Draft
Nic Nat on hand to help out as West Coast’s newest recruit eyes ruck role
The silver lining from West Coast’s one-win campaign in 2025 was a bumper draft haul last week.
- Justin Chadwick
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- Analysis
- For subscribers
Sharp dealing: What was behind Essendon’s brave draft plan?
They held their nerve on preferring to draft, rather than pursuing the likes of Dan Houston. The 2025 draft might’ve been compromised, but the Bombers haven’t.
- Jake Niall
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- For subscribers
Mitchell breaks silence on failed Merrett trade, leaves door ajar for another crack
In his first public comments since the Hawks’ attempt to snare the Essendon captain collapsed, Sam Mitchell admitted he was annoyed that the trade didn’t go through, stating Hawthorn’s offer was fair.
- Sam McClure
- Analysis
- For subscribers
From Gold Coast’s golden academy, to the club that didn’t pick at all: Analysing every club’s 2025 draft
All up, 60 footballers found an AFL home in the most compromised national draft in history. We look at each club’s haul and hear from recruiting and list managers to explain their strategies.
- Marc McGowan
From the player who cried in his room thinking his dream was over, to sons and brothers of guns: Every pick of the AFL draft
The Cats have snared the younger brother of one of their stars. See all the picks from second night of the 2025 AFL Draft, and what the players had to say on the biggest night of their careers so far.
- Hannah Kennelly, Russell Bennett and Roy Ward
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.
- 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.
- Shelby Garlick, Hannah Kennelly, Jon Pierik and 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.
- 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.
- Greg Dundas
- Analysis
- Analysis
A legendary NFL boss says AFL clubs must follow these eight commandments for success
He built a Super Bowl-winning team. This is his advice for AFL teams ahead of Wednesday and Thursday’s national draft.
- Jake Niall
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/afl-draft-5u5