage of Cumming and Essendon is perfect. The forward/midfielder has been compared to Isaac Heeney and his power and dynamism in the front half, alongside his ability to add grunt to the midfield group, make him a player that would suit Essendon well. Would complement the likely Academy addition Adam Sweid, as well as Isaac Kako and add to a line the Bombers have struggled to perfect in recent years. Pick 10 - Essendon: Dyson Sharp [draft_top10_widget player_id="Dyson Sharp"] The Bombers have been heavily linked to Sharp, and need midfield sturdiness, having delisted Dylan Shiel and Ben Hobbs. Clubs know what they are getting in Sharp: a contested bull who is AFL-ready and is one of the most professional prospects in the draft crop. Pick 11 - Melbourne: Xavier Taylor [draft_top10_widget player_id="Xavier Taylor"] If he's still on the board, Xavier Taylor would simply be too good to pass up at this stage and would provide them with daring dash and creative intent out of the back half. Has risen sharply across 2025, capping his season off with a Coates League best afield match. Has also been heavily linked to both Richmond and Essendon, so this would be the bottom end of his range. Pick 12 - Melbourne: Cam Nairn [draft_top10_widget player_id="Cam Nairn"] Melbourne is now widely viewed as a likely destination for Nairn, who kicked seven goals in a game for South Australia at the U18s National Championships as a mobile marking threat. Has been viewed for much of the season as a likely second-round selection, but an invite to the first night of the AFL National Draft underlines the late interest in Nairn at the top end. He is viewed as more likely a winger at the next level given his footy smarts, skill and ability to cover the ground. Pick 13 - West Coast: Jacob Farrow [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jacob Farrow"] The Eagles have been linked to Farrow, whose power in the back half would address what could become a list need, with Mid-Season pickup Tom McCarthy looking set for more exposure further up the field in 2026. Damaging by foot and strong-bodied, he's perfectly suited to the modern game. Pick 14 - Hawthorn: Oskar Taylor [draft_top10_widget player_id="Oskar Taylor"] A big riser in the second half of 2025, having missed the Vic Metro squad, Taylor's most likely landing spot is seen as Hawthorn, where he would add dash, decision-making, piercing kicking and defensive accountability off halfback. If available, the Hawks are not expected to pass on Taylor. Pick 15 - Melbourne: Josh Lindsay [draft_top10_widget player_id="Josh Lindsay"] Lindsay sits somewhere in the second half of the first round, and we've got him going to Melbourne here, with his piercing kick set to bolster their halfback line significantly. Also reads the game well and has grown his defensive and contested craft. Pick 16 - GWS: Latrelle Pickett [draft_top10_widget player_id="Latrelle Sumner-Pickett"] There has been plenty of talk linking the Giants to Oskar Taylor, but the widespread belief days out from the draft is that small forward Latrelle Pickett has gone past Taylor in their reckoning - and Taylor would likely be off the board anyway. A mature-aged prospect from Glenelg, he has forward nous, x-factor, goal sense and speed. Pick 17 - Western Bulldogs: Lachy Dovaston [draft_top10_widget player_id="Lachy Dovaston"] Western Bulldogs have got the best one-two tall forward punch in the league by a distance and have some others around them, but are lacking a genuine front and centre presence, which Dovaston would provide. Widely seen as the best small forward in the draft class, he has nous, forward craft, athleticism, pressure and can kick a goal from anywhere. Pick 18 - Adelaide: Harley Barker [draft_top10_widget player_id="Harley Barker"] Expect Barker to go somewhere in this range, and Adelaide is one club that has been linked to the hard-running winger. Missed the back end of the season with an ACL rupture, but was close to top 10 considerations prior and would add important ball use, class and speed on the outside. Pick 19 - Essendon: Jevan Phillipou [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jevan Phillipou"] A competitive, fleet-footed and confident midfielder, Phillipou has plenty of traits that will transfer well, and is expected to fall in this range. Missed the U18s National Championships due to injury, but his form in the SANFL U18s competition was sizzling. Pick 20 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Harry Kyle [draft_top10_widget player_id="Harry Kyle"] Has been likened to Finn Callaghan given his power, size and versatility and expect Sydney to match a bid. If it came here, the club would use picks 26 and 27 and get 32 back. A rugby union convert, his poise in traffic is a standout trait, and he was one of the most well-rounded athletes at the AFL Draft National Combine. Don't be surprised to see this bid come even earlier. Pick 21 - Geelong: Aidan Schubert [draft_top10_widget player_id="Aidan Schubert"] A little bit of a drop for Schubert, who had been linked to a couple of clubs with top 10 selections, but should he be overlooked there, a small slide is expected. If he gets to Geelong, expect the reigning grand finalists to pounce. The Cats are seeking a forward to help out Shannon Neale, with Jeremy Cameron entering the latter stages of his career, and Schubert is a mobile, crash and bash, tall clubs would feel comfortable building their next generation around. Pick 22 - Essendon (Matched Bid): Adam Sweid The Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect had an unbelievable season as a Dion Prestia-type in the engine room for Vic Metro and Calder Cannons. He was also exposed to attack, which is likely where he will start his career, to help Essendon add scoring punch. Pick 23 - Fremantle: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves [draft_top10_widget player_id="Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves"] A tremendously difficult player to place, Hibbins-Hargreaves would arguably be a big steal if he drifts out into the 20s. A match-winner at his best, the main reason he fell short of showcasing that consistently in 2025 was injury interruptions, which will steel him if he gets an opportunity at the next level. The Dockers, Essendon, West Coast and Hawthorn are believed to be the clubs most keen on Hibbins-Hargreaves, who offers a dynamic half-forward/wing presence. Pick 24 - Hawthorn: Ollie Greeves [draft_top10_widget player_id="Ollie Greeves"] The hardest player to place. Hawthorn and Essendon have been linked to him, but, as it sits, if he does get past both those clubs, could he slip? Or would a suitor provide a strong offer to get back in and take him at the start of night two? In this mock draft, we have Hawthorn taking Greeves, with the Hawks long linked to the big-bodied mid, having tried to get him into their Academy. Pick 25 - North Melbourne: Blake Thredgold [draft_top10_widget player_id="Blake Thredgold"] Don't be surprised to see Blake Thredgold go on the first night, with Fremantle among the clubs with late selections on night one, which have been linked to him. The best tall defender in the draft class by a distance, North Melbourne last year brought in Matt Whitlock, but needs another piece as they seek to continue building, and have done plenty of work on the tough South Australian, who had three top 10 finishes at the AFL Draft National Combine. Pick 26 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Jai Murray [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jai Murray"] If a bid for Jai Murray landed here, the Suns would use pick 28 and get pick 54 back. Despite missing much of the season, Murray is well in contention to be selected in the top 30, with his hard running and strength particularly noteworthy attributes. Looks likely to start his career on the wing and showed in Gold Coast's Academy games that he has the appetite to play as an inside midfielder. Pick 27 - Carlton (Matched Bid): Jack Ison [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jack Ison"] The Carlton Next Generation Academy prospect showcased his penetrating kick, strong marking, power and strength throughout 2025 and was a consistent contributor for Vic Metro. Rose in the back end of the season and has a skillset that is clearly transferable to the next level. The Blues would have to use picks 40, 49, 50 and 52 to match a bid for Ison. Pick 28 - Collingwood (Matched Bid): Zac McCarthy [draft_top10_widget player_id="Zac McCarthy"] It's rare for a club-tied player to fit a list need as obviously as what Zac McCarthy does. The Pies need someone to build their forward line around, and what McCarthy showed, particularly early in the season when he burst onto the scene, proved that, in time, he can be a player of substance at the next level. The only question that remains is who puts the bid on. If a bid came here, the Pies would use picks 35 and 41 and get 46 back. Pick 29 - North Melbourne: Mitch Marsh [draft_top10_widget player_id="Mitch Marsh"] Has slid a little bit, but would be a shrewd pickup for the Kangaroos to add scoring punch to their front half, while Marsh's ability to get up the ground and hit up Jack Gunston style would complement taller forwards. Pick 30 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Max King [draft_top10_widget player_id="Max King"] Has drifted a little after an indifferent year in the talent pathway, but there is little doubt about his magnificent upside. The Swans have the assets to match a bid for the athletic, tall forward. Pick 31 - Western Bulldogs: Marcus Krasnadamskis [draft_top10_widget player_id="Marcus Krasnadamskis"] What a rise for Krasnadamskis, who was not on a Coates League list at the start of 2025. It's an interesting selection for the Dogs, given the club is set to pick three players and two of them will be developing talls - the other being son of a gun Will Darcy - but the interest in the Ranges ruck has been significant. His blend of skill, aggression and athleticism has enamoured suitors, which also include West Coast, Sydney and Geelong. Pick 32 - West Coast (Matched Bid): Tylah Williams [draft_top10_widget player_id="Tylah Williams"] The West Coast Academy prospect is now likely to be the second Western Australian selected at the National Draft, and a bid for the Eagles could come in the first round. Three top 10 finishes at the AFL Draft National Combine capped off a terrific season where he was one of the more consistent performers in an indifferent campaign for the Black Swans. Pick 33 - Richmond: Leon Kickett [draft_top10_widget player_id="Leon Kickett"] What the Tigers do with this selection is fascinating, but we've got them taking Leon Kickett, a bolter from Swan Districts whose front and centre goal kicking would complement the trio of key forwards the club brought in last season. Has an unbelievable vertical leap, and all the tools you would seek in modern smalls. Pick 34 - Sydney (Matched Bid): Lachy Carmichael [draft_top10_widget player_id="Lachy Carmichael"] There is some chance Carmichael gets bid on a little earlier by the Western Bulldogs who are looking to add run and carry, but we've got the Giants putting a bid on. Has a stacked resume and done everything possible at junior level - how will it translate to the AFL? Sydney will use pick 36 on him and get pick 53 back. Pick 35 - GWS: Archie Ludowyke [draft_top10_widget player_id="Archie Ludowyke"] What a steal, Ludowyke would be if he got through to this range. The Sandringham Dragons tall forward missed the last two U18s National Championships games with injury, but has a stacked resume and is a brilliant mobile key forward. Has spoken of having watched Aaron Cadman's journey closely, and with the 2022 number one pick now more than 50 games into his career, would have the opportunity to learn from him if the Giants selected him. Has also been linked to Geelong's first-round pick. Pick 36 - Gold Coast (Matched Bid): Beau Addinsall [draft_top10_widget player_id="Beau Addinsall"] Addinsall could be bid on as high as the teens, with some clubs believed to be sniffing an opportunity to get him, given how many Gold Coast Academy prospects the Suns will have to try and balance across the AFL Draft, but we've got him slipping a little bit. West Coast bidding on him makes sense, given their need for midfield reinforcement, while Gold Coast would match in this range, giving up only some late selections to get him through the door. Pick 37 - West Coast: Fred Rodriguez [draft_top10_widget player_id="Fred Rodriguez"] The Perth boy stays local. There is no doubt that West Coast would love a pure inside midfielder, and while Duursma will develop into that and provide star power, Rodriguez would complement him well with his ball-winning and hardness. Rodriguez is also a player who could play early. He had a strong 2025 but has slipped a little in the draft calculations, though he is highly regarded for his diligent preparation. Pick 38 - Brisbane: Max Kondogiannis [draft_top10_widget player_id="Max Kondogiannis"] Brisbane has been linked a little bit to some defensive reinforcement following the departure of Cal Ah Chee, and Kondogiannis would provide just that. An interceptor who was ultra impressive at the U18s National Championships, Kondogiannis is one who would be given the opportunity to develop in the state league and build his body up, so Brisbane, still well in the premiership window, would be an ideal suitor. Pick 39 - St Kilda (Matched Bid): Kye Fincher [draft_top10_widget player_id="Kye Fincher"] An important note here is that there is no certainty that the Saints will match a bid for Fincher, who could go up to 10 picks earlier, but if the defender/midfielder does land here, we've got the Saints doing a trade with Adelaide to get in and have the points to match it. Fincher's athleticism, power, ball use and ball winning are all irresistible traits, and what he did when unleashed in the midfield late in the year was compelling. Pick 40 - Collingwood: Jack Dalton A hard-running midfielder with excellent decision-making and professionalism, the Sandringham Dragons product suits the new style of game and his ball-winning and athleticism would make him a good pickup at this range of the draft. [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jack Dalton"]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

AFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-40 (final edition)

Our last Mock Draft of the year is here!

28Pick 28 - Collingwood (Matched Bid): Zac McCarthy

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