Late-breaking trade rumors as clubs consider moves for a highly-rated young player with fresh picks — AFL Draft LIVE
The highly sought-after kicker in this year's AFL draft class, Josh Lindsay, is generating significant interest, with several clubs evaluating whether to select the Geelong Falcons star using their fresh first-round picks.
The 2025 AFL national draft dreams will come to fruition on Wednesday night at Marvel Stadium. The draft will span two days, starting with the first round on November 19, followed by the remaining rounds on November 20. Coverage will be available on Kayo Sports 19-20 Nov, with a special offer for new subscribers: join now and get your first month for just $1.
The opening round of both nights commences at 7 pm (AEDT) and will be broadcast live on Fox Footy via Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Up to 29 players are expected to be drafted onto AFL lists on Wednesday, with the potential for the first round to have more picks than the entire second night.
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Fourteen prospects have been invited to Marvel Stadium for the first round: Willem Duursma, Zeke Uwland, Harry Dean, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Dylan Patterson, Daniel Annable, Sullivan Robey, Sam Cumming, Xavier Taylor, Sam Grlj, Dyson Sharp, Jacob Farrow, Cameron Nairn, and Lachy Dovaston. The latter two are late additions.
The first six picks are widely expected to be Duursma (West Coast), Uwland (Gold Coast), Dean (Carlton), Duff-Tytler (West Coast), Patterson (Gold Coast), and Annable (Brisbane). The Eagles and Tigers are set to bid on the four club-tied players.
Richmond is considering a mix of five players: Robey, Cumming, Taylor, Grlj, and Farrow. The Tigers' selection will significantly impact the strategies of Essendon and Melbourne for the next four picks, as both clubs are interested in a similar group of players.
Despite not receiving an invite, Lindsay is generating significant interest from clubs in the middle to late stages of the first round. He is expected to be in the mix for Essendon's Pick 9, which they will acquire from Carlton to help match bids on Dean and NGA gun Jack Ison. However, the Bombers are also considering Dovaston, mature-age bolter Latrelle Pickett, or key forward Aidan Schubert.
Hawthorn (Pick 10) has also been linked to Lindsay. If he slips through the Bombers and Hawks, North Melbourne, which will trade with Carlton early in the night and acquire Pick 11, will strongly consider him. The Kangaroos are evaluating various players at that selection, including South Australian trio Pickett, Schubert, and Blake Thredgold. Some sources believe Dovaston would be the latest pick at that position.
The Western Bulldogs, who are eyeing a half-back at Pick 14, have been the club most strongly linked to Lindsay in the first round over recent weeks. They are interested in Eastern Ranges' Oskar Taylor and Swans academy prospect Lachlan Carmichael.
Geelong (Pick 19) is now seen as a significant trade watch, with sources suggesting the Cats would be prepared to move up the order to secure Lindsay, the top Geelong Falcons prospect who reportedly met with the Cats on Monday, ahead of the Bulldogs.
The Giants (Pick 12) are considered the Cats' best chance to move up the order. They are prepared to listen to offers for their selection if their tier of players at that point in the draft are all off the board. The players most commonly linked to the Giants are Grlj, Pickett, Oskar Taylor, and key forward Archie Ludowyke.
Hawthorn's Pick 10 could be another trade option for Geelong, but it is seen as a less likely scenario than a Cats-Giants trade, as the Hawks are not expected to drop down the draft order too far.
In addition to Uwland, Dean, Patterson, Annable, and Ison, five more club-tied prospects are expected to attract first-round bids: Harry Kyle (Swans academy), Jai Murray (Suns academy), Beau Addinsall (Suns academy), Tylah Williams (Eagles NGA), and Adam Sweid (Bombers NGA). If the Bulldogs don't bid on Carmichael, he is likely to slip to the second round, while Max King (Swans academy) and Zac McCarthy (Magpies NGA) are also set to attract bids on the second night.
The Suns will also acquire later draft selections from the Giants, Crows, and Power to boost their draft points tally. However, it is unlikely to be enough to match bids on their top five academy players if all of them come in the national draft.
Considering the tight points hauls of the two clubs, Gold Coast and Sydney could let Addinsall and Carmichael go to rivals if their bids come earlier than expected. West Coast has been strongly linked to Addinsall with its third pick, where it could also bid on fellow Suns academy midfielder Murray.
