Coates Talent League Top 50 ranking points 2025: Tom McGuane firms as first-round pick

First-round prospect Tom McGuane reveals his tight bond with Nick Daicos, his welcome at Collingwood and who the players he watches are. Plus, see the Coates Talent League’s top 50 players.

Collingwood father-son prospect Tom McGuane is firming as a first-round draft prospect after an eye-catching start to his top-age season.

McGuane racked up 38 disposals, 10 clearances and seven score involvements for the Western Jets in a loss to the Eastern Ranges on Saturday, registering a game-high 154 ranking points in an impressive individual showing.

The classy midfielder – who is the son of 1990 Magpies premiership player Mick McGuane – has been on Collingwood’s radar for some time and had a strong bottom-age campaign in 2024.

Measuring 178cm tall, he is a player with a high football IQ, has clean hands and is a nice left-foot kick when in space.

McGuane again trained with Collingwood last week, after spending significant time with the club during pre-season.

“They’re very, very welcoming,” McGuane said recently of his training experiences at Olympic Park.

Tom McGuane in action on grand final day. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Thomas McGuane playing for Keilor. Picture: Ian Currie

“Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) and Nick and Josh (Daicos) helped me a lot. Obviously dad has a relationship with Peter (Daicos) so I was quite close with those boys and I was thankful for them.”

McGuane said Nick Daicos was one of the players he had watched closely in recent years as he analysed games with his father.

“We watch footy together a lot, to be honest,” he said.

“On TV we’re always pausing, replaying, watching specific players, whether it be (Zach) Merrett, (Errol) Gulden, Nick Daicos, players like that and just trying to mimic my game off them. They’re very good ball users, which I pride myself on. Decision making is also a very important part of the game and I feel they’re all very good at that.”

McGuane played in a senior premiership under the coaching of his father at Keilor last year and said he was excited about the prospect of carrying on the family name at Collingwood.

“As soon as I was born I had a footy in my hands,” he said.

“I just love the game, so we’ll see where it takes me.”

Mid-season draft prospect Tom Evans also had a bumper game for the Bendigo Pioneers in round 3 of the Coates Talent League, gathering 44 disposals, seven marks and seven rebound-50s from halfback.

The haul saw Evans record a round-high 205 ranking points.

Evans missed selection in last year’s draft but returned to the Pioneers as a 19-year-old this season.

The AFL mid-season rookie draft will be held on May 28.

Originally published as Coates Talent League Top 50 ranking points 2025: Tom McGuane firms as first-round pick