Calder Cannons star Cooper Duff-Tytler headlines Kevin Sheehan’s top AFL Draft prospects for 2025

He had college basketball on his mind after winning a gold medal for Australia – but this Victorian teenager is now on the mind of every AFL club.

An athletic tall who has been labelled a ‘unicorn’ is turning the heads of AFL recruiters as he stamps himself as a genuine contender to be the No. 1 draft pick this year.

Calder Cannons product Cooper Duff-Tytler has started his top-age season in impressive form after giving up basketball to pursue an AFL career, and he headlines AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan’s top prospects for 2025.

Measuring 200.3cm and still growing, the athletic 17-year-old models his game on Fremantle’s Luke Jackson and Carlton’s Tom De Koning and has drawn comparisons to both players with the way he goes about his work.

“My strengths are definitely my mobility and my ball handling for a tall,” Duff-Tytler told Code Sports recently.

“Once the ball hits the deck I can help out around the ground and act as another midfielder.”

SEE THE TOP 75 PROSPECTS FOR 2025 EXCLUSIVE TO CODE SPORTS HERE

Cooper Duff-Tytler in action for the AFL Academy. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Duff-Tytler was a talented junior basketball star who was part of Australia’s under-16 team which claimed gold at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup.

However, he made the decision last year to narrow his focus on football.

“I was definitely looking at college and NBL routes, but ultimately I was enjoying my footy more at the time and I just wanted to give myself the best chance to succeed in the future,” Duff-Tytler said.

“I felt like putting my effort into footy would help me with that.”

Duff-Tytler logged 26 disposals, 14 hit-outs, eight clearances and two goals in the Cannons’ first match of the Coates Talent League season, backing up that performance with 24 disposals, 23 hit-outs and four clearances a week later.

Utility Willem Duurmsa, who is looking to become the fourth member of his family to reach football’s highest level, is another young gun in the No. 1 pick conversation, but it could be a historic first round of the draft this year.

A raft of highly-rated Northern Academy, Next Generation Academy and father-son prospects should ensure a bidding frenzy in a compromised draft pool come November.

Gold Coast Suns Academy prospect Zeke Uwland – who has been sidelined with a back stress fracture this year – still shapes as a top pick.

The same goes for Brisbane Lions Academy member Daniel Annable, who captained the AFL Academy side in some recent exhibition matches.

Sydney Swans Academy member Max King is another high-end prospect with plenty of fans, as are Suns Academy members Beau Addinsall and Dylan Patterson.

Collingwood father-son prospect Thomas McGuane (son of Mick) has made a strong start to the season, while Richmond father-son Louis Kellaway (son of Duncan) is flying in South Australia.

Exclusive to Code Sports, draft guru Sheehan has revealed the top 75 junior footballers recruiters are targeting in 2025 – read the full list here.