With the AFL draft only a week away, clubs are putting the finishing touches on their plans and circling some names on their whiteboards.

We go through every club to examine what picks they will take to the draft, and what players they might be looking at in the hope of uncovering their next superstar.

The AFL draft will be held on November 20 and 21. Check out our full top 30 rankings here, and join us for our live blog on draft nights.

Adelaide

Picks 4, 64

The Crows are in an interesting position after an underwhelming season in 2024 where they went backwards from where they were 12 months earlier. 

Adelaide clearly believes it is ready to start winning after adding the experienced trio of Alex Neal-Bullen, Isaac Cumming and the younger James Peatling in the trade period.

If the Crows brains trust is correct, this might be their last chance to add some top-end talent at the draft, making their first round pick at number four even more important. 

Adelaide would love to get its hands on South Australian talent Sid Draper who is ready to be dropped straight into AFL action after holding his own in the SANFL playing for South Adelaide this season.

Brisbane

Picks 27, 34, 42, 43, 49, 58

This year’s draft for Brisbane can be summed up in two words: Levi Ashcroft. 

The Brisbane Lions’ position is the envy of every club in the land, given they get to add a player who is widely considered to be the best in this year’s draft class just months after winning the premiership. 

Brisbane’s major source of anxiety on draft night will be trying to predict just where a bid for Ashcroft, the son of premiership player Marcus Ashcroft and the brother of Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft, comes. 

While Ashcroft has taken all the headlines from a Lions perspective, Brisbane will also add talented Sandringham Dragons midfielder Sam Marshall to their list courtesy of their academy. 

Carlton

Picks 3, 38, 63, 69, 72

The Blues were assertive during the trade period in trying to get up the draft order, and managed to weasel pick three out of West Coast after some wheeling and dealing. It’s a move that should pay huge dividends.

The assumption is Finn O’Sullivan is the target with that pick, and the athletic and exciting young mid — who, handily, is Sam Walsh’s cousin — is a good chance of being available. If not O’Sullivan, then Sid Draper or Jagga Smith boast similar profiles and would be worth the investment.

After that, Carlton will be waiting on bids for the Camporeale boys, Ben and Lucas. Interest in Ben will come somewhere around the mark of Carlton’s second pick, but the Blues will be hoping it’s just after as they then can use their suite of later picks to match the bids and scoop up the sons of a gun on the cheap.

Collingwood

Picks 52, 55, 60, 66

Craig McRae’s “players over picks” list management strategy means the Pies come into the draft with only a few speculative selections to play with, but this year there will still be some value at those picks.

Collingwood may well be looking for tall options, and there will be a few to choose from at that later stage.

Floyd Burmeister and Gabriel Stumpf are both big men with exciting athletic traits but plenty of development ahead of them, while there’s a chance a Clancy Dennis or Charlie Nicholls could slide.

Essendon

Picks 28, 31, 40, 46, 53, 54, 65

The Bombers originally had pick nine in this year’s draft, but traded out of that spot anticipating an early bid for their academy prospect Isaac Kako.

Kako, who is the best small forward in the draft, absolutely fits a need for the Bombers and expect Essendon to look at more key position players after adding Nate Caddy in last year’s draft.

The Bombers could also trade back into the draft using some of their future assets. 

Fremantle

Picks 14, 30, 67

Fremantle is another team that is clearly in win-now mode after trading away multiple first-rounders to add Shai Bolton. 

The Dockers are pretty well stocked all over the ground and are likely to chase the best available talent instead of attempting to address a specific need.

The top WA prospect in this year’s draft Bo Allan would be the ideal player for Fremantle at pick 14 if he’s not taken by the Eagles, who own pick 12.

Geelong

Picks 45, 57, 75

The move for Bailey Smith means Geelong will likely only be brief players in this draft, but given their history of left-field and wise late acquisitions that is no cause for concern.

A couple of local players could come into focus around their picks, namely Lachie Jacques and Xavier Ivisic. Both are hard-running, reliable outside players for the midfield or half-back line.

And then the Cats will pick a player from the Tasmanian third division you’ve never heard of who ends up starring in a preliminary final. Which is always nice for them.

Gold Coast

Picks 39, 41, 51, 61, 70, 76, 78

The Suns’ draft strategy is all about positioning themselves to match an early bid on academy midfielder Leo Lombard.

Even though a top-five bid would be justified, it’s likely not to come until later in the top 10. Regardless, the Suns have the points in the bank to match the bid and make sure the exciting Lombard ends up on their list.

GWS

Picks 15, 16, 21, 37, 56, 74

The position of the Giants’ three first-rounders make them an interesting candidate to trade up the draft on draft night. 

Could they potentially package up either 15 and 16 with pick 21 to move into the top 10 if there’s a player they really like? 

It would be a home run for GWS if they could get inside the top 10 and get in the position to select Tobie Travaglia a player who projects to start off half-back before eventually growing into a midfielder.

The Giants also have three academy players in Cooper Bell, Josiah Delana and Logan Smith available for selection if they wish to add them later on in the draft.

Hawthorn

Picks 33, 71, 77

One of the draft’s many encouraging talls might be the order of the day with the Hawks’ first pick, and there should be no shortage of options.

Tom Sims, Kayle Gerreyn, Noah Mraz and Charlie Nicholls would all be worth a bet at that point in the second round and would be afforded time to develop given the overall strength of Hawthorn’s list.

The Hawks will also have an eye on NGA prospect Cody Anderson, an all-action bruiser of a midfielder who would quickly win fans among Hokball enthusiasts. If a bid comes somewhere around the third round, those late picks should be enough to lock Anderson in.

Melbourne

Picks 5, 9

The Demons have found themselves in a fantastic position within the top 10, and should be able to pair an elite midfielder with either a promising tall or a more speculative pick.

One of Jagga Smith, Harvey Langford or possibly even Sid Draper should be available at Melbourne’s first pick and should be swiftly snapped up.

Then they can get clever with the second pick. Do they hope for Harry Armstrong or Jobe Shanahan as key forward prospects? Take the punt on the athletic profile of Bo Allan? Or maybe the creativity and class of the mercurial Murphy Reid? It’s hard for the Demons to go wrong from here.

North Melbourne

Picks 2, 62

There is still a chance that North Melbourne’s draft hand will change, possibly even on the night as pick two is available for trade should a suitable offer come in.

Regardless, it seems as if the Roos’ entire draft strategy centres around securing flying defender Alix Tauru, who would definitely be available at pick two and most likely much later in the top 10.

Having filled out midfield positions via recent drafts it would be wise for North to look for a tall. Tauru would be a long-term prospect but an exciting pick.

Port Adelaide

Picks 13, 29, 36, 50

Port Adelaide is another team that is in a position to simply target the best available player at pick 13 on draft night, given its current list demographic. 

However, given the Power midfield is stacked with talent, they would be wise to look for key position players at either end of the ground. 

Could Port potentially trade back to grab Victorian intercept defender Luke Trainor on draft night? At the other end of the ground, forwards Jonty Faull or Jobe Shanahan could also be interesting selections.

Richmond

Picks 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24

The Tigers head into this draft with a suite of picks that very few clubs have ever had in a single draft year.

While the Tigers need to add as much talent as possible to their list, it is also hard to see them selecting eight players, making them a very realistic trade option on draft night for other clubs wanting to get into the first round.

The hyper-talented Sam Lalor has been touted as the player Richmond is most interested in with the top pick. 

St Kilda

Picks 7, 8, 32, 47

The Saints have landed two picks in a top-10 sweet spot and will have plenty of good options to pick from.

The first pick should go to the best midfielder still available — likely one of Jagga Smith, Harvey Langford or Josh Smillie — and the second can go to needs, with tough and exciting half-back Tobie Travaglia a real Ross Lyon selection.

St Kilda will also have a pair of key defensive NGA players who will likely attract bids, namely Adrian Cole and Lennox Hoffman.

Sydney

Picks 19, 22, 44, 59

The Swans are also a chance to trade up the draft given the proximity of their two first-round picks. 

Sydney is another team whose midfield is pretty well-stocked, meaning the Swans will likely target key position players at either end of the ground. If they remain at their current draft slots, Jobe Shanahan looms as an interesting key position prospect that could slot into their forward line in the coming years. 

The Swans also have academy prospect Joel Cochran available, with the mobile defender tipped to go somewhere in the late second round or early third round. 

West Coast

Picks 12, 26, 73

The Eagles traded out of the top three in this draft, and will now be left sweating on what makes it through to their first pick.

Tobie Travaglia would be an ideal choice to offer run and carry from half-back, but should he go early then Vic Country teammate Xavier Lindsay is also a good fit. Bo Allan will appeal as a local prospect but may be a more speculative bet than the Eagles can afford.

A later could go towards a sliding midfielder, like Christian Moraes, or a rebounding defender like Angus Clake or Harrison Oliver. A bid for NGA small forward Malakai Champion will probably come on the second night.

Western Bulldogs

Picks 17, 25, 35, 48

Having acquired pick 17 from the Cats in the Bailey Smith trade, the Dogs are in prime position to add one of the trio of small forwards in the first round, Joe Berry, Ollie Hannaford or Taj Hotton.

The Dogs head into the 2025 season having one of the oldest lists in the AFL, making their picks in this year’s class all the more important. 

The talented Christian Moraes looms as an interesting option for the Bulldogs with their second and third picks in the draft.