Richmond VFL coach Jake Batchelor has given emerging midfielder Harry Scott a glowing endorsement, following a rich vein of form in the Tigers' engine room.
The 191cm midfielder was an important asset in the squad's charge towards the elimination final, having taken his game to a new level in the second half of the season.
Coming into the season viewed as a midfielder only, Scott has diversified his skillset to increase his chances of staying in the side regardless of the AFL players available at the selection table.
Richmond's AFL injury woes have, however, opened up extended midfield opportunities, which he has taken with both hands.
“I think he's been one of the best players in the comp in the last 8-10 weeks, among the young guys in particular," Jake Batchelor said.
"He came in as a midfielder who was clearly a contested beast and a really good size, could go forward and showed really good traits."
It's an incredible rise for Scott, who was omitted from the lineup following the Tigers' Round 5 match against Casey.
While his capability as a midfielder has always been unquestionable, the health at the time of Richmond's AFL midfielders denied him enough opportunity in the engine room to warrant selection.
He was initially moved to the wing before going out of the side, but since returning in Round 8, he hasn't looked back.
"We put him on the wing for five to six weeks and forced him to run a little bit and showed he could, and his GPS numbers were comparative to AFL players," Batchelor said.
"I think it gave him confidence to use that running as a weapon as opposed to just his inside stuff.
"And he's grown week on week, whether it's through touches or the system we expect.
"He has become a really important player for us, which, dare I say, I wasn't expecting at the start of the year.
"It was a bit about how to keep him in the team at the start because he had potential, but now it's, 'How do we keep him in the midfield and who else do we move around to keep Scotty in there?'"
Scott has worked closely with Joel Garner on his stoppage craft, and he's now backed to go head-to-head with the most dangerous big-bodied midfielder the Tigers come up against.
He's widely viewed as one of the leading contenders in this year's Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, awarded to the most promising player aged 24 years old or younger.
Despite Richmond going down to Brisbane in the elimination final on Saturday, he was influential with 20 disposals and six tackles, after arguably being best afield in wildcard round, with his 28-disposal effort lifting Richmond over GWS.
The 2025 field is incredibly open after Sam Davidson last year took out the gong, becoming the 18th consecutive player to find an AFL list spot after winning the award.
The great dichotomy that exists in a brilliantly open 2025 field is balancing output across the duration of the season with the desire to hold on to the enviable 18-year streak.
Scott, Sandringham forward Jonah Campigli, Coburg pair Joel Trudgeon and Flynn Gentile, Werribee's Ryan Eyers, Geelong duo Marcus Herbert and Tobyn Murray, Southport's Tai Hayes and Nic Williams and Frankston's Tom Blamires and Jackson Voss are others in contention.
Below is an overview of every standout candidate.
Harry Scott
The Gippsland Power graduate has been backed in with midfield minutes in his second season at Richmond and shown great consistency. Overshadowed by mid-season pickup Tom McCarthy and the hype around exciting forward Massimo Raso, he was omitted in Round 5 but has been one of the form players of the competition since returning in Round 8. Averaging 21 disposals and four tackles, complementing that with some important roles at stoppage. He's built brilliantly into the season and is a great size at 191cm.
Richmond coach Jake Batchelor on Scott: "He's got elite hands, a neat, nice kick, doesn't waste many, but his hands are AFL standard. Drives his legs, creates passing lanes well. His strengths are magnified when we do what we're supposed to do as a team around a contest."
Tai Hayes (Southport)
The piercing left-footer has attracted AFL Draft interest in his first year on a state league list. The nephew of St Kilda great Lenny, a growth spurt precipitated a breakout QAFL campaign in 2024, which piqued Southport's interest. He was a midfielder at that level but has run the wings since arriving at the Sharks, learning off former AFL-listed Michael Manteit. Hayes received a State Combine invite and is understood to be right in the mix to be selected at the AFL Draft, but fractured his fibula in a marking contest on Saturday.
Southport coach Matthew Primus on Hayes: "He's lightly framed, but he can run hard both ways for us, he's happy to put his body on the line on the ground or in the air – he has pretty good aerial strength too. He's got a good leap and height to him, so he's got quite a few good attributes. He's got a great nature and is willing to learn.”
Tom Blamires (Frankston Dolphins)
Has become a reliable commodity at VFL level and taken his game to new heights in 2025. Running power is Blamires' strength, and he has an innate ability to impact games with his beautiful balance and clean skills. His transition from Sandringham Zebras, where he was already an established VFL player, to Frankston under junior coach Jackson Kornberg has been seamless, with his form a big reason why the Dolphins have taken another step forward in 2025. Started the season off halfback but took no time to adapt to the new midfield role which he was given as a result of injury, and is now among the Dolphins' most important players.
Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg on Blamires: “He won't be moving out of the midfield anytime soon. He's been super. His work rate, his running ability, his ability to find the ball is something he's always had but this year he has a newfound confidence about himself. He's got a bit more of an edge to him about how he plays now (compared to previously). He's starting to realise he can match it with the better players in the VFL, particularly in the midfield. With that confidence comes the performance."
Jonah Campigli (Sandringham Zebras)
Has come from nowhere this year, having been signed after dominating for Old Brighton in the VAFA. Has kicked 21 goals across 16 matches, including a breakout five-goal game where his complete performance helped the Zebras stay with the heavily favoured Footscray for much of the day.
Sandringham chief executive Mark Wheeler on Campigli: "He likes to run and jump at the ball, kicks it well and is learning the next level well. I think he's had a great year. He got an opportunity to train with St Kilda players early, and he's been one of our better ones in terms of consistency."
Massimo Raso (Richmond VFL)
The livewire small forward was well on the Mid-Season Draft radar for his form early in 2025, his first in the VFL system. A graduate of the Western Jets, Raso's speed, clean hands and hunt have always been standout traits and after lacking consistency in 2024 at U18s level, he's been trusty in a tough position for Richmond. Does his best work close to goal, but has also been showcased as a high forward in recent weeks.
Richmond VFL coach Jake Batchelor on Raso: "He's got an unbelievable nous of reading the fight of the ball and reading the drop zone off a crumb, front and centre. He knows where the goals are, and he's a really good tackler inside forward 50. He's super creative. He's clean, and his brain's really quick. We'll keep adding little strings to his bow to give him the best chance, but he's agile, quick and clean at ground level, and teams need goal kicking small forwards, and he's one who can be that."
Jackson Voss (Frankston Dolphins)
The son of former Brisbane and St Kilda player Brett Voss and nephew of Carlton coach Michael, Jackson has soared to new heights in 2025, his fifth season of VFL footy. The halfback sets the game up with his booming left-foot kick and is hard to beat in one-on-one contests.
Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg on Voss: "He's had a remarkable year. It's been his best year of footy. Physically, he's looking as good as he ever has. Obviously, he has a lethal, long left foot kick, he's a territory-taker with the ball, and he's deceivingly quick off the mark. He gives us great drive and is the general down back with how he sets everyone up and creates offence down there."
Marcus Herbert (Geelong VFL)
It's easy to forget that Herbert is still Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal eligible, given he's been a mainstay for the Cats for an extended period, and he's become one of the Cats' most important players this year. Averages 25 disposals and four tackles, relishing the time in the midfield.
Geelong Cats VFL coach Mark Corrigan on Herbert: “He's taken his game to another level. We pushed him back last year, and he's been 50/50 midfield and back this year. His contest work and ability to go inside to outside is impressive. He's so tough and strong and good athletically, and an excellent distributor. His ability to read the game and his Footy IQ have gone to the next level. He sees space and drives through it and puts himself in positions to influence. He's taken his physicality to a new level.”
Flynn Gentile
Another year of high production from the reliable Coburg midfielder, averaging 26 disposals and four tackles to help propel the Lions into finals contention. After a breakout 2024, this season has reinforced his skills as a ball-winner and added to his body of work.
Coburg coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara on Gentile: "He's so consistent. Last year felt special because it was a big jump forward in his production and this year he's matched that with the bonus of being a big contributor in the Big V win. Over the last 20-30 games, he's been among the best 5-10 midfielders in the VFL. He's had a slightly higher contested possession rate this year, and he's always been a strong front-half midfielder."
Joel Trudgeon (Coburg)
Alongside Gentile, Trudgeon has been a force in driving Coburg up the VFL table, averaging 28 disposals and eight tackles as a hard-working midfielder. Has taken a step forward in his fourth season at VFL level and second at Coburg.
Coburg coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara on Trudgeon: "Super consistent. He's a strong inside mid who goes about his business the right way. Super high clearance, high tackle player, and he's adding composure with his ball use. He's become a top-line VFL midfielder. Underratedly, he hits the scoreboard well, he can take contested marks, and he's exceptionally tough."
Tobyn Murray (Geelong VFL)
A hard-running Geelong Falcons graduate who has adapted seamlessly to state league footy, Murray's numbers don't give a true indication of his importance to the lineup and the glittering attributes that have him highly rated internally.
Geelong Cats VFL coach Mark Corrigan on Murray: "He's had a great pre-season and hasn't put a foot wrong. He's as good a runner and high-speed runner as anyone. He's tough enough in the contest, so for him it was all about learning, and we've seen real growth. He has goal sense, and he's smart at stoppage. His consistency to do things defensively helps us with creating turnover and applying pressure, and we know what he can do from an offensive point of view."
Nick Williams (Southport)
Southport's other contender, Williams has been a staple of the Sharks' defence in 2025 and has great flexibility with the players he's able to match up on. Intercepts well and at 191cm, is the perfect height for the third tall defender role.
Southport coach Matthew Primus on Williams: "His ability to intercept and play on small guys or big forwards has been important for us. The flexibility of that is really important, and he has a great engine and great nature to him. I think he's got a great opportunity, I think he could play at the higher level up. His strengths are his toughness, his ability to run all day and ability to read the flight of the ball, and we put some onus on him to come out of his shell."
Others around the mark
Werribee VFL's Ryan Eyers came very close to being selected at the Mid-Season Draft, having impressed as a 198cm 22-year-old able to take an overhead mark, but a hamstring injury has sidelined him for the second half of 2025. GWS 21-year-old Harper Montgomery has been uber-consistent across halfback, while his younger brother, Louie, has also established himself in the lineup. Tough utility Lane Ward is very highly rated internally by Box Hill, having played 15 games for the table-toppers and impressing with his ability to fill multiple roles. Casey's Paddy Cross is another who is viewed highly at his club, with Casey valuing his flair and x-factor, having long touted the Gippslander who, until this year, has been injury-plagued, while teammate Riley Baldi has been consistent after a year away from VFL.
