Resource 2025 AFL Draft prospects and discussion.

[Thylacinus]

Mitchell Stevens
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Heyfield
Date of Birth: 15/08/2007
Height: 186cm

An emerging medium defender, Stevens can play on a range of forwards given his competitive edge, strength in the air and commitment to the task at hand. A damaging kick and very good decision maker, he thrived after being switched from the forward line to defence last year. Continued to progress with his development this year, playing three matches for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 16.3 disposals. Was also very consistent for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, averaging 16.9 disposals, 3.6 marks and 5.5 tackles. Was very sharp at state Draft Combine testing, recording 2.86 seconds for the 20m sprint and then 8.16 seconds for the agility test, with both results in the top bracket. He is the son of Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens

Age

50

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.6

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.4

3star

G

2.0

5star

, who was drafted to North Melbourne before being traded to Adelaide, where he played 101 games and was a premiership player in 1998. That makes Mitch eligible to join the Crows under father-son rules. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1444635/kevin-sheehans-2025-telstra-afl-draft-top-prospects-defenders

 

[crow2crow]

Mitchell Stevens
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Heyfield
Date of Birth: 15/08/2007
Height: 186cm

An emerging medium defender, Stevens can play on a range of forwards given his competitive edge, strength in the air and commitment to the task at hand. A damaging kick and very good decision maker, he thrived after being switched from the forward line to defence last year. Continued to progress with his development this year, playing three matches for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 16.3 disposals. Was also very consistent for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, averaging 16.9 disposals, 3.6 marks and 5.5 tackles. Was very sharp at state Draft Combine testing, recording 2.86 seconds for the 20m sprint and then 8.16 seconds for the agility test, with both results in the top bracket. He is the son of Mark Stevens, who was drafted to North Melbourne before being traded to Adelaide, where he played 101 games and was a premiership player in 1998. That makes Mitch eligible to join the Crows under father-son rules. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1444635/kevin-sheehans-2025-telstra-afl-draft-top-prospects-defenders

i dont know about Mitch but Mark was a fantastic player

 

[BunjiMac]

i dont know about Mitch but Mark was a fantastic player

Nothing flashy, he just did all the basics really well.

 

[crow2crow]

Nothing flashy, he just did all the basics really well.

I dont mind that though. Geelong players do that. It wins a lot of games

 

[FNeighbourhoodSpiderman]

Byrne is starting to getting some mentions as another small forward option
I like the athletic profile, production, two way workrate (Dovaston similarly has both offence and applies defensive pressure), and also that he's a Country kid
Feel like he could definitely give us more of what we need (some x-factor/dynamism behind Rankine and Rachele)

Talor Byrne Draft Profile

GWV Rebels powerhouse Talor Byrne possesses plenty of speed and smarts in the front half, along with manic defensive pressure.

central.rookieme.com

11:05 -

 

[skam85]

We're painted into a corner with Stevens, he can't be a rookie as we are taking Ah Chee in the PSD meaning we have to delist/re-rookie someone to facilitate Ah Chee's list spot.

The issue with that is, we only have one rookie spot, which will then be taken by the delistee.

So it's take Stevens in the ND or not at all.

Unless we go the Carlton with Jaxon Binns route and delist a contracted player and not re-rookie them I guess.

 

[jackster83]

We're painted into a corner with Stevens, he can't be a rookie as we are taking Ah Chee in the PSD meaning we have to delist/re-rookie someone to facilitate Ah Chee's list spot.

The issue with that is, we only have one rookie spot, which will then be taken by the delistee.

So it's take Stevens in the ND or not at all.

Unless we go the Carlton with Jaxon Binns route and delist a contracted player and not re-rookie them I guess.

We could always upgrade a rookie such as McAndrew.

 

[George CantStandYa]

We could always upgrade a rookie such as McAndrew.

Would that be on a 1 year or 2 year deal?

If we are going to do that, wouldn’t we better off just drafting Stevens with our last pick if we want to grab him?

 

[FNeighbourhoodSpiderman]

Without reading all these pages....any thoughts on Latrelle Pickett from Glenelg? Looks a bit raw but has X-factor written all over him. Would definitely be worth a look if we can get him at the right price.

Just came in at 24 in Twomey's latest mock draft
Looks like the third small forward behind Dovaston and Phillipou at this stage (although I like the look of Byrne too)
A random stat I like the sound of - he seems to have been reasonably accurate at Junior level. Putting that next to the accuracy of TT and Fog would put a reasonable amount of pressure on opposition defenders.

Kevin Sheehan’s 2025 Telstra AFL Draft top prospects: Smalls

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top small prospects ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

www.afl.com.au

Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' October ranking

AFL.com.au's draft guru Cal Twomey delivers his fourth Phantom Form Guide ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft

www.afl.com.au

 

[Mutineer]

Byrne is starting to getting some mentions as a third small forward option (alongside or behind Dovaston and Phillipou)
I like the athletic profile, production, two way workrate (Dovaston similarly has both offence and applies defensive pressure), and also that he's a Country kid
Feel like he could definitely give us more of what we need (some x-factor/dynamism behind Rankine and Rachele)

Talor Byrne Draft Profile

GWV Rebels powerhouse Talor Byrne possesses plenty of speed and smarts in the front half, along with manic defensive pressure.

central.rookieme.com

11:05 -

Honestly bud Taylor Byrne is nothing like Jevan Phillipou, not even close. At AFL he is a genuine dynamic small pressure forward, much harder at the contest than Dovaston, pressure on steroids is Talor's best descriptor.
Very penetrating left boot, very quick and agile and extremely good overhead for his size. If I was to compare him stylistically to a current AFL player it's Kossie Pickett and like Kossie is capable of squirts in the midfield a position he's played regularly here for the GWV Rebels this season.

Native of Koroit west of Warrnambool so no real links to metro Melbourne and the go home factor.

 

[crow2crow]

We could always upgrade a rookie such as McAndrew.

we not doing that it just shifts the problem. we will be delisting someone from main list and re-rookie them.
ah chee plus 3 picks at ND

best midfielder at 16 (will slide)
c curtin
m stevens (if they nominate him)

 

[WaynesWorld19]

He (CDT) is not the favoured choice People braying for Sharp or another mid at 2.

The club will pick the best talent available, so the lean is to Duursma and CDT but we are open to offers for pick 2 from what I understand.

Listening to Dylan Alexander, a respected Draft Watcher .....he's worried about Duursma being classified as a utility, not a dedicated MID

Given the poor progression of his two other brothers to AFL life .....it's a reasonable concern

 

[George CantStandYa]

Honestly bud Taylor Byrne is nothing like Jevan Phillipou, not even close. At AFL he is a genuine dynamic small pressure forward, much harder at the contest than Dovaston, pressure on steroids is Talor's best descriptor.
Very penetrating left boot, very quick and agile and extremely good overhead for his size. If I was to compare him stylistically to a current AFL player it's Kossie Pickett and like Kossie is capable of squirts in the midfield a position he's played regularly here for the GWV Rebels this season.

Native of Koroit west of Warrnambool so no real links to metro Melbourne and the go home factor.

You missed IMO

 

[Scorpus]

We're painted into a corner with Stevens, he can't be a rookie as we are taking Ah Chee in the PSD meaning we have to delist/re-rookie someone to facilitate Ah Chee's list spot.

The issue with that is, we only have one rookie spot, which will then be taken by the delistee.

So it's take Stevens in the ND or not at all.

Unless we go the Carlton with Jaxon Binns route and delist a contracted player and not re-rookie them I guess.

Yet another season with list spot issues and going to the draft attempting to take as few players as possible

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Yet another season with list spot issues and going to the draft attempting to take as few players as possible

How does the number of draft picks for the AFC compare to other AFL teams over the last 10 years?

 

[crow2crow]

Yet another season with list spot issues and going to the draft attempting to take as few players as possible

we could do a carlton and delist a couple with contracts and problem solved.

 

[FNeighbourhoodSpiderman]

You missed IMO

Yeah, stylistically, I don't see Kysaiah Pickett for Byrne

I see a little more of Tom Papley (and a smidge of Jamie Elliot)

Small forward who can apply pressure and do typical small forward things, but, plays like a medium/tall forward at times with his marking and contested forward half work as well.

I'm of course only talking styles.

Byrne looks to be a better overall athlete than Papley was, and Papley looks to have been a better absolute goalkicker when he came into the league.

Last random comment - that left boot of Byrne's looks like a real weapon sometimes.

 

[Slim258]

we could do a carlton and delist a couple with contracts and problem solved.

Chayce Jones is probably the easiest one, delist him and let him go lead the VFL Tassie Team

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Yet another season with list spot issues and going to the draft attempting to take as few players as possible

Expected record low number of players Drafted this year ......poor draft, and you're upset we aren't taking more picks

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Expected record low number of players Drafted this year ......poor draft, and you're upset we aren't taking more picks

We currently have pick 16 (which will blow out to 20+), 48 and 55 (which might come in a bit).

If we delist a couple more players we could have full access to every player from say pick 60 onwards. What the hell, why not delist half a dozen players and bring in 10 kids unwanted by the other 17 clubs.

Whilst Essendon will be working on the above plan, it is predicted that most of the other 17 clubs will be taking 2 or 3 draft picks. We have already added two kids (Cotton and Maley) and it looks like we will take three kids in the draft.

 

[Redline]

Chayce Jones is probably the easiest one, delist him and let him go lead the VFL Tassie Team

I think it will be Jones.

Discussion for another thread but while we ran with the 'keep the group together line' given they are going into the last year of their contract I am sure all of Jones, Sholl and Cook had their managers ring around to see if there was any interest.

 

[Scorpus]

How does the number of draft picks for the AFC compare to other AFL teams over the last 10 years?

Most drafts there's about 60 players taken in the main draft, 15 rookies not including re-rookies, and about 15 SSPs. So about 90 fresh players (not including trades) per draft season, which is an average of 5 per team. A handful of DFAs are usually taken as well.

We only have three total list spots (excluding the effective Ah Chee PSD trade) to use on the main drafting methods: main draft, rookie draft, SSPs and delisted players.

And for the last three years we've only taken three players each year through that method. Would have only taken two last year except McAndrew was an SSP to replace the injured Strachan

 

[crow2crow]

I think it will be Jones.

Discussion for another thread but while we ran with the 'keep the group together line' given they are going into the last year of their contract I am sure all of Jones, Sholl and Cook had their managers ring around to see if there was any interest.

agree if your intention is someone else pick them up when you delist

 

[Scorpus]

Expected record low number of players Drafted this year ......poor draft, and you're upset we aren't taking more picks

It limits your access to all the available mechanisms, including rookie trials and delisted players.

Fair enough you don't want to take a pick 70. I would much rather have Will Phillips on the list for one season as a delisted free agent from North, even though I don't think he will make it as a full time AFL player, than Chayce Jones. He's better depth. Or Jacob Blight vs James Borlase, who is contracted for 2026.

We are unable to improve our AFL backups for our premiership tilt when we have to take 3 draftees, are forced to have no rookie spots due to our list profile and don't have any other positions to use.

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Most drafts there's about 60 players taken in the main draft, 15 rookies not including re-rookies, and about 15 SSPs. So about 90 fresh players (not including trades) per draft season, which is an average of 5 per team. A handful of DFAs are usually taken as well.

We only have three total list spots (excluding the effective Ah Chee PSD trade) to use on the main drafting methods: main draft, rookie draft, SSPs and delisted players.

And for the last three years we've only taken three players each year through that method. Would have only taken two last year except McAndrew was an SSP to replace the injured Strachan

You haven’t answered the question. How does we compare to the other 17 teams over the last 10 or 5 years etc?