Get to know the AFL draft class of 2025
Explore The Age’s in-depth coverage of the next generation of football stars, ahead of this month’s AFL national draft at Marvel Stadium.
The moment the most unpredictable AFL draft went off script
Essendon, Melbourne and West Coast all made waves at the top end of this year’s draft, but a move from Richmond changed everything.
- by Marc McGowan
Duursma heads west with pick No.1 as the ‘bolter’ who had to be smuggled into Marvel steals the show
The first night of the 2025 AFL draft is done and dusted, and as expected, Willem Duursma was taken at pick No.1 by the West Coast Eagles. But one of the storylines of the night belongs to Melbourne.
- by Shelby Garlick, Hannah Kennelly, Jon Pierik and Marc McGowan
Duursma selected as No.1 overall pick
Willem Duursma is selected as the No.1 overall pick at the AFL draft by the West Coast Eagles.
It’s AFL draft day. Here’s who your club is set to pick
Here’s our final forecast of how the first 30 picks at this week’s AFL draft will play out.
- by Marc McGowan
This Gippsland tap dancer is about to become the hottest property in the AFL
Willem Duursma will be the fourth member of his family drafted to the big league, and he’s shaping up as the No.1 pick in next month’s draft. But first, there’s a Disney dance production to star in.
- by Marc McGowan
He’s one of the most talented players in the draft, but he’s already planning for corporate life
Zeke Uwland might be the best player in this year’s AFL draft, but there is much more to this high-achieving teenager, who is likened to Errol Gulden.
- by Marc McGowan
Footballers across Australia are about to have their draft dreams realised. Here’s how you can join them
The journey to the big-time is longer for some than others, but it requires talent, dedication, planning, decision-making, luck and resilience.
- by Marc McGowan
When this draft hopeful started to get noticed, things fell apart. This is how he got back on track
Draft prospect Sam Grlj has ridden an emotional rollercoaster in his draft year, but he sought advice and learnt to ride the ups and downs and now his dream career awaits.
- by Marc McGowan
From teens to titans: How 16 of the AFL’s biggest names looked in their draft year
Some are unrecognisable, others haven’t changed a bit. We revisited these stars to see what they looked like and what was said about them as AFL wannabes.
- by Greg Dundas
‘Our faith helps us with our footy’: The mates dreaming of joining rare company in the AFL
Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar dream of becoming the next Muslims to play in the AFL – and they hope to do so together in the red and black.
- by Marc McGowan
Why the draft’s best small forward is sick of being compared to Nick Watson
Lachy Dovaston is widely viewed as the best small forward in next week’s AFL draft. He already has his goal celebrations ready.
- by Marc McGowan
He wasn’t even on the AFL radar. Five months later, this teen’s a top-five contender for the draft
A sudden growth spurt and a dedicated program in his home gym has helped make Sullivan Robey this year’s draft bolter.
- by Marc McGowan
Carlton named their father-son academy after a flag hero. Now his son is its star pupil
The Blues have started stockpiling sons of past greats. The talented and highly competitive Harry Dean might be the best of the lot and is bound to be picked up early in this month’s draft.
- by Marc McGowan
All the ins and outs, and how each AFL club plans to top up its playing list for 2026
Take a look at who your club has picked up, who it has let go, and find out how many spots they have left to fill ahead of this month’s national draft.
- by Marc McGowan
Missed by that much: The top AFL draft prospect who could have been a Bomber
Cooper Duff-Tytler’s grandparents emigrated from Sri Lanka to Australia more than 50 years ago. But one small detail stopped him being tied to Essendon.
- by Marc McGowan
The AFL draft is next month. These players are the cream of the crop
With the trade period about to begin, plenty of draft picks are about to change hands. These are the talented youngsters clubs will be eyeing off with those selections.
- by Marc McGowan
Best mates ready for AFL draft
Two best mates, Lachy Dovaston and Xavier Taylor, reveal their hopes leading into the AFL draft.
Famous names and exciting prospects: We name the top 25 prospects for this year’s AFL draft
Some familiar surnames are expected to be called out at the top of this year’s AFL national draft.
- by Marc McGowan
Opinion
Why this year’s compromised AFL draft is so difficult to predict
There are many reasons why predicting this year’s AFL draft is so tough - and it goes beyond the academy and father-son players scattered throughout.
- by Marc McGowan
Meet the AFL prospect with the best kick in this year’s draft class
Josh Lindsay works as hard at his craft as any of his draft peers, and is poised to be a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
- by Marc McGowan
Footballers across Australia are about to have their draft dreams realised. Here’s how you can join them
The journey to the big-time is longer for some than others, but it requires talent, dedication, planning, decision-making, luck and resilience.
- by Marc McGowan
‘Our faith helps us with our footy’: The mates dreaming of joining rare company in the AFL
Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar dream of becoming the next Muslims to play in the AFL – and they hope to do so together in the red and black.
- by Marc McGowan
How Tigers, past and present, will shape the top of the AFL draft
Richmond have declared they’ll go against the grain and make multiple bids for players early in this week’s draft, while many of the other major players on draft night have previous connections to the club.
- by Marc McGowan
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/get-to-know-the-afl-draft-class-of-2025-20251113-p5nf38.html