AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top small prospects ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
The AFL this year celebrates 40 years of the Draft, following the introduction of the national Draft in 1986.
This 2025 Telstra AFL Draft will be held on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20. The 2025 Telstra AFL Rookie Draft will follow on Friday, November 21.
Sheehan's player profiles will be released via positional group each week ahead of the Draft. This week’s edition highlights the small defenders, midfielders and forwards in this year’s Draft pool.
All players profiled attended the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft Combine or 2025 Telstra AFL State Draft Combine in October.
Keep updated with all the latest news ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft at the AFL Draft Hub.
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE
Thomas Burton
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Western Jets
Community Club: Point Cook
Date of Birth: 09/01/2007
Height: 178cm
A small defender or midfielder who possesses good speed and ball-winning ability. Burton was eye-catching in his bottom-age season in 2024, highlighted by a 26-disposal game for Team Heppell in the Marsh AFL National Futures game on the MCG. That performance helped set the foundation for his 2025 season, where he averaged 29.6 disposals across 12 matches for the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League. Also played some strong games at the National Champs for Victoria Metro, averaging 15.5 disposals. A member of the Marsh AFL National Academy, he was impressive representing the Australia U18 team in its first match against Richmond’s VFL side in April, having 20 disposals and three tackles. Burton was recognised for his strong season with selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year and took out the Jets’ best and fairest award. Showcased his speed at the Draft Combine, ranking in the top five on the 20m sprint with a time of 2.92 seconds.
Talor Byrne
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Koroit
Date of Birth: 14/11/2007
Height: 174cm
A left-footed midfielder and small forward, Byrne had a breakout year in the Coates Talent League playing for the GWV Rebels. He averaged 19 disposals and kicked nine goals in 13 matches to earn Team of the Year honours, as well as taking out the Rebels best and fairest award. Byrne also showed off his craft as a small forward, with his ability to read to play and powerful kicking his major weapons. Produced a dominant five-goal performance to lead Victoria Country to victory against Victoria Metro in one of his three appearances at the National Championships. His 93cm running vertical jump at the Draft Combine was a top-ten performance.
Jack Dalton
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: East Malvern Knights
Date of Birth: 05/04/2007
Height: 177cm
A prolific left-footed ball winner, Dalton brings a great work rate and is strong around the contest. Was a standout as a 16-year-old, winning MVP honours for Victoria Metro at the 2023 U16 National Championships. Despite a broken wrist sidelining him in the early part of this year, Dalton had an immediate impact upon return, averaged 27.9 disposals across nine games in the Coates Talent League to earn selection in the Team of the Year. He also won the Sandringham Dragons best and fairest award, as well as being one of their best in the Grand Final loss to the Eastern Ranges. Dalton showcased his class for Victoria Metro in the final three games of the National Championships and featured among the best players against both Western Australia and Victoria Country. Produced the fastest 2km time trial of the Draft Combine, with an elite 5:53.
Lachy Dovaston
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: Blackburn
Date of Birth: 29/05/2007
Height: 178cm
A midfielder-forward with speed and evasiveness, Dovaston uses his high footy IQ to read the play and find the loose ball, making him the most highly regarded small forward in the Draft pool. Had an outstanding 2025, kicking 53 goals in 23 matches across all competitions, including 38 majors for the Eastern Ranges to steer the club to premiership success. Was named in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year and earned selection in the Marsh AFL National Championships All Australian Team after kicking nine goals for Victoria Metro. Dovaston presented in the elite category at the Draft Combine, recording a time of 7.79 seconds in the agility test to rank number one nationally in what was the fourth-quickest time ever recorded on the test at a national Draft Combine.
Hussien El Achkar
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Calder Cannons
Community Club: Pascoe Vale
Date of Birth: 02/04/2007
Height: 171cm
An energetic small forward who is dangerous inside-50, El Achkar’s speed and goal sense are real weapons. He also brings great pressure, with a willingness to tackle and harass the opposition to generate opportunities. A member of the Bachar Houli Academy, El Achkar showed plenty of potential this year, kicking 37 goals in all competitions, including 28 goals for the Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League, where also averaged 12.7 disposals per game. Kicked six goals for Victoria Metro during the National Championships and had a taste of VFL with Essendon, booting three goals in his only game against the Brisbane Lions. He is a member of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy program and has trained with the Bombers this year.
Leon Kickett
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Swan Districts
Community Club: South Bunbury
Date of Birth: 07/11/2006
Height: 173cm
An exciting small forward, Kickett took significant strides forward this year, playing 16 Colts games for Swan Districts, booting 16 goals and averaging 14.8 disposals before debuting at WAFL senior level late in the year, kicking three goals in two matches. Kickett has the traits of successful small forwards, with his speed and elusiveness features of his game along with his innate goal sense.
Hugo Mikunda
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Bell Park
Date of Birth: 13/03/2007
Height: 180cm
A forward who can go through the midfield, Mikunda uses his running power as a real weapon to gain separation from his opponents in his high half forward role. He is also a strong player one-on-one, particularly with his aerial ability. Was a livewire for Victoria Country at the National Championships, featuring among their best players against South Australia and Victoria Metro and averaging 13.3 disposals over the four matches. He was one of the Geelong Falcons’ best performers in ten Coates Talent League appearances, in which he averaged 17.3 disposals which included a season-high 30 disposals against eventual premiers the Eastern Ranges in Round 11. A hamstring strain stopped him from testing at the Draft Combine.
Zane Peucker
State: South Australia
State League Club: Woodville-West Torrens
Community Club: Port District
Date of Birth: 04/12/2007
Height: 179cm
A small forward and midfielder, Peucker was a dominant performer at under 18s level for Woodville-West Torrens this year, averaging 24.8 disposals, 3.3 clearances and kicking 16 goals. He is strong in the air for his size, as well as fierce in the contest at ground level. Peucker was at his best in South Australia’s dominant win over Victoria Metro during the National Championships, going on to average 11.3 disposals and booting five goals to make a valuable contribution in South Australia’s title-winning campaign.
Adam Sweid
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Calder Cannons
Community Club: Pascoe Vale
Date of Birth: 14/09/2007
Height: 176cm
A small midfielder with explosive speed and strength, Sweid missed last year with an ACL injury but really has made a spectacular return this year. He averaged 25 disposals in 13 games for the Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League to earn Team of the Year selection. He doubled up the honours by being named in the Marsh AFL National Championships All Australian Team after impressing for Victoria Metro. His best performances were a four-goal haul against the Allies and a 24-disposal effort against Victoria Country. Sweid emerged from the Bachar Houli Academy and is also a member of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy, earning a taste of senior football with the Bombers’ VFL team this year.
Zeke Uwland
State: Queensland
State League Club: Gold Coast Suns Academy
Community Club: Burleigh
Date of Birth: 24/04/2007
Height: 179cm
A skilful wingman or half back, Uwland reads the play superbly and uses his left foot to great effect, including hitting the scoreboard. An All Australian at U18 level in 2024 after an outstanding National Championships campaign for the Allies, he was sidelined by a stress fracture in his lower back for much of 2025. Returned at VFL level for the Gold Coast Suns late in the season and averaged 16.5 disposals in four matches. Uwland is the younger brother of Gold Coast Suns young star Bodhi and is certain to follow his brother into AFL ranks after his dominance at underaged level, which included winning the Hunter Harrison Medal in 2024 as the best emerging player from Queensland, NSW/ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Demonstrated he is in excellent physical condition with both his running vertical jump of 95cm and agility test of 8.11 seconds at the Draft Combine, with both ranked inside the top ten. A member of the Gold Coast Suns Academy and the Marsh AFL National Academy, he is certain to attract an early bid on Draft night.
Tylah Williams
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Swan Districts
Community Club: Redcliffe
Date of Birth: 22/02/2007
Height: 175cm
An exciting Indigenous small forward, Williams showed his talent when he lit up the forward line for Western Australia during National Championships matches against the Allies and Victoria Metro. He emerged from Colts football with Swan Districts to show some distinct potential in two senior games late in the year for the Swans. Williams has dazzling speed and agility which was confirmed during Draft Combine testing, when he ran a slick 2.89 seconds in the 20m sprint (ranked second) and an elite 7.88 seconds in the agility test (ranked fourth). Is a member of the West Coast Eagles’ Next Generation Academy.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE
Brodie Atkins
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Drouin
Date of Birth: 25/01/2007
Height: 182cm
An inside midfielder who is a stoppage star, using his quick hands and vision to set up his teammates. Atkins is tough as nails, an aggressive tackler and a model of consistency whenever and wherever he plays. He starred for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, winning the Morrish Medal as the competition’s best and fairest and being named in the Team of the Year. He averaged 23.1 disposals, 6.9 tackles and 5.5 clearances per game and finished runner up in the Power’s best and fairest award. Also applied his craft for Victoria Country in the National Championships, averaging 22 disposals and 7.3 tackles, with his best performance coming in the win over the Allies. Produced a sharp time of 2.99 seconds on the 20m sprint at the State Draft Combine in Melbourne.
Jack Cook
State: South Australia
State League Club: Woodville-West Torrens
Community Club: Port District
Date of Birth: 02/07/2007
Height: 181cm
A left-footed strong-bodied midfielder and half back who has high footy IQ and is a neat distributor by hand and foot. Cook was dominant at under-18s club level this year for Woodville-West Torrens, averaging 30.9 disposals, 5.4 clearances and 6.3 tackles. Was rewarded for his excellence by winning the prestigious McCallum-Tomkins Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player. Was an excellent contributor in South Australia’s title-winning team at the National Championships, averaging 17.3 disposals across four matches. Topped off his year by stepping up to play at senior level in the SANFL and averaged 18 disposals at 75% efficiency in seven matches. He is the son of former Adelade Crows player Tim Cook, who played eight matches across the club’s 1997 and 1998 premiership seasons.
Jim Kelly
State: South Australia
State League Club: Norwood
Community Club: Glenunga
Date of Birth: 16/02/2007
Height: 180cm
A midfielder and forward, Kelly is a consistent ball winner who uses his clean hands and vision to set up his teammates. He was dominant for Norwood at under-18s level, averaging 23.8 disposals at 72% efficiency, with 4.2 tackles and 4.3 clearances. Applied his ball-winning ability for South Australia at the National Championships as part of its midfield/forward rotation, averaging 17.5 disposals at the carnival and contributing significantly to his team’s unbeaten run.
Felix Kneipp
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Calder Cannons
Community Club: Fitzroy
Date of Birth: 01/01/2007
Height: 179cm
A crafty and hard-working defender with brilliant speed, Kneipp can quickly turn defence into attack with his precise ball use on his left foot. A Victoria Metro representative at under-16 level in 2023, he showed strong development in his bottom-age year in 2024 and won 22 disposals against Queensland in an under-17 Futures match last August. That was followed by a late call-up to the Marsh AFL National Futures game at the MCG last September, where he was one of Team Sloane’s best players with 20 disposals at 100 percent efficiency. Kneipp started 2025 strongly, before injury struck and sidelined him for the National Championships. He returned for the Calder Cannons late in the year and averaged 24.8 disposals at 73.8% efficiency across his six Coates Talent League games split between the start and end of the season. His impressive time of 6:15 seconds for the 2km time trial was ranked second at the state Draft Combine held in Melbourne.
Thomas Matthews
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Moe
Date of Birth: 28/02/2007
Height: 171cm
A small forward, Matthews showed enormous potential in his bottom aged year, kicking 18 goals in 13 matches. He was selected as a Victoria Country squad member early in the year and seized the moment to kick the winning goal on the final siren to help Victoria Country to victory over the Young Guns in April. Unfortunately played little footy for the remainder of the year after suffering a PCL injury.
Thomas McGuane
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Western Jets
Community Club: Keilor
Date of Birth: 27/08/2007
Height: 178cm
A left-footed midfielder and forward, McGuane’s footy IQ to win the ball and set up the play for his team is what sets him apart from others. Has been a dominant performer in his two seasons with the Western Jets. He averaged 27.9 disposals across 10 games this year to be rewarded with Coates Talent League Team of the Year honours after finishing runner-up in the club’s best and fairest award as a bottom-ager last year. McGuane looked composed playing predominantly on the wing for Victoria Metro in the National Championships, averaging 16 disposals in four matches. He was given a taste of senior state league football with Collingwood late in the year, playing three VFL games on managed minutes. Tested impressively at season’s end, with his 2.95 seconds on the 20m sprint, 8.18 seconds for the agility test and 6:23 for the 2km time trial all among the top five at the state Draft Combine event in Melbourne. He is the son of former Collingwood premiership player and dual Copeland Trophy winner Mick McGuane.
Jack Miller
State: Tasmania
State League Club: Tasmania Devils
Community Club: North Hobart
Date of Birth: 13/04/2007
Height: 181cm
A lively small forward, Miller reads the cues of the ball in flight early and is first to move. He is also strong with his hands overhead and out in front. An excellent set shot and snap for goal, he kicked 20 goals for the Tasmania Devils in 12 matches in the Coates Talent League this year. He added eight goals for the Allies at the National Championships, including three against both South Australia and Victoria Country, confirming his touch of class. Miller finished his season impressively, having 29 disposals playing in the midfield in the Wildcard Round defeat to the GWV Rebels to show his versatility. Earned selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year and finishing third in the Devils’ best and fairest award.
Latrelle Pickett
State: South Australia
State League Club: Glenelg
Community Club: Tumby Bay
Date of Birth: 28/12/2005
Height: 170 cm
An Indigenous small forward, Pickett continued to develop his forward craft throughout the 2025 season. He regularly hit the scoreboard, with his accuracy a feature. Kicked 32.18 at reserves level for Glenelg, including four goals in the Grand Final. Pickett is a late maturer who is not afraid to take the game on, using his explosive pace and agility to gain separation. Also made an eye-catching debut at senior level for Glenelg late in the year, booting four goals from 16 disposals.
Hudson Walker
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Subiaco
Community Club: Kingsley
Date of Birth: 06/09/07
Height: 180cm
A small forward and midfielder, Walker captured the moment by kicking the winning goal for Western Australia with the last kick of the day in their three-point victory over Victoria Country, in which he was one of his team’s best players. Walker is a progressive type who was promoted to play four WAFL senior games for Subiaco late in the year after averaging 19 disposals in six matches at Colts level.
Lucas Wootton
State: Tasmania
State League Club: Tasmania Devils
Community Club: Launceston
Date of Birth: 11/05/07
Height: 179cm
A hard running and skilful defender or midfielder, Wootton uses the ball exceptionally well whether he is in defence or creating through the midfield. During the under-16 National Championships in 2023, he averaged 22 disposals (74 per cent efficiency) and eight rebound 50s on his way to earning All Australian selection. Wootton had a consistent Draft year with the Tasmania Devils, averaging 18.9 disposals and 5.9 tackles across 11 matches in the Coates Talent League. He finished the year in excellent form with 22 disposals and two goals to be the Devils best against the GWV Rebels in Wildcard Round. Wootton also played three games with the Allies in this year’s National Championships rotating through forward and midfield roles, highlighting his versatility. Showcased his speed with a time of 2.97 seconds for the 20m sprint and 8.33 seconds on the agility test, which were both top 10 results at the state Draft Combine event in Melbourne.
