AFL Draft prospect Aidan Schubert is widely viewed as the best pure key forward in the crop less than one month out from the AFL Draft.
The South Australian spearheaded the Croweaters' attack throughout the U18s National Championships, showcasing different elements to his skillset each game to finish with 10 goals, while averaging 17 disposals and seven marks.
While ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler and medium forward Mitch Marsh are also around the mark, Schubert's frame at 198cm, mobility and contested marking best fits the profile of a modern key forward.
Archie Ludowyke is alongside Schubert in those calculations for AFL clubs seeking a long term anchor, with the Dragons prospect missing the second half of the season with a PCL injury.
What Ludowyke did, though, which Schubert wasn't able to, was showcase his skillset against a state league opposition early in the season, with the former named in the AFL Academy side, while Schubert missed.
The Central Districts prospect played in the U17s AFL Futures game last year but missed the cut and he indicated it was a driving force behind his big start to 2025, where he kicked 12 goals in the first six games as an imperious forward presence to set him up for a brilliant U18s National Championships.
“I wanted to prove some people wrong after not making the AFL Academy,” Schubert told Craft of the Draft.
“I was a bit disappointed so I used it as fuel in the off-season so it was a driving force to really push harder and play consistent footy this year.”
Schubert went on to win the SANFL U18s MVP in 2025, averaging 19 disposals, eight marks and three clearances, while kicking 28 goals from his 13 appearances at the level.
The tall forward played his best footy as a high forward and relieving ruck where his work rate shone through and allowed him to take marks and win possessions in different ways.
There have been gains too, in his field kicking, which has been seen as a weakness by AFL clubs throughout his journey.
“It's really humbling to win that award,” Schubert said.
“There are some really good players that have won it before me and there were a lot of good players in the SANFL U18s this year in particular so to take it out is pretty cool.
“When I'm playing my best footy, I have high work rate which I took to another level this year, I'm finding a lot of the footy, getting to every pack and communicating with other key forwards as well.
“I felt like I was able to do that a lot this year.”
Schubert then got the opportunity to debut for Central District's senior side in a SANFL senior final, kicking a goal and presenting well throughout after being initially told an opportunity was unlikely to be forthcoming.
It proved an important footnote to his season after being denied the opportunity to showcase his wares against the senior body during the AFL Academy series.
“I'm really grateful for that experience,” Schubert said.
“I got to train with the league team every Monday night and then on Wednesdays as well at the end of the year which was really good.
“The senior boys helped me know where to position myself and what I needed to do and it was good to learn what it takes against senior bodies.”
Schubert has long been touted as one of South Australia's finest 2025 AFL Draft prospects, representing the state at the U16s National Championships before being included in the U18s summer training squad in the 2024 pre-season as a bottom-ager.
But it wasn't until footy season had begun last year that he fully committed to pursuing the sport, having previously juggled it with basketball.
The teenager played state level basketball as a 14 and 15-year-old.
“It's always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play AFL; basketball was something I just did in the off-season to fill time,” Schubert said.
“Then I got a bit better at it and looked at opportunities in basketball but always came back to what I wanted to do as a kid, which was play AFL.”
Schubert will find out his landing spot on November 19, expected to be taken on the fringe of the top 10.
