AFL Draft 2025: South Australia v Vic Metro news, stats, scouting notes as top picks fire
South Australia were far too strong for Vic Metro at Alberton Oval, with a powerful midfielder showing why he is a top-five prospect. See all the scouting notes here.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Powerful midfielder Dyson Sharp has provided another reminder of why he shapes as a potential top-five pick in this year’s AFL draft after steering South Australia to a thumping win over Vic Metro.
Sharp was best afield for the home side on a wet and windy day at Alberton Oval, gathering a game-high 32 disposals along with six clearances and two goals in the under-18 national championships clash.
The South Australian captain was in everything, doing plenty of grunt work through the midfield and also providing an option in attack when he was rotated forward.
A strong and powerful player, he streamed forward and found targets inside-50 multiple times on his way to logging 10 score involvements for the day.
South Australia kicked 13 goals to two after quarter-time to record a 15.10 (100) to 5.9 (39) triumph.
Vic Metro looked unorganised at times, was beaten in the territory battle and gave away a number of undisciplined free kicks in the defeat.
After shooting up club draft boards following a four-goal performance against the Allies the previous week, South Australian forward-ruck Aidan Schubert again played a leading role alongside Sharp.
Splitting his time between forward and ruck roles, Schubert recorded 14 disposals, seven marks, nine hit-outs and kicked three goals.
A 198cm tall from Central District, the mobile Schubert was unstoppable in the air, with five of his grabs being contested including a big pack mark inside-50 in the final quarter.
An early draft bolter, Schubert comes from an elite junior basketball background and had represented SA Country at the 2024 Australian U18 Men’s National Basketball Championships before choosing to focus on football this year.
South Australian vice-captain Samuel Cumming (19 disposals, two goals), hard-running wingman Matthew LeRay (17 disposals) and lively forward Zane Peucker (12 disposals, two goals) were also among South Australia’s better players.
For Vic Metro, Oliver Greeves (27 disposals) led the way through the midfield, while Xavier Taylor (14 disposals, four marks) showed some good signs in defence and Aaron Sharkie (19 disposals) was clean with the footy through the midfield.
St Kilda Next Generation Academy member Kye Fincher (27 disposals) found the footy coming out of the back half, while potential No. 1 draft pick Cooper Duff-Tytler (18 disposals, 21 hit-outs) battled hard in the ruck but wasn’t as clean as usual with his disposal of the ball.
SCOUTING NOTES — SOUTH AUSTRALIA v VIC METRO
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Dyson Sharp
32 disposals, 11 inside-50s, 6 clearances, 10 score involvements, 2 goals
Clearly the best player on the ground, the South Australian captain led the way for his side with another huge game. A strong and powerful player, he did plenty of grunt work in tight and streamed forward to find teammates inside-50 on numerous occasions. He also spent some time forward himself, providing a target and getting on the end of two goals.
Aidan Schubert
14 disposals, 7 marks (5 contested), 9 hit-outs, 3 goals
There is no stopping this 198cm forward-ruckman when he fully extends his arms into the air to take a mark. The former basketball star took some huge contested grabs once again, including a big pack mark in the last quarter. He is an accurate kick on goal and is a competitor who works hard to stay in the game whether he is forward or rotating in the ruck. After four goals against the Allies the previous week, Schubert’s star is quickly rising.
Samuel Cumming
19 disposals, 3 clearances, 2 goals
A highly-rated 186cm midfielder-forward, the South Australian vice-captain spent time in midfield and forward roles. He used the footy well and made the most of his opportunities in front of goal, booting two majors in the second quarter. One of those came from a nice mark on the lead and a lovely set shot strike from 45m.
Matthew LeRay
17 disposals, 4 marks, 6 score involvements
A genuine wingman who is a good size at 189cm, LeRay can run all day and consistently plays his role perfectly. He got back to support his defence and generally used the ball well to find targets going inside-50.
Zane Peucker
12 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
A livewire in attack, Peucker bobbed up on a couple of occasions and took his opportunities like good small forwards do. The 180cm Woodville-West Torrens product cleverly worked his way through congestion to kick the first goal of the game and slotted another nice goal on the run in the third quarter.
Mitchell Marsh
7 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal
After booting four goals against the Allies the previous week, this exciting 191cm marking forward didn’t quite get the same returns in his second match of the championships. But he again showed great hands overhead and an exceptional ability to read the flight of the ball coming forward and position himself to take marks. He kicked a goal in the second quarter on the back of a big contested grab on the edge of the goalsquare, but it would be Marsh’s only major of the day as he recorded three behinds from his other opportunities.
Sam Ainsworth
12 disposals, 14 hit-outs, 3 marks
A 198cm ruckman from Norwood, Ainsworth was the main man in the ruck for South Australia and performed well against opponents including potential No. 1 pick Cooper Duff-Tytler. He was strong and physical, got involved in the play around the ground and won a couple of clearances of his own in addition to tapping the ball down to give his teammates first use.
VIC METRO
Oliver Greeves
27 disposals, 5 clearances, 1 goal
Clearly Vic Metro’s best player on a tough day, Greeves cracked in hard playing mostly onball. He won 14 contested possessions – more than any other player on the ground – while also showing some good clearance work and nice evasive skills to break into space from congestion. Greeves’s goal came over the back of the play in the opening quarter, while he hit the post from a free kick during the third term.
Cooper Duff-Tytler
18 disposals, 21 hit-outs, 4 marks
It wasn’t quite Duff-Tytler’s day, but he showed character to battle on leading the ruck duties for Vic Metro. He won more than his share of hit-outs, provided some good tackling pressure when the ball hit the ground and got involved in the play around the ground. However, there were a few usually bad kicks going forward – not that he was alone with those in the conditions.
Xavier Taylor
14 disposals, 4 marks
A 191cm defender from the Eastern Ranges, Taylor was one of Vic Metro’s better backman on a tough day. He was composed under pressure and showed some desperate – and potentially goal-saving – defensive actions, while also providing some rebound from the back half.
Kye Fincher
27 disposals, 5 marks
A St Kilda Next Generation Academy player, Fincher was particularly prolific early with 11 disposals in the first quarter alone. Playing mostly off halfback, he slowed down a little after that though and there were a few miss-guided kicks on a difficult day.
Aaron Sharkie
19 disposals, 4 marks, 2 clearances
Playing primarily onball, Sharkie was solid. The 184cm Oakleigh Chargers product found space and used the football more cleanly than most, going at disposal efficiency of 94.7 per cent for the day.
Thomas McGuane
15 disposals, 2 clearances, 4 score involvements
A Collingwood father-son prospect this year, McGuane had a quiet first half playing across half-forward. However, the natural midfielder was thrown onball at stages in the second half and got himself more involved, with 11 of his touches coming after the main break. He was clean in tight and won a couple of clearances.
CARLTON FATHER-SON, TOP-10 PROSPECTS STAR IN THRILLER
A goalkicking half-forward and a Carlton father-son prospect made their mark for a Vic Country side which was pipped at the death by Western Australia in the under-18 national championships on Saturday.
The home side pinched a thrilling three-point victory – 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78) – at Mineral Resources Park in Perth, with Hudson Walker displaying nerves of steel to boot the winning goal from a set shot in the final minute of the match.
West Coast father-son prospect Charlie Banfield found Walker with a kick inside-50, after taking a vital intercept mark tight on the boundary line to set up the play.
The late goal from Walker came after a huge second-half from Noah Hibbins-Hargraves, who had helped Vic Country take the lead in the last quarter.
The 186cm half-forward or wingman from the Dandenong Stingrays booted four goals after the main break, including two in a row in the last quarter.
Hibbins-Hargraves, who once kicked 20 goals in a game as a 14-year-old, was all class as he hit the scoreboard in multiple ways just weeks after returning to the field following an early-season shoulder injury.
The AFL Academy member had missed two exhibition matches for the Australian under-18 team in April due to the injury.
Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean was also hugely influential for Vic Country as he continues to rise up draft rankings.
The son of two-time Blues premiership player Peter, the 193cm defender from the Murray Bushrangers let little past him against Western Australia.
He read the play well, defended strongly one-one-one, showed good bodywork and came off his opponents to intercept the footy when the time was right.
Dean finished with 14 disposals, 10 marks (three contested) and seven intercept possessions as he stamps himself as a top-30 prospect following a strong start to the season in the Coates Talent League.
Potential top-five picks Willem Duursma (26 disposals) and Josh Lindsay (29 disposals) were also impressive for Vic Country, while Western Australia captain Fred Rodriguez (17 disposals) led the way for his side.
SCOUTING NOTES – WESTERN AUSTRALIA v VIC COUNTRY
VIC COUNTRY
Josh Lindsay
29 disposals, 8 marks, 3 rebound 50
The left-footed super boot from the Geelong Falcons had 11 disposals in the first quarter alone coming out of defence – nine of them kicks. Teammates wanted the ball in Lindsay’s hands and he pulled the trigger on some daring options through the corridor – and continually hit them. He is fast firming as a potential top-five pick in November.
Will Malady
6 disposals, 6 marks (3 contested), 2 goals
One to watch for next year’s draft, this lightly-framed 190cm forward from the Gippsland Power has vice-like hands overhead and is usually a very accurate set shot on goal. He booted Vic Country’s first goal of the game from a set shot after taking a nice contested mark in the opening minutes and had two goals on the board within the first 15 minutes of the game, but Malady was kept a little quieter after that.
Riley Onley
22 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 4 clearances
A solid performer playing onball throughout the day, this big-bodied midfielder cracked in hard to win his own footy. He logged more contested possessions than anyone else on the ground, while also showing off his booming kick and some good centre clearance work. However, Onley’s disposal of the ball let him down at times.
Zac Harding
13 disposals, 23 hit-outs, 3 clearances
The No. 1 ruckman for Vic Country – who is an overage player after turning 19 in January – was dominant across the match, displaying some nice tap work to his midfielders. Measuring 199cm, he also found the footy around the ground, with a couple of nice overhead marks including an intercept mark pushing back to support his defence.
Tairon Ah-Mu
8 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
An exciting 198cm big man from the Dandenong Stingrays who has been tearing it up in school football for Haileybury, Ah-Mu didn’t have a huge game but had a presence when the ball was in his area. A strong and big-bodied key forward, he got on the end of two goals in the second half – both from tight angles. Ah-Mu also spent time in ruck and even across halfback.
Harry Dean
14 disposals, 10 marks (3 contested), 7 intercept possessions
Get excited, Carlton fans. This father-son prospect is shaping as a top-30 pick after another big game down back. Standing 193cm, Dean did not let much past him in defence and took some huge intercept marks. He was composed under pressure, read the play well, used his body nicely to edge out opponents and showed good speed getting after the loose ball.
Willem Duursma
26 disposals, 7 marks, 4 clearances
The top-five pick contender was a little off his game early, struggling to find the footy and having a case of the fumbles a couple of times when he did. However, the Gippsland Power star lifted in the second half to almost get his team over the line. He showed some tricks with a one-handed mark, got involved in some one-two’s as a link-up runner. There was also a lovely intercept mark in defence and some dart passes going forward.
Noah Hibbins-Hargraves
17 disposals, 6 marks, 7 score involvements, 4 goals
When the game was on the line in the last quarter, this man lifted to nearly pinch it for Vic Country. The AFL Academy member was relatively quiet in the first half, spending time on a wing and across half-forward. But he booted four goals in the second half – including two in the space of a few minutes to give his side the lead late in the game. He hit the scoreboard in different ways, including one amazing goal from a tight angle in the right forward pocket and converting a set shot from a free kick for holding the ball after applying some good forward pressure on an opponent. It was another reminder of just how exciting Hibbins-Hargraves can be after he missed some games with a shoulder injury across the first half of the year.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Toby Whan
18 disposals, 4 clearances, 5 inside-50s, 1 goal
A member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Whan spent most of the game onball and worked hard both sides of the ball. He read the ruckmen’s hands nicely to win clearances and drive the ball forward. His goal came after he pounced on an intercept inside forward 50 in the third quarter.
Fred Rodriguez
17 disposals, 4 clearances, 8 score involvements, 6 tackles, 2 goals
Discussed as a potential top-10 pick this year, the Western Australian captain did not do those chances any harm. Playing onball, he kicked the first goal of the game on the run and burst out of centre clearance at pace to slot a second goal from 50m on the run during the third quarter. Along with showing good pace, Rodriguez was also composed with ball in hand and hit targets going forward to get himself involved in scoring chains.
Wesley Walley
7 disposals, 5 score involvements, 2 tackles
A small forward who is part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, Walley was relatively quiet but had some moments. He missed two shots on goal, but showed some good speed and tricks selling some candy to evade opponents.
Sam Swadling
12 disposals, 8 contested possessions, 6 score involvements, 1 goal
Having dominated through the midfield for West Perth in the WAFL Colts so far this year, Swadling was used in a different role as a forward in this match. He was lively in the new role, winning his own footy and showing some good agility inside-50. Swadling leapt on a loose ball and snapped a goal in the third quarter, but he recorded three behinds and one out on the full from his other opportunities to his the scoreboard.
Jacob Farrow
12 disposals, 2 clearances, 6 tackles, 1 goal
A halfback for West Perth in the WAFL Colts in the early part of the season, Farrow was thrown onball for this match. He was accountable to his opponents – which included Willem Duursma – and applied some good tackling pressure. Farrow also pushed forward to kick a goal on the run in the last quarter.
Cody Curtin
9 disposals, 6 marks (2 contested), 7 hitouts, 3 goals
A well-built 200cm tall, the younger brother of Adelaide young gun Daniel continued a strong year to date. Curtin – who had played as a key defender last year – spent most of the game as a forward while also assisting as a back-up ruckman. He led up well at the footy when forward, took some nice marks and made the most of his opportunities in front of goal. He also got back to take an important intercept mark in defence in the last quarter.
Charlie Banfield
11 disposals, 7 marks (3 contested), 5 score involvements, 1 goal
A father-son prospect for West Coast as the son of two-time Eagles premiership player Drew, this 191cm forward provided a strong target in attack for Western Australia throughout the match. He took some strong contested marks, as well pushing up the ground and being hit up on the lead. Banfield’s biggest moment game in the final two minutes, though, as he took a big intercept mark on the boundary line from 50m and kicked the ball in to Hudson Walker who converted the matchwinning goal.
Hudson Walker
16 disposals, 4 clearances, 7 tackles, 1 goal
This Subiaco product was tough in the clinches playing onball and ended up pushing forward to kick the matchwinning goal in the final minute of the game. He won his own footy and clearances, as well as applying good heat on his opponents. Walker laid the most tackles of any player on the ground and logged 10 contested possessions – the equal second-most.
Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: South Australia v Vic Metro news, stats, scouting notes as top picks fire
The Blues won — but is anyone convinced?
Carlton did what they needed to do against an injury-hit Essendon. But the performance wouldn’t have given their faithful much confidence 2025 will amount to anything special.
Roos storm home to start WA stint with crucial win
It wasn’t pretty, but North Melbourne have their third win of the season after a final term fightback against West Coast in Bunbury.
The Tackle: Reality sets in for Bulldogs’ faltering $8 million man
A looming date with his bunny St Kilda couldn’t come at a better time for Aaron Naughton, writes Jay Clark, as the Bulldogs slip from flag fancies to possibly losing touch with the top eight.
‘Absolutely disgusting’: AFL world fumes
Football fans couldn’t quite believe their eyes as one of the worst games ever seen in AFL history unfolded on Sunday afternoon.
‘Failure of the system’: Lyon slams Blue’s concussion delay
The AFL’s concussion system is under fire again after Carlton star Adam Cerra was allowed to continue playing after a bump to the head.
Mr Untouchable: Dees must defy any notion of Pickett the Docker
Thirteen rounds into 2025, Kysaiah Pickett’s position on a potential trade hasn’t changed. But if a deal between the Dees and Dockers is to happen, it’s clear who won’t be involved.