How your club can enter the 2025 Carlton Draft

Retired AFL heroes will return for another exciting Carlton Draft campaign in 2025 which is set to expand beyond Victoria. In a new role, official recruiter Dylan Buckley reveals the type of player he wants.

Dylan Buckley has joined the Carlton Draft as the recruiter.

Disappointed with his own efforts in the 2024 competition, Dylan Buckley is back for an expanded Carlton Draft this year.

For the first time, the event will include teams in Western Australia and New South Wales with nominations now open.

Buckley, who has become a popular media entrepreneur since his time in the AFL ended, has been brought on board by Draft commissioner Jonathan Brown as the official recruiter.

Brown feels Buckley will be able to take the campaign to the next level with his connection to former AFL players and the recruiter has clear targets in mind.

“I was pretty upset last year when I thought I might have been one and done but so it’s good to get back into with Browny in the new role,” Buckley said.

“I want some players who can actually dominate games. I’m hoping to land some key forwards, the big boys who can kick some goals.

“I think they learnt from me last year that they need some actual good players.

“A lot of guys have played some very good football and they’ll go out there with a point to prove

“We’ve had Leigh Montagna and Nathan Buckley last about five minutes combined so we want some fit guys who can play a whole game.”

The Carlton Draft has run for the past several seasons and sees former AFL players head to country footy towns for a one-off appearance followed by a sportsman’s night.

Crowds have poured through the gates since its inception including to Buckley’s game at Toora in Gippsland last year.

“Once the game was done, it was good. I was feeling sick leading into it,” Buckley said.

“Just getting back to community sport was just a lot of fun. You see the impact it has on towns and what it means to the people who live there.”

Entries for The Carlton Draft 2025 are now open at thecarltondraft.com.au

Players involved will be unveiled in the coming weeks.