AFL predictions: The Tassie talents to soar in 2025
From rookies looking to make their mark to veterans pressing for a flag, 2025 promises to be an intriguing season for Tassie’s AFL stars. We’ve crystal balled what could happen.
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Tasmania’s stadium drama may have hogged the headlines this week, but a number of local products are gearing up for a big AFL season.
From the veterans pressing for a flag to the rookies looking to prove themselves, here’s our predictions for 2025.
McKercher will establish himself as a star
Plenty will depend on whether he has put on the necessary size over summer to withstand the added physicality, but Colby McKercher will use more midfield minutes to announce himself as one of the game’s best young guns.
As is the rite of passage for many rookies, McKercher eased into life as a Kangaroo across half-back, where his speed and elite ball use caught the eye.
However, the no. 2 draft pick told The Mercury before North Melbourne’s final game of the year, against Hawthorn in Launceston, that the training loads was the biggest adjustment in his first year in the AFL.
He missed a few games mid season through ankle soreness, but made no secret he wants to move into the engine room this year.
“I really miss playing midfield, to be honest,” he said.
“At under 18s that was my best position and I felt like I had a big say on games. I’d love to get back to doing that.
“I’ve really loved my time at half back, and it’s an awesome intro into AFL footy. But hopefully next year my body will be more prepared for a lot more contest and impact, and I can get higher up on the ground and impact a bit more.”
After the match, coach Alastair Clarkson indicated he could get his wish.
“He’s had some (injury) hiccups, he’s playing against men for the first time and it’s not just senior men’s footy, it’s AFL footy,” Clarkson said.
“It’s a big step up and he’s acquitted himself really well.
“He’s had to learn a lot along the way. We’ve played him in a position that’s unfamiliar to him, but we feel like he’s given us some real run and bounce and energy.
“We’re hoping at some point in time, similar to Sheezel, he ends up playing more in the middle of the ground. He’s fit into our club really well and hopefully he’ll continue to progress as a player.”
Leake will play at least half a dozen games
It’s a tough team to break into, but given he has better luck with injuries James Leake will become the last of Tasmania’s ‘Fab Four’ picked up in last year’s draft to make his debut.
A quad injury hampered him through the first half of last season, but showed he has plenty to offer when returning through the VFL.
McKercher, Ryley Sanders (Bulldogs) and Arie Schoenmaker (St Kilda) all debuted last year after being picked up in the 2023 draft.
The trio and Leake all hail from Launceston, and the departures of Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman, James Peatling and Nick Haynes gives the no. 17 pick a huge opportunity.
He has trained in the midfield but even if he doesn’t make the final cut there, his versatility can ensure he fits into the 23 somewhere or will come in when injuries strike.
That’s why we do it. But it’s about making sure I’m getting better every day. I’m nowhere near the finished product.”
Pearce will lead the Dockers to finals
Alex Pearce would have been like a cat on a hot tin roof all summer after injuries meant he was powerless to stop Fremantle crashing out of the top eight.
After breaking his arm twice, the Dockers captain could only watch on as his side lost their last three games to finish tenth, just two points behind eighth-placed Carlton.
Pearce was selected to play for the Indigenous All Stars against Fremantle last month, but was ruled out after tweaking his ankle in an intra-club game.
The Dockers have a stable list with former Tiger Shai Bolton the only player of note to come in.
Embley, McStay will help Mihocek soar
Brody Mihocek has been a warrior for Collingwood as virtually their only regular key forward in recent seasons, but should have much more help around him.
Mihocek missed the back half of last season after rupturing his pectoral, and his absence was sorely felt by the reigning premiers with Daniel McStay also sidelined long term.
McStay is healthy and looked promising, albeit against a struggling Richmond, in their last pre season game, while St Kilda recruit also showed good signs.
If the Magpies can work out a way to make three tall options click together, Mihocek will have less attention on him and can capitalise.
Mansell needs to continue to step up
The 24-year-old small forward kicked 21 goals in as many games for the wooden spooners, who won just two games all season.
In May his strong early season form was rewarded with a two-year extension and has now played 53 games over the last four years.
He averaged nearly ten touches and 2.64 tackles per game in 2024, and his pressure and opportunism in front of goal means he could be a big part of Richmond’s rebuild.
Payne will get a chance
It seems pointless to take north-west young gun Geordie Payne with the first pick of the mid-season draft if you aren’t going to give him a chance to show what he can do at AFL level.
After a tremendous season at under-18 level where he was named the Devils’ Coates Talent League player of the year in 2023, Payne was considered very unlucky not to be taken in the draft.
It only motivated him to dominate the under-18 competition even more early last season, which meant he was a certainty to be picked up by someone in the mid-season draft.
With a full first AFL off season under his belt and, hopefully, having added more size to his light frame, Payne will surely be the next young Roo given a chance to prove himself.
Sanders will show why he was a high draft pick
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has a reputation for making highly rated young stars earn their stripes before they can consider themselves automatic selections.
No. 6 draft pick Ryley Sanders found that out first-hand last year. He played 14 games but was the sub on occasions and was also subbed out of games.
He let frustration get the better of him when he was subbed out in an April game against Essendon, when he threw a water bottle and towel.
But opportunity now beckons for the silky ball user, with the new-look Bulldogs also battling an injury crisis before a ball is even kicked.
Marcus Bontempelli hurt his calf early in last week’s pre season win over Hawthorn at Launceston, and is out for six weeks.
Caleb Daniel, Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith have also departed, meaning Sanders will have more responsibility.
He’ll be motivated to grab that chance.
Tasmanians will continue to be linked to the Devils ad nauseam
This is more a fait accompli than a prediction, but you can bet your house whenever a Tasmanian product has even a marginally strong game the ‘go home’ factor will be raised.
If they’re not tired of being asked if a return to their home state from 2028 is a chance already, the likes of McKercher, Leake and Sanders will be as long as they don’t sign a long term deal with their current teams.
It will make for great fodder for media types, but the reality is Devils boss Brendon Gale is fully aware a big first signing can create the domino effect they need to be competitive immediately.
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