AFL Draft 2025: Scouting notes from Young Guns v Vic Country as Sam Toner, Jesse Mellor excite

Two prospects who emerged in local footy have put forward strong cases for the mid-season draft. Plus, a Cats academy prospect is sure to rise up draft boards. See the full Young Guns scouting notes here.

Local footy bolter Sam Toner has put his name up in lights ahead of the AFL mid-season rookie draft after another eye-catching showing, as a Geelong academy prospect turned heads in Vic Country’s 29-point win over the Young Guns on Sunday.

Toner, 19, booted four goals for the second-straight week for the Young Guns in an exciting display up forward in the showcase game at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL SCOUTING NOTES

But the rangy and lively forward, who burst onto the draft scene from obscurity last season before being overlooked in the end of year drafts, was outshone by Geelong Next Generation Academy talent Jesse Mellor at the other end.

The Thailand-born forward Mellor proved to be the matchwinner for Vic Country with four majors in the final quarter to cap a stunning six-goal outing that is sure to see him surge up draft boards.

Jesse Mellor kicked six goas for the Young Guns. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

It continued a strong start to the season for Mellor for the Geelong Falcons, having spent time with the Cats over the summer along with fellow Cats NGA and AFL Academy product Ben Rongdit.

Gippsland Power small forward Tom Matthews also booted four majors for Vic Country before going off with an injury.

Now at Richmond VFL, joining the Dandenong Stingrays program after he kicked 50 goals in 13 senior games in the Outer East league.

The 184cm goalkicker broke his wrist in his fourth game for the Stingrays and was didn’t hear his name board despite a handful of clubs showing interest.

Fellow community footy smokey Caleb Lewis backed up his three-goals against Vic Metro last week with another two goals in the third quarter, which could have been three if hadn’t missed another gettable chance.

This publication reported this week that the high-flying Dingley key forward, who kicked 66 goals for the Dingoes last season at local level last season, has interest from Gold Coast.

Caleb Lewis kicked two goals against Vic Country. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Eastern Ranges intercept defender Rod Ali, 209cm Western Jets Ayden McCarroll (two goals), Calder Cannons forward Cooper Herbert (two goals), and Sandringham Dragons duo Charlie Rozenes and Jhett Haeta were others to press their mid-season draft claims on Sunday.

Athletic ruck-forward Floyd Burmeister shapes as one of the leading mid-season draft prospects after being unlucky to miss out last year and had some eye-catching moments for the Young Guns.

Meanwhile for Vic Country, potential top-five prospect Willem Duursma was among the best as Melbourne NGA prospect Toby Sinnema and Carlton father-son Harry Dean had some important moments.

Rod Ali impressed for the Young Guns. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

SCOUTING NOTES

YOUNG GUNS

#6 Charlie Rozenes (Sandringham Dragons/Sandringham VFL/Old Collegians)

Rozenes stands just 172cm tall but he again showed his height was no barrier. The Sandringham VFL and Sandringham Dragons prospect caught the eye a few times with his ability to turn on a dime and evade tacklers, but he missed a couple of chances on goal. Rozenes collected 28 disposals, seven inside 50s and kicked a goal in the first Young Guns game and featured in two games at VFL and Coates League level this season.

#8 Sam Toner (Richmond VFL/Narre Warren)

Whether it is local footy or in the talent pathway, Toner has an uncanny knack of finding the goals. After slotting four against Vic Metro last week, the 184cm forward finished with another four majors to his name – one of those a gift from a 50 metre penalty. Toner is a freakish and untapped talent, with his kicking, agility, leap and footy smarts an exciting combination. He showed that game awareness when he contested a marking contest and then quickly turned back towards 50 and marked the ball from the next Young Guns kick forward. He came so close to being one of the stories of the draft last year, and surely he has done enough now.

Sam Toner booted another four goals. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

#9 Rod Ali (Eastern Ranges/Mitcham)

Ali comes from a basketball background and it is easy to see in his game. The intercept defender read the play with perfection for the Young Guns and then stepped through Vic Country tacklers with ease. The 186cm defender’s main highlight came in the second quarter when he won the ball in tight and performed a dazzling 360 spin to get free. This is Ali’s first season in the talent pathway and he clunked five intercept marks in just his second game for the Ranges. He looks to have plenty of scope for growth.

#10 Jhett Haeta (Sandringham Dragons/Richmond VFL/Beamaris)

Eye-catching plays were often followed by poor kicks from Haeta against Vic Country but there was a lot to like from the Dragons prospect. Haeta’s ability to get free in congestion is very impressive, sidestepping and shimmying his way around Avalon Airport Oval. He also won plenty of the ball in the clinches. If he can tidy up his decision making and disposal, look out.

Jhett Haeata shoots out a handball. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

#12 Tom Evans (Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca)

Evans racked up 29 disposals in the last Young Guns game and he was strong again, taking several intercept marks and consistently finding targets by foot. Thrown down back this season with the Bendigo Pioneers, Evans amassed 44 disposals and 205 SuperCoach points in round three of the Coates Talent League. The 180cm defender was one of the better performers across the Young Guns.

#22 Caleb Lewis (Casey VFL/Dingley)

Lewis booted three goals last week for the Young Guns and should have had three in the third quarter, where the Dingley smokey caught fire. He kicked two majors in the premiership quarter and hit the post with another, getting two opportunities from contested marks. The 198cm goalkicker earned a Young Guns call-up from just one VFL game this year, having starred at local level with 66 goals for Dingley in the Southern league.

Caleb Lewis has a big leap. Picture: Andrew Keech

#26 Cooper Herbert (Calder Cannons/Laurimar)

Herbert had plenty of highlights across the day, the best of those a clever rove and snap on his non preferred left in the first term. The 191cm forward also added another in the final term from long range to keep the Young Guns in the contest. He had a handful of shots all up, spraying one badly out on the full after a strong contested mark, and passed off another to Toner. The Calder Cannons product nearly set up another goal with a desperate smother on the mark deep inside 50.

#27 Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Redan)

It was a bit of an almost day for Burmeister but he again highlighted he can do things that other talls can’t. The GWV Rebels ruck-forward showcased his athleticism at ground level and at stoppages on a few occasions, including a high leap and grab out of the ruck. He was unlucky to be overlooked last year but his dominant Vic Country trial, where he kicked three goals, will hold him in good stead.

#35 Ayden McCarroll (Western Jets/Williamstown CYMS)

Any player who is 209.4cm tall will command attention, but it wasn’t just his height that stood out. McCarroll kicked two goals, one from a ground level gather and snap under pressure in the square and another from general play in the last term. He was also able to win the ball at stoppages on a couple of occasions and had the height advantage at ruck contests. Added to the Western Jets’ program at the back-end of last season, McCarroll had just one disposal for the Young Guns last week, and this was a much more promising display.

Ayden McCarroll snaps through a goal. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

VIC COUNTRY

#2 Thomas Matthews (Gippsland Power/Moe)

A lively goalsneak, Matthews consistently found space inside 50 – and it could have been a big day for him. The Gippsland Power forward slotted four goals but missed a couple of other set shot chances. He also played an important hand in setting up a goal for Sam Lewis late in the piece.

#5 Hugo Mikunda (Geelong Falcons/Bell Park)

In just his second game back from injury, Mikunda had a promising first half at half-forward. The Geelong Falcons prospect set up a goal for JayDe Varlet with a handball over the top and kicked a snap goal from close range in the first term. He also showed his quick hands in tight in the second term to find an option.

Varlet brilliant burst of speed running onto clever handball over the top from Mikunda and kicks great goal on run from 40m

#11 Toby Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays/Devon Meadows)

Sinnema’s kicking off halfback was classy, with one incisive ball hitting a teammate in the middle of the ground in the final quarter. The Melbourne NGA prospect trained alongside Demons father-son Kalani White, son of Jeff, during the pre-season.

#14 Jesse Mellor (Geelong Falcons/Geelong West)

This six-goal haul will see Mellor shoot up draft boards as his eye-catching start to the season continued. Unfortunately for rival clubs, he is tied to Geelong’s Next Generation Academy. The game was up for grabs in the final quarter and Mellor took it by the scruff of the neck with four last quarter goals – and it could have been more with a couple of other misses. Mellor kicked two goals in almost as many minutes, one from a low mark and the next an excellent crumb and snap from 30 metres out.

Mellor leaps for a mark. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

#15 Harry Dean (Murray Bushrangers/Lavington Panthers)

The son of dual Carlton premiership player Peter Dean stood up late in the piece with two critical intercept marks, highlighting his spring and strong hands overhead. The key defender did well to get to save a goal late earlier in the game with a spoil, but it went back into play straight to Ayden McCaroll who snapped it through.

#23 Willem Duursma (Giippsland Power/Foster)

Duursma’s overhead marking and ball-winning stood out as the most highly touted player of the Vic Country side, but his kicking was inconsistent. A laser from the wing hit Hugo Mikunda in the middle of the ground. However, in one play in the fourth term he turned it over, won the ball back with a strong intercept mark and then handed it back to the opposition again. The potential top-five talent still found plenty of the ball and was among Vic Country’s best playing primarily through the midfield.

#25 Jett Elek (Geelong Falcons/Lara)

Elek only joined the elite talent pathway in the back-half of last year and his athleticism and overhead marking means there’s plenty to work with. The 201cm forward-ruck was particularly dangerous in the final quarter, where he took three marks – the best of those a juggling contested grab in a pack – and kicked a goal. Another contested mark brought up his first goal in the first quarter.

#30 Zac Harding (Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga)

It was Harding’s work away from the contest that was most impressive against the Young Guns. The mobile ruckman set up a teammate on the lead with a precise kick inside 50 in the second term and a fantastic rundown tackle earnt him a free kick in the third. He was rewarded for his efforts with a final quarter goal.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: Scouting notes from Young Guns v Vic Country as Sam Toner, Jesse Mellor excite