Craft of the Draft AFL Podcast

The strong form of a club-tied draft prospect is set to leave one AFL club with a headache come the off-season as they look to settle on their list plans for the future. With the first AFL Academy game in the books, Jonty and Mitch go through the standouts and key talking points, plus a long-awaited nod for a Dandenong Stingrays talent’s start to the season and a look at Claremont’s Colts program.

RUNDOWN

00:00 Welcome to Craft of The Draft

00:58 Talk of the town

04:13 AFL Academy Recap

With a few weeks of action in the books, Jonty and Mitch highlight the AFL Draft prospects who have been early-season statement makers across the country with their strong form and sharp rises. The boys also look at some of the latest names to appear on the Mid-Season Draft radar, as well as preview the AFL Academy’s first game for 2026.

RUNDOWN

00:00 Welcome to Craft of The Draft

00:34 Talk of the town

15:02 Academy Analysis

18:56 On the radar

21:23 Emerging excellence

23:21 Team focus: Tassie VFL

26:58 Wh...

Jonty and Mitch list their top 10 AFL Draft prospects to start the year, and take a look at the current trend for ruckmen, with this year’s class featuring several talls at the point end of the crop. ‘On the Radar’ sees a Knights debutant and North Adelaide talent flagged as ones to watch, while some familiar surnames have emerged as in-form bottom agers early into the new season.

RUNDOWN

00:00 Welcome to Craft of The Draft

00:32 Talk of the town

08:57 Top 10s

12:27 Academy Analysis

17:59 On the ra...

Jonty and Mitch run through the best-placed draft prospects tied to an AFL club for 2026, and dive into the issues with the latest potential draft rule change. Among some new segments for 2026, the boys each put a new name ‘On The Radar’, and take a look at some of the top performers from the weekend.

RUNDOWN

00:00 Welcome to Craft of The Draft

00:51 Academy/Father-Son rules

07:32 Club-tied prospects

15:50 Academy analysis

21:31 On the radar

24:39 Emerging excellence

26:18 Team focus

29:21 What’s coming up?

Jonty and Mitch are back ahead of the first weekend of action to kickstart the 2026 AFL Draft season, with SANFL U18s and Talent League matches commencing. The boys preview the trends among AFL clubs and the arrival of Tasmania will impact this year’s draft, and flag some early potential Mid-Season Draft options to watch. As well as flagging the prospects who have turned heads over pre-season, they also give their premiership predictions for the four leading pathways competitions, and even name who they think could go Picks 1-3 at the end of the year.

RUNDOWN

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With the 2025 AFL Draft officially in the books, Mitch and Jonty look at how each club fared with their range of selections. We also run our eye over the most surprising picks, the twists and turns of the draft, our favourite selections and what each list addition will mean for 2026.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to Craft of The Draft

03:01 Adelaide

05:55 Brisbane

09:13 Carlton

10:49 Collingwood

13:19 Essendon

16:36 Fremantle

18:57 Geelong

21:07 Gold Coast<...

AFL draft bolter Marcus Krasnadamskis opens up about choosing football over a fledgling basketball career and how he’s progressed as a player throughout 2025 with his attention fully fixed on footy.

Recorded: 12/10/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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Three weeks from the AFL Draft, we take a look at what picks each club currently holds, their best club-tied options, the list needs they’ll likely address and the prospects potentially in their sights.

Recorded: 30/10/2025

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Our second Mock Draft of the year is here, with live trading added to shake things up after the post-trade period draft order was settled on. There’s some big surprises as we also look to some alternative selections from our first Mock Draft, with a handful of the top 10 selections changing. Following match bids, we remain at 23 selections as later picks are swallowed up.

Recorded: 23/10/2025

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The end of the trade period has significantly reshaped the draft order for 2025. We take a look at the four clubs set to heavily impact how this year’s count unfolds, as well as assess each club’s suite of selections. The mailbag returns as we answer your draft questions!

Recorded: 16/10/2025

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Our Prospect Power Rankings for 2025 have reached a top 50, with Jonty and Mitch running through the big risers, surprises and number breakdowns from our latest list. The Draft Combine results from the weekend have also played their part in the rankings as a number of the top performers feature.

Recorded: 08/10/2025

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Sandringham Dragons prospect Rory Wright gives Mitch and Jonty an insight into what was behind his breakout season for Sandringham, Vic Metro and Caulfield Grammar after finishing the year with a bang off halfback.

Recorded: 03/10/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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Western Jets defender Finn Davis joins Mitch and Jonty in the studio off the back of his season with the Jets and Vic Metro, with the exciting stopper opening up on the strengths and challenges of his year.

Brought to you by GETDRAFTED.COM.AU

Recorded: 01/10/2025

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Eastern Ranges prospect Oskar Taylor sits down with Mitch and Jonty to reflect on his stellar 2025 draft campaign, with the halfback flanker emerging as one of this year’s biggest bolters.

Brought to you by GETDRAFTED.COM.AU

Recorded: 01/10/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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Our first official Mock Draft for 2025 is here! Including Academy/father-son bids and estimated free agency compensation selections, Jonty and Mitch go through a total of 23 selections, with 14 AFL clubs involved. The biggest surprise selections and the best names to miss from the Mock Draft are also discussed.

Brought to you by GETDRAFTED.COM.AU

Recorded: 01/10/2025

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It’s Grand Final week for the Coates Talent League and WAFL Colts competitions, with Jonty and Mitch identifying the prospects set to decide the weekend’s highly-anticipated matchups. We also hear from Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding and Eastern Ranges talent lead Danny Ryan, as well as recap Sturt’s U18s Grand Final win over West Adelaide.

Rundown:

00:00 Welcome to Craft of the Draft

00:59 CTL Grand Final preview

21:24 WAFL Grand Final preview

25:15 SANFL Grand Final recap

28:24 What's to come

Brought to you...

With the first 12 picks of the AFL Draft Order locked in, we take a look at how the first half of night one might unfold, assessing the potential prospects involved and the timing of expected bids and compensation selections. The Coates Talent League, WAFL and SANFL are all deep into their respective finals series, while we also attempt to predict Tasmania’s first ever 23-player team for 2028

Brought to you by GETDRAFTED.COM.AU

Recorded: 10/09/2025

RUNDOWN:

01:07 First 12 Picks

13:53 CTL Finals update

23:03 WA...

Craft of the Draft’s Prospect Power Rankings return, with the best 40 names in the county ranked amid finals fever across the competition. The extended list sees a host of recent risers make their case as first-round options, while big name prospects have slid since last month’s list.

Brought to you by GETDRAFTED.COM.AU

Recorded: 03/09/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

Fo...

It was a massive week of Coates League footy and Craft of the Draft has been around the grounds to update you on all the latest, as well as provide a preview of the Coates League finals, beginning this week.

RUNDOWN:

00:48 Eastern v Western

05:57 Sandy vs Oakleigh

10:20 Dandy vs Gippsland

11:20 Other Weekend Highlights

16:46 CTL Finals matchups

21:20 Premiership favourites

Recorded: 26/08/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check...

On this week's episode, draft analyst Jonty Ralphsmith and commentator Darren Parkin cast their eye over the top VFL prospects and take a look at West Coast and Western Bulldogs' potential draft plans and targets.

Recorded: 19/08/2025

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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<...

Following the U17s Futures Trials games on Saturday, Craft of the Draft casts ahead, providing an insight into the top prospects for the 2026 AFL Draft.

Recorded: 12/08/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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Craft of the Draft runs through its top 30 prospects, with plenty of movements after the National Championships, plus plenty more talent pathway news

Recorded: 05/08/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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A lowdown on the types of players in high and low supply, the latest talent pathway news and some analysis on St Kilda and Sydney's potential plans on this episode of Craft of the Draft.

Check out co-host Darren Parkin's Unpluggered podcast for a more in-depth look at St Kilda content: https://unpluggered.captivate.fm/

Recorded: 30/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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With the U18s National Championships concluding, Mitch and Jonty take a look at the standouts to close the carnival, and pick their best teams from the champs. The U16s also wrapped up, with a host of prospects for 2027 putting their name on the radar. We also take a look at the potential draft plans for Port Adelaide and Richmond, and re-open the mailbag.

Filmed on 23/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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With the U18s National Championships concluding, Mitch and Jonty take a look at the standouts to close the carnival, and pick their best teams from the champs. The U16s also wrapped up, with a host of prospects for 2027 putting their name on the radar. We also take a look at the potential draft plans for Port Adelaide and Richmond, and re-open the mailbag.

Filmed on 23/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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Craft of the Draft’s first mock draft of the year sees Mitch and Jonty divide up the opening 10 picks of the current draft order and go through each selection live. We also recap the Allies vs Vic Metro clash, preview the final game of the U18s National Championships and take a look at the potential draft plans for Melbourne and North Melbourne.

Filmed on 16/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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Vic Country and Vic Metro both collected their first wins of the U18s National Championships as Western Australia’s carnival came to a close. A number of 2026 draft prospects are beginning to emerge as names to watch, while we take a look at Geelong and Hawthorn’s potential draft plans for 2025.

Filmed on 09/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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This week’s episode unveils Craft of the Draft’s July power rankings, looking at the top 30 prospects for 2025. South Australia have claimed the U18s National Championships after going undefeated from their four games, while we unpack and preview the latest matches from the carnival and look at the potential draft plans for Gold Coast and GWS this year.

Filmed on 02/07/2025

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

YT...

On this week’s episode, Mitch and Jonty provide their top 15 non club-tied teenagers for 2025, stripping back the normal rankings littered with priority access prospects. Also included are previews for Vic Country vs South Australia and Allies vs Western Australia, and draft analysis on Essendon and Fremantle’s potential plans.

This week’s episode sees Mitch and Jonty recap South Australia’s heavy win over Western Australia, with forward Cam Nairn a standout with seven goals. We also take a look at last year’s draft class, assessing the surprises, standouts and names yet to debut. In the next two chapters of Craft of the Draft’s AFL club-by-club series, we dissect Carlton and Collingwood’s draft plans for 2025.

Filmed on 18/06/2025

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Mitch and Jonty recap a dramatic weekend of U18s action as Western Australia and South Australia collect wins. A number of familiar names were among the standouts in the opening weekend of the U16s carnival, while the start of our AFL club-by-club series gets underway.

Jonty and Mitch go through Craft of the Draft’s June Power Rankings, naming the top 25 prospects for the year so far. Following Sunday’s U18s National Championships opener between the Allies and South Australia, we name the standouts from the game and preview the squads for Vic Country, Vic Metro and Western Australia.

Collingwood Next Generation Academy prospect Zac McCarthy has generated plenty of interest early in 2025, with Craft of the Draft analysing him in its latest introducing video. McCarthy has franked an excellent pre-season with a strong start to 2025 which has him in first round calculations.

Footage credits:

 @footystuffYT 

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Willem Duursma is a pick one contender in the 2025 AFL National Draft, and is one of the most versatile prospects in recent memory, having shown unbelievable versatility across his career in the talent pathway. Craft of the Draft analyses the elements of his game that have AFL clubs salivating.

Footage credits:

 @footystuffYT 

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For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

Craft of the Draft analysts Mitch Keating and Jonty Ralphsmith go through each club's selections from the 2025 AFL Mid-Season Draft, as well as the biggest surprises and the recruits who could play in the back-end of the season.

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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For all your AFL news go to ZeroHanger.com and make sure to FOLLOW Zero Hanger on...

Mitch and Jonty are in the Zero Hanger studio for the first time this year for a massive preview of next week’s Mid-Season Draft. This week’s episode takes a deep dive into the top MSD prospects, the clubs that could pick them up, the ex-AFL names in the mix and the indicative draft order.

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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Fo...

In our latest video introducing this year's top draft prospects, Craft of the Draft analyses mobile Sandringham key forward Archie Ludowyke.

Footage credits:

 @footystuffYT 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 2025 AFL SEASON GUIDE:

https://www.zerohanger.com/2025-afl-season-guide/

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

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Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect Adam Sweid has had a phenomenal start to 2025, grabbing attention with plenty of highlight-worthy moments. In the latest 'introducing' video, Craft of the Draft highlights what sets the Calder Cannon apart from everybody else.

Footage credits:

 @footystuffYT 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 2025 AFL SEASON GUIDE:

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For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

...

Mitch and Jonty break down the recent draft trends for tall and small prospects, what it means for this year’s class and who the leading names are for 2025 in each category.

For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

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...

Fire up the grill because Oakleigh's Sam Grlj is cooking so far in 2025, with the clean and speedy prospect rocketing up draft boards. We analyse why he has the industry turning heads.

Footage credits:

 @footystuffYT 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 2025 AFL SEASON GUIDE:

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For all your all AFL Draft and Talent League news and analysis, check out Craft of the Draft:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/craftofthedraft/

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@craftofthedraft