Your AFL club’s under-23s ranked

This is an interesting group to evaluate. There is reason to be excited about some of them, particularly Nate Caddy, Archie Perkins and Alwyn Davey jnr, while players such as Ben Hobbs and Zach Reid – who continues to struggle with injuries – have shown glimpses. The Bombers need to see significant development from a few of those aforementioned footballers in 2025. The jury is still out on midfielder Elijah Tsatas, the No.5 pick in the 2022 draft, so his third season will be a big one. Jye Menzie has become a solid AFL player, but it is too soon to make a judgment on Archie Roberts, Luamon Lual, Lewis Hayes and Vigo Visentini.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Caddy.

16. Port Adelaide

Ex-Kangaroo and 2021 No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis is the undoubted star of this crop, which is not as deep as many rivals’, in part because they have been willing to trade higher selections to bring in established talent. Horne-Francis, Lachie Jones, Josh Sinn and Joe Berry are the only first-round picks among their under-23s, but Jase Burgoyne – son of club great Peter – is also developing into a highly promising wingman and Logan Evans has proven a good addition out of the mid-season draft. Fresh draftees Jack Whitlock and Christian Moraes also have upside despite being drafted outside the first round.

Already a star: Horne-Francis. Star upside: Burgoyne, Berry, Whitlock.

15. Carlton

The Blues have reinvested in top-end youth after a period where they brought in Adam Saad, Adam Cerra and co. Ball magnet Jagga Smith was their biggest prize in the 2024 draft crop, while they secured Ashton Moir – who is poised for more opportunity, along with Jesse Motlop, after Matt Owies’ departure – and Ollie Hollands in their previous two drafts. Trading for Hollands’ older brother Elijah last off-season paid immediate dividends, and he looks a big part of the future. What might define this group is whether any, or all, of Billy Wilson, Lachie Cowan, Harry Lemmey, Jaxon Binns and Cooper Lord can establish themselves.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Elijah Hollands, Ollie Hollands, Smith.

14. Adelaide

Top-five draftee Sid Draper – a midfielder likened to Patrick Dangerfield and Horne-Francis for his power off the mark – joins an intriguing group of emerging Crows who will shape the Matthew Nicks era. Riley Thilthorpe, Jake Soligo, Max Michalanney and Josh Rachele headline the under-23 crew, while there is great hope for defender Daniel Curtin, whom they traded up for in the 2023 draft. Thilthorpe just needs a decent injury-free run to form a potent partnership with Darcy Fogarty in attack, but they would like to see more from Rachele. Soligo and Michalanney each finished top four in the club’s best-and-fairest award last season.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Thilthorpe, Rachele, Draper.

13. Richmond

So much about the Tigers’ future depends on how their 2024 draft class fares. They made eight selections in the national draft – six in the first round, including No.1 pick Sam Lalor, and another to start the second – so there are building blocks. Josh Gibcus was Richmond’s clear-cut best prospect before this year’s haul, with mostly middling young talent alongside him. Richmond’s bevy of selections meant they were willing to take risks on high-upside players, such as Lalor, Taj Hotton, Luke Trainor and even Harry Armstrong. Another part of their strategy was picking numerous tall players, which was risky in itself.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Hotton, Gibcus, Lalor, Faull, Armstrong, Smillie.

12. West Coast

The rebuild is on, but list boss Matt Clarke has a huge job ahead. What they do have is arguably the league’s best teenager in Harley Reid, although he is not yet a star on output, given he finished ninth in the Eagles’ best-and-fairest. Reid, along with home-grown talents Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett and Bo Allan are critical to how quick and successful West Coast’s ascent will be. Brady Hough, ex-Hawk Tyler Brockman, Jack Williams, Noah Long and Ryan Maric have shown they could be part of the future, too. Campbell Chesser is yet to live up to expectations as a first-round selection, while tall trio Jobe Shanahan, Archer Reid and Harry Barnett have potential.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Ginbey, Hewett, Allan, Harley Reid.

11. St Kilda

The Saints rarely lure top-line talent from elsewhere, so the draft is their best shot at securing high-calibre players. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – whom St Kilda will be desperate to re-sign to ward off the South Australian clubs – Mattaes Phillipou, Darcy Wilson and Lance Collard were all good first-round selections in recent years, to go with academy picks Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager. Throw in newcomers Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru – both top-10 picks – plus basketballer-turned-ruckman Alex Dodson, and there is quite a bit to like here. That said, the Saints will want to see at least one of this crop emerge in a big way in 2025.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Tauru, Wanganeen-Milera, Phillipou, Travaglia, Wilson.

10. Sydney

The Swans’ young talent – some of them no longer in this age bracket – helped propel them to this year’s grand final, but the under-23 crop is interesting on paper. Errol Gulden is a dual All-Australian, but his draft peers Braeden Campbell and Logan McDonald have shown promise without fulfilling their top-10 status. The jury is also still out on Angus Sheldrick, and they went earlier than others would have to select ruckman Will Green 16th overall last year. However, Matt Roberts looks a shrewd pick. Sydney hope players such as Caiden Cleary, Jesse Dattoli and Ned Bowman become good AFL-level footballers.

Already a star: Gulden. Star upside: Campbell, McDonald.

9. Melbourne

The Demons’ tumult does not change that they have a list with genuine potential. Melbourne pulled their old trick of bringing in a second first-round selection at this season’s draft, adding midfielders Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay to an on-ball brigade full of premiership stars. They drafted Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup in the first round last season. In Jacob van Rooyen, the Dees have a physical target, but fellow first-rounder and tall forward Matt Jefferson is yet to play in the AFL. Judd McVee and Jake Bowey are also promising, while Blake Howes, Bailey Laurie and Taj Woewodin have shown good signs.

Already a star: None. Star upside: van Rooyen, Langford, Windsor.

8. Geelong

The Cats have 21 players in this age bracket as they evolve away from their “Dad’s Army” reputation, even while still having plenty of veterans on the list. Not many recruiters, if any, find a diamond in the rough like list guru Stephen Wells, with Ollie Dempsey and Lawson Humphries the latest examples. Even Max Holmes was a superb selection at pick 20 four years ago, while talls Shannon Neale and Toby Conway are rising. Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry are senior staples, and first-round picks Jhye Clark and Connor O’Sullivan have bright futures. They have invested heavily in ruckmen, including Mitch Edwards, Jacob Molier and Joe Pike.

Already a star: Holmes. Star upside: Dempsey, Humphries, Bruhn, Henry.

7. Fremantle

Josh Treacy’s development from the rookie list into a contested-marking, sharpshooting force is the type of recruiting coup that changes a club’s fortunes. His forward-50 partnership with Jye Amiss will be critical if the Dockers are to challenge for a flag. Heath Chapman (who is just days off his 24th birthday) has battled injuries but shows promise. Fremantle’s under-23 crop is otherwise more solid than outstanding, including Brandon Walker – who finished 10th in the best and fairest this year – Matt Johnson, Josh Draper and Neil Erasmus. Draper, who stands at 197 centimetres, had a breakout season in 2024, and is one to watch. Midfielder Murphy Reid was the Dockers’ first-round pick this year.

Already a star: Treacy. Star upside: Amiss, Chapman.

6. GWS

There is some serious emerging talent at the Giants, headlined by top-five picks Aaron Cadman and Finn Callaghan. Darcy Jones has found his niche in attack, and Harvey Thomas and Toby McMullin took big steps in 2024, while the likes of Phoenix Gothard, James Leake, Harry Rowston and fresh recruits Ollie Hannaford, Harry Oliver and Cody Angove – all six first-round picks – are largely untapped. They love speedy small types, and recruiter Adrian Caruso does a great job picking against the tide. There should be more opportunity for Conor Stone and Ryan Angwin after the exits of Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman and James Peatling.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Callaghan, Cadman, Leake.

5. Hawthorn

The Hawks list is littered with promising youth, and it will be fascinating to see who emerges as the best of them. Good judges believe Josh Weddle will be at the forefront; ex-Bomber Massimo D’Ambrosio made the extended All-Australian squad in his first season at Waverley Park; and Connor Macdonald is fresh from averaging 17 disposals and more than a goal per game. Key forward Calsher Dear enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign, while mercurial forward Nick Watson, Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward are all top-10 selections. Ex-Pie Jack Ginnivan also fits in well in brown and gold. Key defender Noah Mraz could be a sneaky good pick in this year’s draft.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Weddle, Watson, D’Ambrosio.

4. Western Bulldogs

The Dogs don’t have a huge investment in the under-23s, but there is some serious talent among them, from unicorn tall Sam Darcy to No.1 selection Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and ultra-professional midfielder Ryley Sanders. Key-position prospects Jedd Busslinger and Jordan Croft are both first-round picks, too. The Bulldogs also look to have hit on later picks Harvey Gallagher and Joel Freijah, who each made double-digit senior appearances in 2024, as well as category B rookie James O’Donnell, while Luke Cleary should receive more opportunities next season. Cooper Hynes, Lachie Jacques and Josh Dolan headlined their draft haul this year.

Already a star: Ugle-Hagan. Star upside: Sanders, Darcy.

3. Brisbane Lions

The Lions are rich in talent right through their list, and their younger demographic is no different. Father-son arrival Levi Ashcroft makes this group even stronger, adding to a nucleus that includes his Norm Smith Medal-winning brother Will and premiership players Kai Lohmann, Darcy Wilmot, Jaspa Fletcher and Logan Morris. Lohmann had a Norm Smith Medal case, too, and flourished this past season after Jack Gunston returned to Hawthorn, while Morris was a surprise packet in his debut year as a No.31 draft pick. Snaring Wilmot and Lohmann at No.16 and 20 respectively in the 2021 draft was shrewd recruiting.

Already a star: Will Ashcroft. Star upside: Lohmann, Levi Ashcroft.

2. Gold Coast

Jed Walter and Mac Andrew are brilliant young key-position talents, and there is plenty to like in the Suns’ under-23 class beyond them. The club’s academy pipeline has treated them well after millions of dollars of investment across a long period, with Walter, Bodhi Uwland, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Will Graham, Leo Lombard and Alex Davies among the graduates. Forward-midfielder Bailey Humphrey was pick six in the 2022 draft and his best is ahead of him, while ex-academy player Sam Clohesy was a quality addition out of the VFL and Ned Moyle has set himself as Jarrod Witts’ successor. Joel Jeffrey is another talented young player.

Already a star: None. Star upside: Andrew, Walter, Read, Humphrey, Lombard.

1. North Melbourne

No club has more than the Kangaroos’ 24 players in this age bracket – and half of them are first-rounders. The Kangaroos have finished in the bottom two in five straight seasons, so many of these young footballers have a major role to play in where this team goes. Harry Sheezel is already a club champion, while there is significant excitement about what George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher, Zane Duursma and new addition Finn O’Sullivan can become. Paul Curtis, Eddie Ford, Tom Powell and Jackson Archer show promise as senior regulars, but the development of key-position players Wil Dawson and Matt Whitlock will be critical.

Already a star: Sheezel. Star upside: O’Sullivan, Wardlaw, McKercher, Duursma.

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