AFL Draft 2025: The father-son prospects emerging across the SANFL and for Port, Crows

Could the Crows select their first father-son draftee from outside SA? Which Victorian clubs have sons of guns in the SANFL? We examine the 2025 father-son prospects with SA links.

SA father son prospects art

Adelaide could have its first father-son selection from outside South Australia this year.

Victorian Mitch Stevens shapes as a potential draftee after impressing at Gippsland Power.

The Crows have priority access to the tough half-back/midfielder through his dad, 1998 premiership player Mark Stevens.

Mark lined up in 101 games for Adelaide, winning a flag in his first season against his original club North Melbourne.

The former key-position player fell short of the 100-match father-son eligibility criteria at the Kangaroos, playing 21 times.

While it is early in the season and Stevens is trialling to make the Vic Country squad, Gippsland Power’s talent manager Scott McDougal likes how the 17-year-old is progressing.

“There’s a steely edge to what he does and he likes the physical side of footy,” McDougal told this masthead.

“He’s got some real speed, is calm under pressure and looks like a really polished player.

“He’s been over to Adelaide to train … and we’ve got nothing but positive reports back, obviously with no guarantees of anything.

“But if it’s not Adelaide, hopefully another club will call his name out.”

Crows father-son prospect Mitch Stevens. Picture: Crows academies.

Stevens’s dad, 1998 premiership Crow Mark Stevens.

The Crows’ four father-son draftees to date have all been from the SANFL.

Ben Jarman, son of premiership hero Darren Jarman, was the first in 2016.

Then came Jackson Edwards (Tyson) a year later, Max Michalanney (Jim) in 2022 and Tyler Welsh (Scott) last November.

Mark Stevens was runner-up in Adelaide’s 2001 club champion award, third in 2002 and twice named the Crows’ best team man.

His son was a defender last season, but had switched to being an inside midfielder and wingman this year.

McDougal likened him to Port Adelaide midfielder Willem Drew, not because of his playing style, but his team-first attitude and work ethic.

Two players on track to be among South Australia’s best 10 prospects this year are also sons of former Crows.

Mitch Marsh, the son of 1998 premiership ruckman Ben Marsh, and Jack Cook, whose father is former rover/goalsneak Tim Cook, are in the state under-18 squad.

Marsh is a 191cm long-kicking, mobile forward from West Adelaide, while Cook is a 180cm on-baller from Woodville-West Torrens.

But Adelaide will not have priority access to either of them because their dads fell short of the games qualification.

West Adelaide's Mitch Marsh. Picture: Peter Argent

Ben featured in 48 matches for Adelaide and seven for Richmond.

Tim played eight games for the Crows, where he was now a physiotherapist.

West Adelaide under-18 coach Russell Godson said Marsh was getting quite a bit of attention from recruiters.

“He’s had a really good start to the season,” Godson said.

Adelaide also has links to Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway.

His dad, former Tigers defender Duncan Kellaway, works alongside Cook as a Crows physiotherapist.

Kellaway has had a strong start to the under-18 season for Sturt.

Port Adelaide has two sons of guns eligible this year: North Adelaide midfielder Ben Francou (son of Josh) and Sturt key position player Gill Wakelin (Darryl).

West Adelaide duo Lukas Eagleton and Archie Walsh only qualify at the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne respectively despite their dads’ history with the Power.

Eagleton’s dad, Nathan, played 56 games for Port and 221 for the Dogs, while Walsh’s father, Peter, recorded 35 matches for the Power and 104 for the Demons.

Here is a list of the father-son prospects playing in the SANFL or aligned to the SA clubs.

ADELAIDE

Mitch Stevens

■ Son of Crows premiership swingman Mark Stevens

■ 185cm half-back/midfielder

■ Team: Gippsland Power

■ 2025 statistics: Five under-18s games (25.4 disposals, 7.2 marks, 3.6 tackles, 5.4 inside 50s, 97.6 ranking points)

■ Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal says: “He’s going along well. His X-factor is his contest and his ability to win his own footy, and his speed. He’s a good kick. By no means is he the finished product, but he’s got a real appetite to work on his game.”

■ Anonymous recruiter says: “He’s shorter than his dad but has a better athletic profile and is more nimble. He’ll be in the frame to play for Vic Country.”

MELBOURNE

Archie Walsh

■ Son of Melbourne and Port Adelaide defender Peter Walsh

■ 180cm midfielder/half-back

■ SANFL team: West Adelaide

■ 2025 statistics: Five under-18s games (25.4 disposals, 7.2 marks, 3.6 tackles, 5.4 inside 50s, 97.6 ranking points)

■ West Adelaide under-18 coach Russell Godson says: “He spent a week with the Demons in February, which he really enjoyed. He’s an unbelievably hard worker with very good endurance who wins our 2km time trial. He can win contests. He’s historically played as a midfielder but for his development we’ve put him as a high defender this season. Similarly to his dad, he rarely gets beaten in a contest, is excellent one-on-one and is very consistent.”

■ Recruiter says: “He’s a hard-at-it, dependable midfielder.”

Archie Walsh’s dad, ex-Demon Peter Walsh.

PORT ADELAIDE

Ben Francou

■ Son of three-time Power Showdown Medallist Josh Francou

■ 176cm midfielder

■ SANFL team: North Adelaide

■ 2025 statistics: Four under-18s games (18.5 disposals, 5.3 clearances, 5 tackles, 2.5 inside 50s, 72.3 ranking points)

■ Recruiter says: “He’s got his dad’s mongrel and takes the game on. He’s shorter than his older brothers (Will and Ollie), is a left-footer and provides defensive pressure.”

North Adelaide’s Ben Francou. Picture: Peter Argent

Gill Wakelin

■ Son of Power premiership defender Darryl Wakelin

■ 187cm key position player

■ SANFL team: Sturt

■ 2025 statistics: Four under-18s games (10.8 disposals, 4.5 marks, 2.3 tackles, 3.5 rebound 50s, 49.8 ranking points)

■ Recruiter says: “He’s a medium, versatile player who plays forward for Prince Alfred College, back for Sturt and who has a crack.”

RICHMOND

Louis Kellaway

■ Son of Richmond fan favourite Duncan Kellaway

■ 182cm midfielder

■ SANFL team: Sturt

■ 2025 statistics: Five under-18s games (25.4 disposals, 7.2 marks, 3.6 tackles, 5.4 inside 50s, 97.6 ranking points)

■ Recruiter says: “He’s a smart, natural footballer who’s pretty composed in traffic and thinks through the game very well. He’s in the state squad.”

Sturt’s Louis Kellaway. Picture: Cory Sutton

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Lukas Eagleton

■ Son of Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs wingman Nathan Eagleton

■ 188cm forward

■ SANFL team: West Adelaide

■ 2025 statistics: One under-18 match (12 disposals, one goal, one inside 50, 39 ranking points)

■ West Adelaide under-18 coach Russell Godson says: “He’s spent time with the Bulldogs’ NGA set up over the last couple of years and goes to Scotch College here. He’s a right-footer, a very good runner and is taller than his dad. He competes aerially, but has got a bit of speed and can get at it at ground level.”

■ Recruiter says: “He’s a rangy type, a medium forward with good endurance.”

Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: The father-son prospects emerging across the SANFL and for Port, Crows