AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top medium forwards 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 medium 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
Noah Chamberlain
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: Sydney Swans Academy
Community Club: UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Date of Birth: 21/03/2007
Height: 191cm
A left-footed forward, Chamberlain is extremely athletic and can also play on the wing and across half back such is his versatility. He first appeared on the radar as a marking forward for the Sydney Swans Academy during the U16 National Championships in 2023, taking nine contested marks and kicking six goals across three matches on his way to earning All Australian selection. Over the past two years he has continued to build on his excellent fundamentals, including his kicking and overhead marking, playing matches not just with the Swans Academy but also the Allies, Australia U18 team and Sydney’s VFL team. He averaged 9.5 disposals in four matches for the Allies at this year’s National Championships and showed slices of his exciting potential but like many prospects is still a work in progress. Was unable to test at the Draft Combine while recovering from tibial stress injury.
Koby Evans
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Perth
Community Club: Kenwick
Date of Birth: 08/09/2007
Height: 188cm
A medium forward, Evans has blistering pace and innate goal sense. Showed promise as a bottom-aged player last year, averaging 13 disposals and kicking 10 goals from 15 games in the WAFL Colts, as well as representing Western Australia in three matches at the U18 National Championships. His 2025 season was almost decimated by a back injury but he still managed two Colts games for Perth, with one game at the start of the season and another at the end, both of which he dominated in a midfield role. This earned him a couple of WAFL senior games with Perth and provided him with an understanding of the next level. Evans was also a member of the Marsh AFL National Academy and represented the Australia U18 team in its match against Coburg where he showed glimpses of his undoubted potential. Is currently recovering from a syndesmosis injury and was unable to test at the Draft Combine. An Indigenous talent, Evans is a member of the West Coast Eagles’ NGA program and they can match a bid for him in the Draft.
Noah Hibbins- Hargreaves
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Mornington
Date of Birth: 16/11/2007
Height: 186cm
A midfielder/forward who is classy and creative, Hibbins-Hargraves is a real threat in the front half. He is very strong in the air, has good speed and generally makes the right decisions by foot. Captained the Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League this year and continued to display his enormous potential, averaging 16.3 disposals and kicking 16 goals in 11 matches. This included a standout performance against the GWV Rebels when he picked up 29 disposals and booted five goals. Hibbins-Hargraves started the National Championships in a similar vein, putting in a best on ground performance with four goals from 18 disposals in Victoria Country’s narrow loss to Western Australia. A collarbone injury interrupted his season at various stages, but he still was a worthy selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. Illness kept him out of Draft Combine testing.
Max King
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: Sydney Swans Academy
Community Club: Cardiff
Date of Birth: 09/01/2007
Height: 191cm
A tall forward/midfielder, King is athletically elite with his vertical leap and speed real weapons. Is an exceptional overhead mark, combining his incredible leap with great hands. Looked a real AFL prospect playing for the Sydney Swans Academy at the U16 National Championships in 2023, before starring for NSW-ACT in an U17 Futures match against Vic Country last year, picking up 21 disposals, nine marks and four clearances to build a reputation leading into this year. Showed promising glimpses for the Swans Academy this year, averaging 14.2 disposals and four marks and kicking six goals in six matches. Represented the Allies at the National Championships and was influential in the win over Western Australia, kicking 2.3 and taking the mark of the day early in the match before kicking the winning goal in the dying stages. Also played three VFL games for the Swans during the year. His elite athletic ability was on display at the Draft Combine with his standing vertical jump of 80cm ranked first, while his time of 2.93 seconds on the 20m sprint ranked in the top five. Is a member of the Sydney Swans Academy, with the Swans eligible to match a rival club’s bid during the Draft to secure his services.
Harry Kyle
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: Sydney Swans Academy
Community Club: UNSW/ES Bulldogs
Date of Birth: 16/07/2007
Height: 188cm
Left-footed medium forward/midfielder who moves smoothly and covers the ground well, with his natural speed and step through traffic wonderful assets. Kyle’s potential was apparent in six matches for the Sydney Swans Academy this year, where he averaged 19 disposals which included a standout 27-disposal effort against the Oakleigh Chargers. He comfortably stepped up to represent the Allies at the National Championships, averaging 12.5 disposals across four matches, and showed composure and good fundamental skills. Kyle is from a rugby background and is relatively new to Australian Rules Football at the elite level but looks to have significant upside. Impressed during testing at the Draft Combine, topping the running vertical jump with a leap of 98cm and featuring among the top ten in the agility test with a time of 8.15 seconds.
Mitch Marsh
State: South Australia
State League Club: West Adelaide
Community Club: Kangarilla
Date of Birth: 15/02/2007
Height: 190cm
A left-footed forward, Marsh has become one of the most exciting prospects to emerge this year. His elite work rate and one-touch hands are real strengths as a marking target inside the forward half. Was outstanding first up for South Australia in the National Championships in a hard-fought win over the Allies, kicking four goals and taking eight marks. Was also superb in its victory over Victoria Country, kicking five goals in a best on ground performance to be a key player in his state winning the title and was rewarded with All Australian honours. Marsh continued his dominance at U18 level for West Adelaide, kicking 30 goals in 15 matches while averaging 12.5 disposals and six marks to help his team to the Grand Final. His running vertical jump of 84cm was a top ten result at the national Draft Combine, demonstrating why he is difficult to contain on the burst. He is the son of former Adelaide and Richmond player Ben Marsh, who featured in the Crows’ 1998 premiership team. However, Mitch is not eligible to join either club under father-son rules given his dad was limited to 55 AFL games due to injury.
Jesse Mellor
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Geelong West
Date of Birth: 04/01/2007
Height: 186cm
A clever and classy medium forward, Mellor is powerful in one-on-one contests and strong overhead, using his body cleverly to out position his opponents. He has a neat step through traffic and shows innate goal sense. Kicked eight majors for Victoria Country at the National Championships, including three against both South Australia and the Allies. Was rewarded for his impressive performances with selection in the U18 All Australian team. Earlier in the year he was a standout for Victoria Country in its match against the Young Guns, booting six goals in a best on ground performance. Kicked 24 across the Coates Talent League season for the Geelong Falcons, where he averaged 16.8 disposals in 13 matches and finished third in his team’s best and fairest award. Is the son of Greg Mellor, who captained West Adelaide and played nearly 200 SANFL games before having a lengthy coaching career, which included six years at Richmond as a development coach. Was born in Thailand where his parents were working at the time before growing up in Geelong’s NGA zone, making him eligible to join the Cats under current NGA rules. A calf strain stopped him from testing at the Draft Combine.
Cameron Nairn
State: South Australia
State League Club: Central District
Community Club: Willaston
Date of Birth: 15/10/2007
Height: 188cm
A left-footed medium forward, Nairn burst onto the scene by producing one of the best games of the National Championships, booting seven goals in a standout individual performance in South Australia’s win over Western Australia at Alberton Oval. He has an elite work rate presenting as a leading forward, which is complemented by his natural leap, strong hands overhead, accurate kick for goal and good footy nous. Nairn regularly hit the scoreboard at club under 18s level, kicking 22 goals in 13 games for Central District. He also averaged 20.5 disposals as he also pushed up into the midfield. His impressive 6:15 for the 2km time trial was ranked fourth at the national Draft Combine and provided a good indicator of his willingness to compete against the best.
Jevan Phillipou
State: South Australia
State League Club: Woodville West-Torrens
Community Club: PHOS Camden
Date of Birth: 30/03/2007
Height: 183cm
A medium forward/midfielder, Phillipou is capable of winning contested ball both in the air and at ground level and is a skilful kick on both feet. He has a high work rate, allowing him to get from contest to contest, with a very good natural leap and strong hands overhead as well as an elite step to get him through congestion. A former state level decathlete, Phillipou had started the season well at under 18s club level for Woodville-West Torrens before breaking his arm and missing the National Championships. Returned impressively to play nine matches at under 18s level, averaging 22.7 disposals. He finished his year playing some very exciting football at SANFL senior level, featuring in six games with the Eagles where he showcased his undoubted potential. His good leap was confirmed with his 90cm running vertical jump at the national Draft Combine ranked third overall. He is the younger brother of St Kilda young star Mattaes, who was the number 10 pick in the 2022 Draft.
Noah Roberts-Thompson
State: South Australia
State League Club: Sturt
Community Club: Unley
Date of Birth: 29/03/2007
Height: 181cm
A left-footed medium forward/midfielder, Roberts-Thompson is a contested ball-winning and powerful player who brings tackling pressure, as well as excellent footy nous. Was an integral part of South Australia’s forward and midfield mix in its National Championships title triumph. He played all four games, with his best performance coming in the opening win over the Allies, where he picked up 18 disposals. Roberts-Thompson had a winning season across the board and was a key contributor in Sturt’s SANFL U18 premiership win, averaging 22.9 disposals. He is the cousin of Sydney Swans dual premiership player Lewis Roberts-Thompson. Tested extremely well at the national Draft Combine, producing a sharp 2.91 seconds for the 20m sprint while his agility run of 8.02 seconds ranked among the top six.
Wesley Walley
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Subiaco
Community Club: Warwick Greenwood
Date of Birth: 29/11/2007
Height: 181cm
An exciting medium forward with a great natural leap, Walley also has blistering speed to create opportunities inside 50. He showed promising signs in the WAFL Colts in 2024, averaging nine disposals and kicking 12 goals across 14 matches for Subiaco before finishing the year by kicking 1.4 from 10 disposals for Team Heppell in the Marsh AFL National Futures match last September. Walley showed sufficient promise to be selected in this year’s Marsh AFL National Academy and had some exciting moments playing for the Australia U18 team against VFL opponents Coburg and Richmond, kicking two smart goals against the former. He showed thin slices of his potential in four matches for Western Australia at the National Championships, with his 10 disposals, five marks, three tackles and two goals against the Allies his best return. Averaged 15 disposals and kicked nine goals in eight matches for Subiaco at Colts level to earn a taste of senior WAFL football, playing two games to round off an encouraging development year. Had a shoulder operation at end of the season and didn’t test at the Draft Combine. Walley is also a member of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy as well as the AFL’s Indigenous Academy.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE
Cooper Collins
State: Queensland
State League Club: Gold Coast Suns Academy
Community Club: Broadbeach
Date of Birth: 13/11/2007
Height 189cm
A left-footed medium forward who can be mercurial both in the air and around goals. Collins won selection in the Allies team for the National Championships off the back of a match-winning performance for the Gold Coast Suns Academy against the Northern Knights, where he kicked four goals from 21 disposals. His best performance at the Champs came against Victoria Metro, where he booted two goals. Can play a hybrid forward role very well with his work rate, endurance and team orientation all strengths, meaning he gets up and back to help his team get numbers around the ball. A good decision maker with a high footy IQ, Collins played seven U18 matches for the Suns Academy, kicking 11 goals, as well as eight VFL matches for the Suns, where he averaged 10.6 and also spent time in defence.
Riley Hamilton
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: GWS Giants Academy
Community Club: Ainslie
Date of Birth: 15/08/2006
Height: 189cm
A young Indigenous talent, Hamilton overcame an ACL injury in his 17th year to play some exciting football for the GWS Giants Academy over the past two years, as well as the Allies this year. Strong overhead and very clever around goals, he kicked three majors against South Australia in the opening match of the National Championships and finished with seven across the carnival, always looking dangerous inside 50. He was impressive both forward and through the midfield in seven games with the Giants Academy, with his 21-disposal performance against the Tasmania Devils giving scouts a rounded view of his upside and potential. Also played four VFL matches for the Giants, including their Wildcard Final, which continued his football education. Was rewarded for his promising season by being named the GWS Giants’ Academy Player of the Year.
Ryda Luke
State: Western Australia
State League Club: South Fremantle
Community Club: Mundijong Centrals
Date of Birth: 19/09/2007
Height: 186cm
A powerful medium forward with strong hands, Luke missed Western Australia’s opening two National Championships games due to injury. However, an eight-goal haul in the first half of South Fremantle’s Colts game against Swan Districts saw him quickly added for Western Australia’s game against the Allies. He impressed in that game with his physical presence, great tackling pressure and ball use on both feet, finishing with a goal and featuring among his team’s best players. Not a high possession player at this point but certainly one that has an impact. Showed elite speed and agility at state Draft Combine testing in Western Australia, with his 20m sprint time of 2.89 seconds and agility test time of 8.08 seconds both ranking in the top five among state Combine participants. An Indigenous talent, Luke is a member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy program.
Tallis McMillan
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: GWS Giants Academy
Community Club: Leeton Whitton
Date of Birth: 11/04/2007
Height: 191cm
A left-footed medium forward with strong hands and an accurate kick, McMillan was new to the GWS Giants Academy this year being from the Riverina of NSW. He had an immediate impact, kicking four goals against both the Murray Bushrangers and Sandringham Dragons early in the year. Won his way into the Allies squad after kicking 12 goals in his five matches for the Giants, where he averaged 14 disposals. Played two matches during the National Championships and made a strong contribution against Western Australia as a leading forward target, kicking a goal in the Allies’ narrow win. McMillan was approved to play for the Murray Bushrangers late in the Coates Talent League season, topping off a season full of promise. Showed sharp natural speed during testing at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne, with his 2.96 seconds on the 20m sprint very good for a lead up forward.
Toby Whan
State: Western Australia
State League Club: South Fremantle
Community Club: Roleystone
Date of Birth: 09/05/2007
Height: 184cm
An outside midfielder/forward with high footy IQ, Whan is a booming kick on his preferred left foot. Is also a prolific ball winner, using his elite endurance to cover the ground. Played all four games for Western Australia at the National Championships and was prominent against Victoria Country, having 18 disposals including kicking a trademark goal to be among their best players in an exciting win. Whan dominated Colts football with South Fremantle, averaging 26.8 disposals in 12 matches, including logging 41 disposals and four goals against East Perth in Round 18. Confirmed his ability to run all day with his impressive time of 6:11 seconds for the 2km time trial at the state Draft Combine event in Western Australia. Whan is a member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy due to his South African heritage.
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Smalls
Midfielders
Defenders
