Geelong Falcons duo Ben Rongdit and Josh Lindsay named in AFL Academy squad as best and fairests crowned

A duo from the region have been recognised as top prospects for next year — including a Cats linked talent. Plus, Geelong Falcons have crowned their best and fairests. See the full top 10.

Ben Rongdit has been named in the AFL Academy squad. Picture: Alan Barber

Geelong academy prospect Ben Rongdit and Newtown & Chillwell talent Josh Lindsay have been named in the 2025 AFL Academy squad in the first sign the Cats could be hit with an early bid in next year’s draft.

The squad features 28 of the best 2025 draft prospects from across the country.

Clubs will be forced to pay more for academy and father-sons next year with a revamped draft value index and bidding system coming into effect.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE BEST AND FAIREST TOP 10

Lindsay won the medal as Team Heppell’s best payer in the U17 futures match AFL grand final day, while athletic Colac defender Rongdit is part of the Cats Next Generation Academy.

Rongdit, who is Sudanese, also featured in the futures clash after a lay-off with an ankle injury and showed exciting signs for Geelong Grammar in the Associated Public Schools (APS) competition.

He played had one appearance for the Falcons due to his school football commitments but he still impressed Falcons talent lead Jesse Drever.

“Even off that one game you could see some really special traits that he’s got.

“He trained with our V-Line Cup group and even in that you saw him jumping up for the footy with one hand and doing things you just don't quite see.

“Once he can show that consistency in his footy, the sky is the limit.

“Josh is just the ulta professional, just leaves no stone unturned. We expect next year that he will just be super consistent, so it is great to get him that reward.”

The Falcons are also expected to have a couple of players named in the Vic Country summer training hub.

It comes as the Geelong Falcons have crowned their best and fairest winners with St Mary’s product Lachie Jaques and Grovedale’s Hayley Peck taking out top honours.

Lachie Jaques won the Falcons’ best and fairest. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Jaques topped the boys’ charts to win the Norris Harding Medal in a season where he stamped himself as the Falcons’ top draft prospect, with Newtown & Chillwell duo Noah Tullio and Edan Ibbetson rounding out the podium.

“No matter what level (Jaques) has stepped up to this year he has just continued to prove that he is more capable of matching it,” Drever said.

“Obviously that start of the year at the Falcons and captaining the Falcons and All-Australian off the back of that. That’s the thing that we’re most pleased with, his consistency, his composure and his confidence really sets him up for the future.”

Peck’s win in the Lucy McEvoy Medal was an upset, outpolling potential top-10 AFLW Draft prospect Sara Howley who finished runner-up.

An overage prospect, Peck debuted for Geelong’s VFLW side in 2024 and spent time as a train-on at the Cats.

“A few people have noted that, even on the night it was, ‘Sara has been knocked off’, but for us it just goes to show how consistent Hayley was this year,” Drever said.

“I think she became a real leader in the program, she is a real off-field character and people gravitate towards her. People stood that little bit taller when Hayley was playing and playing well.”

Hayley Peck knocked off Sara Howley. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Brisbane mid-season draftee Will McLachlan finishing in the top five of the boys best and fairest despite playing just six games.

Fellow over-age players Joe Pike and wingman Liam Kershaw and Vic Country representative Xavier Ivisic – who also played six matches while splitting his time with school footy – all notched top-10 finishes.

McLachlan was drafted to Brisbame as an over-age player after booting 26 goals for the Falcons, with the Lions extended his initial until the end of 2026.

Drever feels that McLachlan, Pike and Kershaw – all in mid-season draft contention – underlined what the 19-year-old system is designed for.

We were really pleased with that 19-year-old crop in the boys space, that each of them had shown flashes over the last couple of years and just needed that little bit extra time to show they have got that consistency in their game,” Drever said.

“Sometimes it can be a bit easy to forget because we are so deep in the season, just how dominant (McLachlan) was early on.

“He has gone on to bigger and better things since then and I think off the back of a strong VFL year he the Lions have shown they’ve got that belief in him as well.

“He was very special to have in that brief period we had at the start of this year, off the back of the hard work he has done over the last couple of years.

“Ivisic was close to voting in every game he was available for… We also think he has done everything he can to put himself on an AFL list hopefully in the next couple of weeks.”

Will McLachlan was picked up in the mid-season draft. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Meanwhile, two of the Falcons top boys talents for next year have been named in the 28-payer AFL Academy squad.

Lindsay won the medal as Team Heppell’s best payer in the U17 futures match AFL grand final day, while Colac defender Ben Rongdit is part of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy

“There are some really special traits that (Rongdit has) got. Once he can show that consistency in his footy, the sky is the limit,” Drever said.

“Josh just leaves no stone unturned, we expect that next year that he is really consistent.”

Originally published as Geelong Falcons duo Ben Rongdit and Josh Lindsay named in AFL Academy squad as best and fairests crowned