Top 25 mature-age draft gems from country Victoria ranked

We have seen Joe Richards and Oli Wiltshire plucked straight out of country footy by AFL clubs in recent years, and more mature-age gems who could join them. See the best 25 and have your say.

The next country footy revelation is hiding in plain sight.

Two years ago we saw Collingwood pick school teacher Joe Richards out of the Ovens and Murray league.

Recruiters flocked to the border to watch his dazzling displays for Wangarratta throughout the year, and those exciting attributes have translated to the big league.

In the 2023 draft, Geelong plucked Barwon Heads bolter Oli Wiltshire out of nowhere from the Bellarine league — the second ranked competition in the Barwon region — and Shaun Mannagh, who had toiled through country footy and the state leagues to get his chance.

Five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart is perhaps the most famous case, drafted at the age of 23 a year in the VFL and dominant form in Geelong Football League before that.

While a find like Stewart is a once in a decade event, there are some options that are sure to come under consideration from AFL clubs at the end of the year and in future drafts.

After scouring regional competitions and state leagues, we have ranked the top 25 mature-age draft smokeys from country Victoria who could get taken by AFL clubs.

See the full list and have your say in the interactive beloew

Originally published as Top 25 mature-age draft gems from country Victoria ranked