Mid-season draft fancies are set to state press their case for an AFL list spot this weekend, while a host of lesser-known names shone in trial matches over the Easter break.
Plus, Port Adelaide could be major beneficiaries with one of the leading pick 1 contenders a chance to join their NGA program.
All the latest talent news and updates in AFL Draft Watch ahead of the 2025 AFL National Draft, with the first round to be held on Wednesday November 19, followed by the remaining rounds on Thursday November 20.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
MID-SEASON HOPEFULS TO STRUT THEIR STUFF AS YOUNG GUNS SQUAD REVEALED
There’s plenty of pathways into the AFL these days and for those who have missed out in recent years, they get another golden opportunity to state their case on Saturday.
The Young Guns squad features players who are eligible for the mid-season draft on Wednesday, May 28 and selection is based on nominations submitted by AFL club recruiters.
The past three number 1 picks of the mid-season draft – Geordie Payne, Ryan Maric and Jai Culley – have all represented the Young Guns the year they got their AFL break.
So, who are the leading candidates this year?
Keep an eye on Floyd Burmeister, the GWV Rebels high-flyer who has caught the eye of club scouts already this year.
Burmeister was unlucky not to make it onto an AFL list last year but has shone in the early parts of 2025 in the Coates Talent League.
He booted three goals for Vic Country in a trial game on the weekend and has generated ten scoring shots in two games for the Rebels. A tall forward who is athletic around the ground and loves to clunk a mark, Burmeister is exactly the type of player that clubs have pounced on mid-season in recent years.
“He’s still very raw, he hasn’t played a huge amount of footy, but I’d love him in my side,” Vic Country coach Nick Cox told foxfooty.com.au.
“His ability to launch and jump at the footy is unbelievable… he just gets involved in games and can fly and compete in the air where a lot of people just give up.”
Simmo unpacks the modern centre bounce | 04:30
St Kilda NGA graduate Adrian Cole is another name in the mix, having narrowly missed out on being drafted last season. Cole is strong defensively and has crossed to the Dandenong Stingrays after featuring in the Sandringham Dragons’ premiership side last year.
The key defender completed a pre-season with North Melbourne’s VFL side and has worked hard on improving his game.
“He’s fit in really well and he’s got an understanding of what’s required with his craft as a big. He’s played a few more games higher up the ground, last year was more of a lockdown defender,” Cox said.
“He’s been involved in offensive transition and he’s making sound and simple decisions by hand and by foot… he’s just becoming better all-round.”
Other familiar names include Noah Yze, the son of Richmond coach Adem, while Eastern Ranges defender Rod Ali is another name clubs are keeping a close eye on.
There’s also plenty of interest in Stingrays forward Henry Hayes, while defenders Zac Walker and Charlie Orchard are other hopefuls. Scroll to the bottom of this article to see the full squad.
HIDDEN GEMS STAND TALL IN TRIAL MATCH
With the AFL Academy members out of action, opportunities presented for some of Victoria’s lesser-known names in this year’s crop to shine.
Keep an eye on Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Sam Lewis, who has had an excellent start to his 2025 season.
Lewis recorded 30 disposals for Vic Country in the second trial match, but it was his work at the coalface that was most impressive. The Red Hill product amassed a whopping 10 clearances, six of which were won out of the middle.
Lewis’ 2024 campaign was hampered by a foot injury, but the big-bodied powerful midfielder was one of the biggest talking points to come out of the trial matches over Easter.
Is Heeney up front the key for Swans? | 03:36
“He makes really good decisions… and I just think he’s going to get better and better,” Cox said.
“In his area, he wins the ball more often than not. He’s been a bit disappointed the last few weeks with his cleanness around stoppage, but his exit point stuff and his ability to find someone in a better position, particularly with hands, has been a nice quality.
“Tom Green – that’s exactly what he is.”
One of his Dandenong Stingrays teammates, Tairon Ah-Mu performed strongly in game one, booting six majors as the dominant forward on the ground.
Ah-Mu booted 22 goals in eleven matches for the Rays last year and is covering the ground well this season after working on his fitness over summer. A powerful mark who can also play in the ruck, he has plenty of tools to succeed at the highest level.
“His fundamentals are unbelievable, he’s clean for a big bloke and he’s learning to be better up the ground. It was exciting to see him do that at a pretty good level,” Cox said.
Cox believes Ah-Mu, who clubs believe could also be thrown into the backline, will thrive in a full-time system.
“I know this is big, but Riley Thilthorpe is similar in a way. Big bloke who marks ball in goal square and commands the footy. Obviously, he was a bit raw when he came in, but he’s turning into a mammoth man now.”
Balta: “Violence is never the answer” | 01:02
Callum Smith, the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Barlett also had a strong outing in Werribee, while Melbourne NGA member Toby Sinnema had a team-high 20 touches for Country in game one, showcasing his ability to run and carry with pinpoint ball use.
“He’s more than that. I actually think this kid is going to jump really high… we’ve started to see some of the stuff he can do,” Cox said of Smith.
Smith runs a sub three second 20m sprint and is also an elite endurance runner who runs both ways.
Other standouts from the Good Friday double header included Vic Metro on-baller Sam Grlj (27 disposals) who dominated in the middle of the ground and Country midfielder Brodie Atkins (24 disposals).
In other news, foxfooty.com.au understands AFL Academy member Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves is still three to four weeks away from a return due to a shoulder injury.
FAMILIAR NAMES SHINE
There’s also the more familiar names.
Cody Walker, the son of former Blue Andrew, is putting together a sound bottom-aged campaign with the Bendigo Pioneers.
Walker had 18 disposals and six clearances in the first trial match and will next year face a big decision. Walker is eligible as a father-son for the Blues, but is also tied to Richmond’s NGA program.
“He’s a kid who just wants ball in hand as much as he can get it, he wants to be involved all the time” Cox said.
“He stays in contests really well; he kicks the ball well and makes good decisions.”
Cox concedes errors with McCartin move | 01:31
Western Jets midfielder Tom McGuane, son of Collingwood great Mick, found plenty of the footy and racked up 26 disposals, while Tyson Gresham, brother of Jade, also featured. Dragons half-back Kye Fincher was also amongst the best and is tied to St Kilda’s NGA program.
Zac McCarthy (Collingwood NGA) and Harry Dean (son of Carlton’s Peter) have also had strong starts to their draft campaigns, while Essendon NGA duo Adam Sweid and Hussein El Achkar have also been impressive.
The pair will run out for Vic Metro this weekend against the Young Guns, as will Hunter Holmes, the brother of Geelong star Max.
Holmes is the sole Oakleigh Chargers representative listed for the match, with three-time reigning Coates Talent League champions the Sandringham Dragons having a club-high six named.
‘Less talk, more action!’ Dimma fires up | 01:35
DRAFT RORT COMING?
One of the leading contenders for pick 1 in the 2026 draft has been invited to be in the AFL’s National Indigenous Academy, according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Twomey reported that the invitation for Dougie Cochrane, the son of former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne player Stuart, is a huge step for his Next Generation Academy status.
Cochrane is also the brother of the Power’s Tom Cochrane, who made his debut in recent weeks under Ken Hinkley.
Darcy Moore ruled out of Anzac Day clash | 02:09
Having had a later discovery of his Indigenous background, should Dougie Cochrane be accepted into the Power’s academy program, it will mean that they could have access to the star youngster, who is a pick 1 fancy in 2026.
Having said that, the AFL is currently reviewing the NGA zoning across the country. Cochrane starred for South Australia in the under 16 national championships last season and has begun his 2025 campaign promisingly for Central Districts.
FULL YOUNG GUNS SQUAD
6 Charlie Rozenes
8 Sam Toner
9 Rod Ali
10 Jhett Haeata
11 Oliver Depaoli-Kubank
12 Tom Evans
13 Coen Ainsworth
14 Hugh White
15 Adrian Cole
16 Gus Papal
17 Zac Walker
18 Noah Yze
19 Charlie Orchard
20 Max Roney
21 Henry Hayes
22 Caleb Lewis
23 Jez Rigoni
24 Seth MacDonald
25 Kobe George
27 Floyd Burmeister
28 Zac Harding
29 Lucas Impey
35 Ayden McCarroll
Discussion about this post