Four AFL clubs have confirmed the players tied to their respective club that will be classified as category B rookies in Friday afternoon's Rookie Draft.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed ahead of the 2023 season and running to the 2027 campaign, the AFL confirmed a total of up to 44 players allocated across three categories: Primary list (36-38), category A rookie (no more than 6) and category B rookie (no more than 2).
Fremantle are set to add two Next Generation Academy prospects as category B rookies in midfielder Toby Whan and forward Ryda Luke.
According to AFL Media's Cal Twomey, Geelong will add their own NGA prospect as a category B rookie in Jesse Mellor, while GWS will place Academy forward Riley Hamilton into the same designation.
Sydney will prioritise listing Academy product Noah Chamberlain and Murray Bushrangers tall Liam Hetherton as category B rookies, with the Swans getting access to the latter as an overlooked New South Wales product.
Clubs have pre-listed these tied players as Cat B rookies today:
Toby Whan & Ryda Luke (Frem)
Jesse Mellor (Geel)
Riley Hamilton (GWS)
Noah Chamberlain (Sydney)
Liam Hetherton (Sydney)And Jai Saxena (Collingwood) & Kalani White (Melbourne) have been listed as Cat A rookies.
— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) November 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Collingwood will reportedly list Jai Saxena as a category A rookie, as will Melbourne with father-son nominee Kalani White.
Friday's Rookie Draft begins at 3:20pm (AEDT)
