The AFL Draft will take place over the next two nights at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Over seven rounds, 90 players will be selected by the 18 clubs in the competition. So, how does the AFL draft work?
How does the AFL draft work?
The first round of this year’s draft will feature 23 picks.
Players in the draft are typically school-leavers who are making a bid to play in the AFL. The draft is typically done in reverse order of last year’s table. For example, the Richmond Tigers, who finished at the bottom of the table in 2024, will have the number-one pick in this year’s draft. It is done this way so that the weaker teams in the competition are given an opportunity to strengthen their side, keeping the AFL as competitive as possible from year to year.
Changes to the draft order
There are a few reasons why changes may be made to the draft order. The AFL awards compensation picks to clubs who have lost players during the transfer period. The value of these picks is determined by the quality of the players who have transferred away. When a compensation pick is awarded, it shifts the draft order.
The order of the draft can also shift for other reasons, such as when clubs match bids on sons of past players. If an eligible draft pick’s father played 100 or more games for a club, the club has a right to pick them — however, the club in question must sacrifice some draft picks to do so. This year, it’s expected that the Brisbane Lions will make a bid for Levi Ashcroft, whose father Marcus won three premierships with the club.
Storylines
Richmond has a significant opportunity to rebuild its side with eight of the twenty-four picks in the first round of the draft. Midfielder Sam Lalor has been touted as the player who Richmond will pick first, however, Victorians Finn O’Sullivan and Jagga Smith and South Australian Sid Draper will also be highly sought after.
How to watch
The draft will begin at 7:00pm AEDT tonight. You can watch the AFL Draft on Foxtel or Kayo.
