‘Watching the game and me get born’: Top draft picks’ AFL teams revealed… some may land at their clubs

Dylan Patterson’s dad will never forget September 1, 2007.

It was the night his son – who’d develop into a 2025 Suns academy first-round prospect – arrived … but also the night his beloved Brisbane Lions copped a 42-point touch-up by Geelong at the Gabba.

“I was born while the Lions were playing,” Patterson tells foxfooty.com.au. “Dad was watching the game on the telly and trying to watch me get born at the same time.

“I’m pretty sure he turned it off because the Cats were pumping them!”

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Tricky multi-tasking.

Despite the result, Patterson’s dad ensured his son would be raised a Lions supporter.

And while they’d eventually relocate south to the Gold Coast in Patterson’s early high school years before joining the club’s academy, the star half-back/wing has remained a Brisbane fan.

“Dad when he moved to Brisbane started going for the Lions as well, so I just grew up going for them,” Patterson told foxfooty.com.au.

“I was born into it and have pretty much been a member since I was born. But I think this year was the first year without a membership.

“I was happy they won (the 2025 flag) and it’d be pretty good for them if they can get on the end of another one. But I’ll be playing for another team – so I hope that doesn’t happen.”

That team will be the Suns, who’ll almost certainly match an inevitably early bid on Patterson on draft night.

Foxfooty.com.au at the draft combine earlier this month asked 17 draft prospects which AFL teams they follow.

Unlike Patterson, top northern academy prospects Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast), Daniel Annable (Brisbane) and Max King (Sydney) all support the clubs they’re already tied to. King said it would be “absolutely awesome” if he ended up at the Swans next year.

Elsewhere, there’s a chance some prospects land at their favourite club.

Big top-10 draft bolter Sullivan Robey supports Essendon, which holds Picks 5 and 6.

“Dad’s dad used to fly aeroplanes, so Dad just inherited the Bombers,” Robey told foxfooty.com.au.

And North Adelaide on-baller Sam Cumming, who’s in early to mid-first-round contention, supports Hawthorn, which holds Pick 10.

“Growing up in Mildura with our local club back there Wentworth, we had a few players play for the Hawks, like Richard Vandenberg and Ben McGlynn,” Cumming told foxfooty.com.au. “That’s probably the main reason I ended up going for the Hawks.”

And Oakleigh Chargers star Sam Grlj has Blues blood running through his veins.

“Dad supported Carlton and his dad supported them, so it just got passed down,” Grlj tells foxfooty.com.au.

“I remember coming here (the MCG) and watching Sam Docherty’s kick through the middle and his kick to Blake Acres for that (final in 2023). That was pretty special.”

Carlton holds Picks 9 and 11, but those selections will change depending on when a Harry Dean father-son bid comes. Plus Grlj has lots of top-10 interest, starting at Richmond (Picks 3 and 4).

Like most footy-mad families, the parents of this year’s top draft prospects have had a significant influence on which AFL team they support.

Top-five Calder Cannons prospect Cooper Duff-Tytler barracks for Hawthorn due to his dad’s influence, while Sandringham Dragons forward Archie Ludowyke was “forced to” be a St Kilda fan.

“If I didn’t go for them, I wouldn’t live in the house,” Ludowyke told foxfooty.com.au with a laugh.

Eastern Ranges forward Lachy Dovaston concedes he’s “mad Collingwood” but said he knows an enforced change of heart for him – and his Pies-leaning father – is coming.

“Very likely I’ll have to switch at the end of this year, but very ready for it,” he tells foxfooty.com.au with a laugh.

Essendon NGA prospect Adam Sweid is a Hawthorn fan after following in his father’s footsteps. Although his dad had a unique introduction to life as a Hawks follower.

“Dad came from Lebanon to Australia and when he started working doing security in the city, he used to see a lot of Hawthorn fans,” Sweid told foxfooty.com.au. “And he used to love ‘Buddy’.

“When you’re growing up, you just look at your dad and what he does and who he supports, so I supported Hawthorn growing up.”

Two of this year’s best father-son prospects, Harry Dean (Carlton) and Louis Kellaway (Richmond), support the clubs their dads, Peter and Duncan respectively, represented.

However Kellaway, a Glenunga and Sturt product, said he also follows the Adelaide Crows, while Dean even conceded he had “a little bit of a soft spot for the Doggies”.

But asked who he supported when the Blues played the Dogs during the AFL season, Dean quickly said “Carlton”.

One prospect, however, didn’t follow his parents’ teams.

“I go for Port Adelaide,” Central District forward Aidan Schubert told foxfooty.com.au.

“Mum and Dad, they went for Crows and Hawks and they always wanted me to go for their teams. But I couldn’t choose one, so I went for my own in Port.”

There’s a couple of players who already have siblings in the AFL system, which has affected their allegiances.

No.1 pick favourite Willem Duursma will become the fourth sibling from the Duursma clan to make it to the top level, joining older brothers Xavier (Essendon) and Zane (North Melbourne) and sister Yasmin (Carlton).

Initially a Brisbane fan, Duursma now supports multiple teams.

“Growing up, we barracked for Brisbane, because when Xavier was born they were winning the flags. So he made us all go for them,” he told foxfooty.com.au.

“But as we’ve gotten older, Xavier’s at a club, Yassy’s at a club then Zane’s at a club … so I just barrack for a couple of clubs, rather than support one team only.”

Woodville-West Torrens gun Jevan Phillipou has naturally leant towards St Kilda over the past three years after older brother Mattaes was drafted to Moorabbin.

“I guess the Saints, wanting them to do well because he (Mattaes) is playing for them,” Phillipou told foxfooty.com.au. “But when he’s not playing I couldn’t really care less to be honest. I just want him to do well.

“I used to like the Swans. When Paul Roos was coaching, Dad really liked the Swans and then when John Longmire took over, we were big fans of him. I feel like I play a little bit like some of the players in that team.

“Apart from that though, I’d pick Port over the Crows for sure. I just don’t like the Crows, honestly, I don’t like them at all. Dad played a little bit of SANFL for Port as well so that might be part of it.”

As for top WA prospect Jacob Farrow?

“I don’t go for a team,” he told foxfooty.com.au. “I like watching players specifically and what they do on the field.

“My parents are now Freo fans, so when I was a bit younger I’d go and watch Freo with them. I love watching a good game of footy, so I don’t really have any hard feelings about any one team.”

Farrow never supported an AFL club growing up after he and his family moved to Perth from the UK in 2009.

Instead, he collected various guernseys of all 18 clubs. So, he won’t have a single worry representing any of the teams.