Done deal: the first 120 recruits for the 2025 VFL season
It was a busy start to recruiting for VFL clubs as they set out to bolster their squads for the 2025 season. Here are 120 confirmed signings going into the Christmas break.
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Former AFL players, Coates Talent League graduates, interstate hopefuls, and country and suburban aspirants are among the first 120 confirmed VFL recruits for 2025.
Here they are, in alphabetical order.
Domanic Akuei, Essendon
Akuei, 22, brings 51 games of VFL experience to the Bombers, having been with Carlton for three years as a Category B rookie, the first player from its NGA to make the senior list. The 194cm defender averaged 9.3 disposals and 3.5 marks for the VFL Blues last season.
Matthew Allison, Coburg
The son of the Burgers’ two-time premiership player and team-of-the-century member Brian has linked with the Lions after four years on St Kilda’s AFL list. Injuries frustrated his attempts to break through for an AFL debut but the tall utility should be quick to set down his influence at the City Oval next year. “He’s a tall forward, a great runner, a high-potential player, and our focus is on giving him an environment he can thrive in and enjoy and potentially get back into the AFL system,’’ Coburg GM Nick Byrne says.
Jack Andrew, Coburg
Andrew, a 183cm forward, was the first of a bunch of trial players to be awarded a Coburg contract. He kicked 29 goals in 13 games last year for Heidelberg, where he was an Under 19 best and fairest.
Yuyu Ashwin, Northern Bullants
With speed his strong suit, the former Collingwood Next Generation Academy and Oakleigh Charger is out to become a senior regular with the Ants after flitting in and out of the Magpies’ VFL team for two seasons.
Kobe Askew, Frankston
The Oakleigh Chargers graduate is a slippery small forward who kicked 16 goals and averaged 13.1 disposals from 18 matches in the Coates Talent League in 2024. Askew is attached to Eastern league power Vermont.
Riley Baldi, Casey Demons
Baldi is back in the VFL after a superb season with Moe in which he won the Gippsland league medal, his club best and fairest and was named in the team of the year for the second successive season. In his list of this year’s best 50 country footballers, astute Weekly Times writer David Johnston slotted the onballer at No. 5, noting he had “began strongly and maintained a high output right to the end’’. Leongatha coach Trent McMicking thought him in the No. 1 player in Gippsland. Baldi was a prominent Gippsland Power player in 2019, representing Vic Country at the Under 18 championships and attending the AFL state combine.
Jack Baldwin, Box Hill Hawks
The Mitcham junior has earned a contract a few miles down Whitehorse Rd after playing 16 games for the Eastern Ranges as a dependable defender.
Dominic Bedendo, Port Melbourne
The classy Bedendo took a lot of calls after his delisting from the Bulldogs and also took his time in sorting through them, finally signing at Port. In four years with the Dogs he had two AFL games but his admirers think he’s capable of more. Maybe he can come again via the Borough.
Josh Bennetts, Collingwood
After being part of Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy, Bennetts joined the club as a Category B rookie in 2022 and played 33 VFL games with Box Hill Hawks.
Trent Bianco, Box Hill Hawks
The former AFL Magpie won a VFL representative jumper and played 18 matches for Footscray in 2024, but he’s gone from west to east. Bianco averaged 18.8 possessions as a Bulldog, playing well in the early exchanges of the season as he aimed for the mid-season draft.
Will Brown, North Melbourne
Tall utility Brown joins the Roos after one year with Sandringham. He had been a prominent player at the Sandy Dragons, captaining them and winning the best-afield medal in the 2023 grand final.
Charlie Bolmat, Northern Bullants
Bolmat, a defender, was a regular with the Calder Cannons in 2023 and made Essendon’s list this year, but did not manage a VFL game; he’s looking for a belated debut with the Bullants. Locally, he was part of Leigh Tudor’s grand final team at Pascoe Vale.
Tom Blamires, Frankston
Blamires showed persistence and pluck to make the grade in the VFL. He did not get on Sandringham’s list in 2022, but stuck around as a train-on, made the cut 12 months later and shared the best first-year player award in 2023. This year he improved further to average 15.8 disposals from 17 matches. Now he’s heading to the Dolphins with fellow Zebra Darby Hipwell.
Riley Bonner, Casey Demons
What a boost for the Casey backline. Bonner played 19 AFL games for St Kilda in 2024, taking his tally to 112 in a career that began at Port Adelaide in 2016. “His exceptional kicking ability and football IQ will be invaluable in providing drive off the backline,’’ the Demons said after signing Bonner, who will take up a role in Melbourne’s NGA.
Jack Bytel, Coburg
In performance and perception, a game-changer for Coburg? For the past few seasons the historic Lions – one of the VFL’s six stand-alone Victorian clubs – have spoken about being “competitive’’ in the state league. Now, after signing former Saint and Magpie Bytel fresh from the AFL, they can amplify their ambitions and set an eye on the finals. Coming off Collingwood’s list, Bytel, 24, was courted by fellow stand-alone Port Melbourne. When it became clear he had a choice between the Burgers and the Borough, it was widely thought Bytel would settle for Port. But, in what one VFL commentator called a win for the “little guys’’, he chose Coburg, where he knows a number of players through his under-age football. Bytel lives in the northern suburbs and was drafted from the Calder Cannons in 2018. Held up by a back injury in his first year, he went on to play 22 games with the Saints. Delisted at the end of 2023, Bytel gained a second chance when Collingwood claimed him in the pre-season supplemental selection period. He had seven AFL matches for the Pies before being let go. At VFL level he averaged 27.2 disposals from 11 games.
Jonah Campigli, Sandringham
The Old Brighton youngster was the VAFA’s 2024 Rising Star after a season in which he kicked 33 goals from nine matches for the Under 19s, then 16 from 12 for the seniors. The Zebras got in ahead of Richmond for a player one VFL coach believes is “draftable’’.
Josh Cresswell, Southport
The 18-year-old, the son of former top Sydney Swan Daryn Cresswell, figured in a senior flag this year with the South Cairns Cutters and also had a stint with the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League. Cresswell was also part of the GWS Academy program when he lived in regional NSW.
Adrian Cole, North Melbourne
Cole was part of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy but the Saints passed on the 194cm defender at the draft despite him figuring in the Sandringham Dragons’ 2024 premiership and playing for Vic Metro. Dragons coach Rob Harding said his graduating player was ready to play in the VFL. “That’s his next step, to play against men,’’ he said. “He’s beaten every key forward he’s come up against in the Coates League. His development over the past two years has been enormous. He’s an incredible physical athlete – he’s got great size, speed and reach – and he’s very strong. He can compete with all types of key forwards and even play on small forwards, given his close-out speed. The area he’s going to continue to grow in is offensive output, on the other side of it. But at the rate of growth he’s shown, I think he’s going to end up an AFL-level defender.’’
Jai Culley, Casey Demons
The 2022 No. 1 mid-season draft pick will no doubt be eyeing an opening with the AFL Demons as he makes out for Casey Fields. The former Dandenong Stingray played a dozen matches for West Coast, returning to the AFL this year after sustaining an ACL injury in 2023.
Kye Declase, Box Hill Hawks
One of the VFL’s best wingmen will pick up his career at Box Hill Hawks. Declase played for the VFL representative team against the SANFL in April but abruptly left Werribee after Round 10, seeing out the season with Hurstbridge in the Northern league.
Kade De La Rue, Frankston
The Dandenong Stingrays graduate has joined the Dolphins after one season and five matches at North Melbourne VFL.
Anthony Depasquale, Werribee
Depasquale, 21, is reaching for another level with his football after a bumper 73-goal season for Kyabram in the strong Goulburn Valley league. He was part of the Bendigo Pioneers program in 2021, playing eight matches in the Coates Talent League.
Max Donohue, Box Hill Hawks
The Hawks added to their Gippsland connection by signing Power graduate Donohue, who was runner-up in the best and fairest last season, averaging 19 disposals and 4.8 marks a game. He emerged from the juniors at Poowong-Loch, as top Hawk Jai Newcombe did a few years earlier.
Chance Doultree, Casey Demons
Doultree, 22, was on the Footscray Bulldogs VFL list this year and figured in Traralgon’s Gippsland league premiership. He previously spent time with Norwood in the SANFL.
Felix Dreher, Port Melbourne
The Borough nabbed Dreher from the Bullants, who introduced him to their team late in the 2024 season, for impressive results – the West Preston-Lakeside product averaged 24.5 disposals from six matches. The Ants saw a good future for him, but it will be at North Port Oval, not Cramer St.
Corey Ellison, Frankston
The Dolphins were after a key forward and in Ellison they landed one of the league’s best. The 24-year-old was looking to play closer to home; he lives in the south-east and had tired of the travel to Williamstown. He booted 38.24 for Willy this year and was runner-up in the best and fairest. Ellison had been part of Casey’s premiership team in 2022.
Francis Evans, Carlton
The Blues beat a few other clubs to the signature of the delisted Port Adelaide forward. The 23-year-old had two years with Port after a two-year stint with Geelong, which drafted him out of the lower levels of the Victorian amateurs. He finished with 34 AFL games.
Ryan Eyers, Werribee
Eyers is another Ovens and Murray recruit for the Bees. The versatile tall won the best and fairest this year with Corowa-Rutherglen, being named in the best in 13 of his 16 matches. The former Murray Bushranger also played two games for Geelong VFL, where he’s been on the list for two years.
Patrick Farrant, Port Melbourne
The 189cm forward arrives at the Borough after having six VFL games with Collingwood in 2024. He also played 11 matches for Fitzroy Stars in the Northern league, booting 59 goals, including two bags of eight in finals. Farrant, 25, had kicked the ton in WA local football in 2023, racking up 107 goals for Bridgetown in the Lower South West league.
Harry Flynn, Northern Bullants
Flynn joined the VFL Magpies in 2023 as a 19-year-old player attached to the Eastern Ranges, where he had suffered an ACL. This year he played four games with the Maggies but was prominent for his local club, North Ringwood. The Ants like his attitude and his potential to play a few roles next season.
Clayton Gay, Frankston
The former Dandenong Stingray was one of the best players on the Mornington Peninsula in 2024, kicking 48 goals for Dromana and having his name passed on to Dolphins coach Jackson Kornberg. The left-footer is more than capable of making a position his own in an improving Frankston team.
Hayden Gill, Werribee
After 10 games in two years at Carlton, Gill is looking to take another step forward with his football at Werribee. At local level he has been a good performer for Wallan in the Riddell and District league.
Archie Gardiner, Werribee
Gardiner joins with the Bees with glowing notices from his North Albury coach, ex-Magpie Tim Broomhead, who told CODE Sports his charge was the best wingman in the Ovens and Murray league. From 21 matches, Gardiner snaffled 10 mentions in the best players and was selected in the representative team. “He’s certainly got some talent and a bright future,’’ Broomhead said. “He’s made of the right stuff, he’s got a great attitude and he deserves a crack at it down there. He’s lightning, he’s rapid, really quick, and his pressure is the best that I’ve played with out of anyone.’’
Lachlan Gollant, Williamstown
The Towners were looking for a player to replace the Frankston-bound Corey Ellison and they found him in Gollant, who has returned to Melbourne after five seasons and 16 AFL matches with Adelaide. He kicked 44 goals for the Crows’ SANFL side in 2023 and 28 last season, on both occasions topping the goalkicking.
Josh Gore, Southport
Gore is back at a club for whom he played Colts in 2017-18. The 23-year-old former Surfers Paradise Junior has spent the past four seasons with West Adelaide in the SANFL.
Tom Graham, Port Melbourne
The son of former leading Hawthorn defender Mark Graham is a 195cm backman who has spent the past three years with Norwood in the SANFL, establishing himself with 16 senior games last season.
Sam Grant, Port Melbourne
The talented tall was part of Old Scotch’s 2024 VAFA Premier flag and also had eight games for Coburg. He was on Carlton’s list in 2023, playing one match.
Sam Green, Northern Bullants
The former Tasmanian was at Port Melbourne last season, playing two early games and then going back to Bundoora, where he was consistently named in the best players. His height and flexibility will be handy for the Ants.
Riley Greene, Northern Bullants
Next season brings fresh playing fields for Greene, who has been on Brisbane Lions’ VFL list for three years and will stiffen the Ants’ backline.
Hugo Hall-Kahan, Williamstown
Half-forward Hall-Kahan has become a Towner after one season as a Zebra. He had spent 18 months with the Sydney Swans after being taken in the 2022 mid-season rookie draft.
Will Hamill, Frankston
Hamill’s decision to join the Dolphins put a crown on a purple recruiting period for the stand-alone club. He is the son of former Frankston captain and best and fairest Steve Hamill, and comes to Kars St after six seasons and 45 games with Adelaide.
Mitch Hardie, Casey Demons
Former South Australian Hardie, 27, is a superb addition to the Demons. His efforts for Geelong’s VFL team last season were exemplary, winning the best and fairest after averaging 29 disposals per game (he had 20 or more in all 19 of his matches). Unsurprisingly, he was a VFL team-of-the-year pick.
Ned Hawkins, Port Melbourne
Hawkins, 19 and 187cm, has headed to Melbourne after coming out of the Sydney Swans Academy, where he played in the VFL and the Coates Talent League.
Damon Hollow, Williamstown
Another Hollow to follow at the Towners. Two decades after Brad Hollow was at Willy, his son Damon has joined the club, having been one of the most accomplished players overlooked in the 2024 draft. He captained Calder Cannons, won their best and fairest and represented Vic Metro at the national Under 18 championships. “He’s a very dynamic, courageous, hard-working player who will provide flexibility to any squad – he can play forward, mid and back,’’ Cannons talent manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said. “He was an outstanding leader for us. He’s of great character, an ultimate professional and he’s a coach’s dream. “The people of Williamstown have got themselves a beauty. They’ll fall in love with him pretty quickly.’’
Olli Hotton, North Melbourne
North Melbourne coach Tommy Lynch has been furiously working the phones in the off-season and delisted Saint Hotton was among his first signings. Hotton averaged 16.9 disposals from 15 matches for Sandringham this year, slotting five goals against Casey.
Darby Hipwell, Frankston
The midfielder has linked with the Dolphins after a consistent season for Sandringham in which he averaged 18.9 possessions, including a 33-disposal outing against Richmond in Round 20. Hipwell won the Zebras’ best and fairest in 2023.
Dyson Heppell, Port Melbourne
It’s a been a while since a player of Heppell’s heft has linked with a VFL club. The former Essendon captain and best and fairest signed a two-year deal with the Borough as a playing assistant coach, bringing the experience of 253 AFL games to North Port Oval. Heppell will also serve as the club’s “community ambassador’’.
Zac Hudson, Northern Bullants
From Macleod in the Northern league, Hudson was a leading performer in the Northern league, finishing second in his club’s best and fairest, and gives the Ants’ ruck stocks a top-up.
Patrick Ireland, Casey Demons
Graduating from Gippsland Power, Ireland booted 111 goals from 20 matches this year for Buln Buln in the Ellinbank and District league, including six in the grand final. There were also bags of 14, 13 and 12. “He’s got all the attributes you like in a forward,’’ outgoing Buln Buln coach Bobby McAllum said. “He’s very mobile and he takes a really good mark but what sets him apart from a lot of forwards is that he’s a really good set-shot.’’
Nathan Jensen, Williamstown
Another ruckman for Willy, with 200cm Queenslander Jensen to develop behind Tom Downie. He came through the Brisbane Lions Academy, playing at Maroochydore Colts and senior team in the past two years.
Mitch Kirkwood-Scott, Casey Demons
The sweet-kicking defender was part of the 2024 Sandringham Dragons premiership team, having 21 possessions and 10 marks in the grand final. The former Haileybury College captain averaged 16.8 disposals from 13 Talent League appearances.
Nathan Kreuger, Geelong
The key forward has gone back to the club where he played two AFL games in 2021. He switched to Collingwood but continued to strike injury problems and was restricted to 13 games in three seasons. The Cats beat Williamstown to his signature. “We have seen it already from Kreuger, he brings incredible leadership with a great voice and great direction,” coach Mark Corrigan said. “He brings a great energy, and not to mention he is an incredibly powerful key position player that can play at both ends. Someone like Kreuger, at 25 years of age with six or seven years in an AFL program with experience, he will be enormous for our younger boys.”
Bailey Lambert, Frankston
The versatile Lambert returns to Kars St after spending last season with Carlton’s VFL team. He’s a good player – it wasn’t long ago that a few AFL clubs were running an eye over the son of former AFL star Craig Lambert.
Charlie Lazzaro, Port Melbourne
Another key signing for the Borough, strengthening their midfield with the former Kangaroo. Lazzaro was drafted with pick No. 36 in 2020, made his AFL debut in the opening round of 2021 and finished with 39 AFL appearances. Big numbers came his way in the VFL in 2024, averaging 26.8 possessions from his 10 games.
Jack Lefroy, Coburg
Midfielder Lefroy has been at Carlton VFL for the past two years, playing 14 matches. He kept Kangaroo Flat as his home club in 2024, winning the best and fairest, but was previously attached to Old Trinity in the amateurs.
Sam Linder, North Melbourne
The creative half-back, part of the St Kilda NGA, gave the Sandringham Dragons a strong season, averaging almost 20 possessions from 13 matches and finishing with good showings in the preliminary and grand finals.
Jake Lohmann, Werribee
A third VFL club in three years for Lohmann, the brother of AFL premiership Lion Kai. The clever forward was with Brisbane’s VFL team in 2024 and Sandringham in 2022-23.
Jedd Longmire, Werribee
Longmire, from Corowa-Rutherglen, joins the group of Ovens and Murray players to have made a home at Chirnside Park. He’s been with Collingwood’s VFL team for the past two seasons, playing 16 matches.” Jedd is a tough, inside midfielder who works tirelessly from contest to contest,’’ Bees football manager Ash Collins said. “At a young age, he already brings leadership and experience to the club from his time in a VFL program.’’
Ollie Lowe, North Melbourne
Lowe, thought to be one of the few Sandringham players capable of filling the St Kilda rookie slot, becomes a Kangaroo after 42 games with the Zebras, where he kicked 15.10 and averaged 13.8 disposals this year.
Sam Lowson, Southport
A superb signing for the Sharks in the seasoned and classy Lowson, who is making the move to the Gold Coast after two years with North Melbourne VFL. He already knows a few of his teammates, having played with Hugh Dixon, Brayden Crossley, Ben Jepson, Boyd Woodcock and Jacob Dawson in the VFL representative team against the SANFL in April. Lowson made his reputation with Coburg and was tipped to be No. 1 selection in the 2019 mid-season draft until injuries intervened.
Darcy Macpherson, North Melbourne
After the VFL Roos made Macpherson their first major signing for 2025, he was soon training with the AFL squad. The son of Western Bulldogs favourite “Super’’ played 97 games for the Gold Coast Suns from 2016 to 2024 and at age 27 believes the highest level is still attainable.
Ewan Macpherson, North Melbourne
The Brisbane VFL player joined his brother Darcy at Arden St after returning to Melbourne. Now up to 65 games, he’s been a good performer in the VFL, first at Footscray and then the Lions.
Will Madden, Northern Bullants
Madden, a key defender, has transferred from Essendon VFL. He had four games for the Bombers in 2023 but none this year. He did, however, perform well for Greenvale in the Essendon District league.
Ned Maginness, Sandringham
Maginness, the son of Hawthorn premiership defender Scott, was a 19-year-old Sandringham Dragon this year, splitting his time in the Coates Talent League and with Old Scotch Under 19s. He also appeared in the Young Guns series.
Christian Mardini, Northern Bullants
The 197cm Mardini captained the Northern Knights in the Coates Talent League in 2023 and was also a Vic Metro representative. He finished the 2024 season by kicking six goals in a final for the South Morang Under 19s.
Will Martyn, Port Melbourne
Midfielder Martyn shapes as one of Port’s best recruits. The former Richmond AFL player signed with the Borough late in 2022, only to head back to Brisbane. He played for Wilston Grange in 2023 and had 13 games for the Brisbane Lions VFL team this year. The Borough called him a “hard-at-it midfielder with the ability to break out of stoppage and great ball use.’’
Riley Mason, Collingwood
The 21-year-old 197cm forward joined Collingwood after an outstanding season in the strong Goulburn Valley league. Mason booted 72 goals from 18 matches, including bags of 10 against Tatura, eight against Benalla and seven against Mooroopna. He was listed in the best players 11 times – enough to finish third in the best and fairest – and represented the league against the Ovens and Murray. A Broadford junior, Mason played for the Calder Cannons and was on Coburg’s VFL list in 2022 but never played a game for the Burgers.
Sam Mason, Coburg
Mason returns to the City Oval after an impressive debut season in 2023, when he showed adaptability and dash and came in the top 10 in the best and fairest. He went back to Old Trinity in amateurs this year but has chosen to pick up on a VFL career that began so promisingly.
Andrew Mathieson, Sandringham
Wingman Mathieson was at GWS in 2023, at Box Hill Hawks in 2024 and next year he’ll be with the Zebras as he tries to building on his 16 VFL games.
Lachie McArthur, Coburg
The 189cm utility was regularly among the best in his 11 games for the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League this year. He was also called on to play two matches for the Footscray Bulldogs and in Young Guns fixtures. McArthur is also a talented cricketer, having made a century for Footscray in the elite Dowling Shield in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Myles McCluggage, Werribee
The younger brother of Brisbane Lions premiership star Hugh is having a dash at the VFL after a team-of-the-year season with South Warrnambool in the Hampden league. McCluggage had a stint with the GWV Rebels in 2021-22.
Billy McCormack, Box Hill Hawks
The 199cm McCormack, who played at Frankston in 2022, is back in Melbourne after three seasons with Central District in the SANFL.
Zac McGowan, Box Hill Hawks
The midfielder/flanker joins the Hawks as a 19-year-old player attached to Eastern Ranges, where he showed promise this year but was restricted by injury.
Bailey McKenzie, Sandringham
McKenzie follows new Sandy CEO Mark Wheeler from the Sandringham Dragons, where he kicked 27 goals from 10 games in 2024, including six in the preliminary final against Dandenong Stingrays.
Tom McKenzie, Richmond
Ellie McKenzie is a leading Richmond AFLW player and her brother Tom has joined her at Punt Rd after 46 games with Coburg.
Carter Michael, Williamstown
Defender Michael, 22, is coming off Brisbane’s list, having been with the Lions since the 2020 rookie draft. The left-footer’s sole AFL appearance was against Essendon in 2022.
Phill Moimoi, Richmond
A relative of former Parramatta Eels rugby league cult figure Fuifui Moimoi, the forward has returned to Melbourne and signed with the Tigers after one season with Sydney’s VFL team. He had some bright moments with the Swans, kicking 14 goals from 11 matches.
Ajang Kuol mun, Port Melbourne
The young ruckman has had a rapid rise in football since joining local club Anakie in 2023, playing five VFL games for Geelong this year and attending the draft state combine, where he recorded 90cm for the running vertical jump. He’s eyeing more opportunities at the stand-alone Borough.
Tom Mundy, Williamstown
A return to the Towners for Tasmanian Mundy, who was on the list in 2019-20. More recently he’s been playing with Deer Park, winning the best and fairest in 2023.
Charlton Offermans, Essendon
Offermans is a former college basketballer, playing for Rockhurst Hawks in Kansas City, Missouri from 2017 to 2020. He’s relocated to Melbourne after stints with Brisbane VFL, Southport and Labrador, where he had 17 matches as a midfielder this year.
Amin Naim, Northern Bullants
Highly regarded by officials at the Calder Cannons in 2023, Naim had a strong year for Strathmore, booting 47 goals from 21 games. He also played one match for Essendon VFL.
Dom Payman, Coburg
Another recruit from Old Trinity for the Burgers, this time a 201cm ruckman/forward to support Cooper Keogh. Payman booted 46 goals from 19 matches in VAFA Premier B this year.
Elwood Peckett, Sandringham
Coming off a strong season for Dandenong Stingrays that put him into draft contention, the son of former St Kilda star Justin Peckett has linked with the Saints-aligned Sandringham. He played mostly as a midfielder/forward for the Rays and averaged 17.4 possessions from 16 matches. His performance against Murray Bushrangers at Shepparton vaulted him into the Coates Talent League limelight: there were 25 touches and five goals.
Jet Peckett, Sandringham
The older brother of Elwood becomes a Zebras after a stint at Frankston, where he played two senior games in 2024. He was more prominent at Bonbeach, regularly getting in their best.
Rye Penny, Werribee
A graduate of the Calder Cannons, where he did well enough to be asked to the draft state combine (he equalled the standing vertical jump record), Penny, liked Jedd Longmuir, arrives at Werribee after two years with Collingwood VFL. Last season the defender played local football with Bacchus Marsh and was chosen as a Ballarat league Under 23 representative player against the Hampden.
Flynn Penry, Port Melbourne
From Cobden Bombers, the 201cm ruckman has spent the past two years with the GWV Rebels, in 2024 playing a match for Vic Country at the national Under 18 championships. Port called him a “super competitive athlete with a strong mark’’.
Ethan Phillips, Carlton
The affable “Easy’’ will try to reboot his AFL career at Carlton after his delisting at Hawthorn, where he was an SSP addition. The 2022 winner of the VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal played one AFL game for the Hawks and 14 for Box Hill Hawks, missing a few with a minor knee injury.
Riley Polkinghorne, Port Melbourne
The 23-year-old is the son of Travis Polkinghorne, who with his brothers Grant and John won VFL best and fairests with North Ballarat in the 1990s. Riley followed his father onto the club honour board by taking the top award in 2021 and again last year, when he averaged 29 possessions a game.
Corey Preston, Box Hill Hawks
Preston saw out the 2024 season with East Ringwood’s grand final team, having started it at Werribee. He was a star in the Eastern league, kicking 27 goals and getting 10 mentions in the best from 15 outings. Preston also played 38 games for Williamstown across the 2022-23 seasons.
Nic Quigg, Essendon
Onballer Quigg – a Seymour product who captained the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League and ran second in their best and fairest in 2022 – played 15 matches for the GWS VFL team last season. He was on Coburg’s list the previous year.
Max Rider, Port Melbourne
Rider, 19, is a forward out of the Sydney Swans Academy who had VFL experience with the Swannies in 2023, when he was also in the Allies side at the national Under 18 championships. This year he played in the Swans’ Coates Talent League team, kicking four goals against Sandringham Dragons.
Michael Rudd, Port Melbourne
The nephew of ex-Port Melbourne grand final player Josh Rudd is a 193cm forward and a former captain of Geelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League. The left-footer played one VFL game for Carlton in 2024 and was impressive at local level with St Mary’s in the Geelong league, booting 21 goals from 18 outings.
Tyler Sellers, Essendon
The 193cm Sellers was somewhat surprisingly discarded by North Melbourne, which made him an SSP signing for 2024 and gave him two AFL games. The key forward was runner-up in the VFL best and fairest after kicking 30 goals, the same tally as 2023.
Kaden Schreiber, Northern Bullants
The defender crosses from Collingwood, which he joined in 2021. He came back from a knee injury to play eight games this year and was also part of Balwyn’s Eastern league premiership.
Noah Scott, Essendon
Scott is an impressive graduate of the Calder Cannons, where in 15 Talent league Games he averaged 22 disposals this year. The Cannons judged him their most courageous player. He also turned out for his school, Parade College.
Lochie Simpson, Northern Bullants
At 208cm, Simpson will be easy to locate on the field. He’s joined the Bullants as a “project’’ player from Wodonga Raiders, where he made his start in senior football after previously playing basketball for the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the NBL1.
Hamish Sinnott, Essendon
Sinnott becomes a Bomber after playing eight VFL games across three seasons with Carlton and Geelong. He’s a dominant player for Camperdown in the Hampden league, winning the Maskell Medal as league best and fairest in 2023.
Jack Skinner, Port Melbourne
The strong 188cm defender played for the Geelong Falcons in 2024, but he already has a year of senior football behind him, having turned out for Colac Imperials in the Colac and District league in 2023.
Deakyn Smith, Casey Demons
Smith won Casey’s 2023 best and fairest as a Melbourne-listed player and he’s returned to Casey Fields after a season with North Melbourne’s VFL program.
Josh Sparkman, Port Melbourne
Sparkman, a 188cm defender, has followed new Port senior coach Brendan McCartney from North Ballarat. The 20-year-old had a taste of the VFL this year, playing two matches late in the season for Footscray Bulldogs. Sparkman was also selected in the Ballarat league’s Under 23 representative team.
Tyson Sruk, Casey Demons
Sruk earned attention when he had 37 possessions for Eastern Ranges in the 2023 Under 18 grand final against Sandringham Dragons. A broken collarbone restricted him this year as a Carlton VFL-lister but he did play a dozen matches at local level for Rowville.
Ethan Stanley, Box Hill Hawks
The dashing Stanley returns to the City Oval after being delisted by Fremantle, which recruited him in the 2023 mid-season rookie draft. He played two AFL games as the sub and 22 matches for Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
Blade Sulzberger, Northern Bullants
The 21-year-old North Launceston midfielder brings strong credentials to Cramer St, having finished second in the 2024 Alastair Lynch Medal and taken a position in the TSL team of the year. He averaged 22 touches, 5.2 clearances, 4.6 inside 50s and 4.3 tackles.
Nathaniel Sulzberger, North Melbourne
Sulzberger, 187cm midfielder from Tasmania, was among the Sandringham Dragons premiership players considered unlucky at the draft. He averaged 19 disposals in his 10 matches for the club and played four games for the Allies at the nationals, collecting 21 possessions against South Australia. Sulzberger’s best performance in the Talent League came against the Western Jets in the Wildcard Round, where he kicked three goals and had 29 disposals.
Curtis Taylor, Collingwood
The exciting Taylor is one of the signings of the off-season. The Magpies beat a few other clubs to his signature after he was let go by North Melbourne after 76 AFL games. He intent on doing well in the VFL and pushing for a second league club.
Jonathan Tomasiello, Coburg
Tomasiello, a midfielder, was one of quite a few Magpies to depart the VFL nest at the end of 2024. Having played 10 games across the past two seasons with Collingwood, the Northern Knights graduate is eyeing more chances with the Burgers.
Sam Toner, Richmond
Clever forward Toner becomes a Tiger after being overlooked in a draft in which he was touted as a “bolter’’. It reflected his rapid rise at the Dandenong Stingrays, who pulled him out of local football after his goalkicking exploits for Narre Warren.
Josh Tovey, Collingwood
Tovey was co-captain of the Eastern Ranges in 2023 and, as a tall defender, among their best players in a grand final defeat against Sandringham Dragons. He’s switched to Collingwood after playing four games with Box Hill Hawks.
Hugh Trigg, Port Melbourne
The 187cm forward became the fourth North Ballarat player to join coach Brendan McCartney in the move to the Borough. He made his senior debut for the Roosters in 2023 and kicked 16 goals from 11 games last year. A much-decorated junior player, Trigg also spent time with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.
Kye Turner, Williamstown
Willy lured the key defender from Port Melbourne, where in one, injury-tailed season he played three games. The Towners believe a fit Turner will slot seamlessly into their backline and give them flexibility with other players. Turner was on Melbourne’s rookie list in 2023 after being added during the SSP period.
Dayten Uerata, Essendon
Uerata, a forward and midfielder, captained Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League this year, played in the Young Guns series and made his VFL debut for Essendon in the Dreamtime match against Richmond.
Ryan Valentine, Coburg
The Lions have added firepower to their forward line with the addition of the 197cm Valentine, who played in Casey’s 2022 VFL premiership. This year he had a telling hand in Old Scotch’s VAFA success, kicking four goals and jagging the medal as best-afield in the grand final. His season contribution to Scotch was 38 goals from 16 games.
James Van Es, Port Melbourne
The 197cm defender had two years at St Kilda, but they were interrupted by injury and he was restricted to 14 games with Sandringham in 2023. “James has the flexibility to play a lock-down role or intercepting role with a great ability to read the play and take a strong grab,’’ Port said.
Cooper Vickery, Carlton
Gippslander Vickery was drafted by Sydney with pick No. 27 in 2022 but was let go after playing 27 VFL games in his two years as a Swan. “We think Cooper is a really promising young talent and we’re really excited to be able to welcome him to IKON Park for 2025,” Blues coach Luke Power said. “He’s got a fair share of VFL experience already, and at 20 years of age, there’s plenty of scope for development in Cooper’s game which we feel like he can reach – we’re delighted he sees our program to be the best fit for him as well. Cooper possesses great speed and the capacity to turn defence into offence by driving out of the backline, which is so important in the modern game. We also really rate his competitive instincts, something which we value highly at our footy club.’’
Lachie Voss, Sandringham
Playing as a 19-year-old, the tall and talented Voss had a VFL game with the Zebras this year and figured in the Dragons’ grand final win over the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. He was also part of their 2022 premiership.
Tex Wanganeen, Port Melbourne
The 21-year-old son of Brownlow Medal champion Gavin Wanganeen extended the Bombers connection (James Hird, Dyson Heppell, Brendan McCartney) to the Borough. The forward played five AFL matches for Essendon and 35 in its VFL team. Port said Wanganeen “enjoys the defensive side of the game and brings the X factor’’.
Oliver Warburton, Carlton
Warburton made a worthy claim for the 2024 drafts, doing well as a defender and midfielder for the Murray Bushrangers. He also represented Victoria Country at the national championships, averaging 18.5 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency. Warburton recorded 6:47 for the 2km trial at the draft combine.
Jackson Weidemann, Northern Bullants
The season defender is back in the VFL after spending last season with North Albury in the Ovens and Murray league. The nephew of Adelaide Crows cult figure Wayne was with Port Melbourne in 2022-23, playing 27 matches across half-back.
Malachi White, Port Melbourne
The 19-year-old midfielder was the Borough’s first signing from North Ballarat. He previously spent two seasons with Geelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League.
Declan Willmore, Coburg
Willmore, a 190cm midfielder/flanker, was on Essendon’s VFL list in 2024 but spent the season with Doutta Stars in the Essendon District league. Two years ago he won the Calder Cannons best and fairest, suggesting the Burgers have signed a player capable of helping them rise a few rungs on the ladder.
Brady Wright, Werribee
Wright came through in the Ballarat league this year under the eye of the seasoned Dan Jordan at Darley, booting 30 goals from 16 matches. “He’s certainly very talented,’’ Jordan said of Wright, who was on Geelong’s 2023 VFL list but missed most of the season with a back injury. “We made a plan to slowly return him to footy but he had a knee and missed two or three weeks and then he punctured a lung. But he showed enough, particularly in the last five or six weeks of the year, to be a dominant forward. I believe he’s an AFL talent, so I was pretty keen to get him into a VFL program.’’
Originally published as Done deal: the first 120 recruits for the 2025 VFL season
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