AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top rucks and tall 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 have been released via positional group each week ahead of the Draft. This week’s edition highlights the rucks and tall 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
Tairon Ah-Mu
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Berwick
Date of Birth: 06/06/2007
Height 198cm
A powerful tall forward and ruck, Ah-Mu has good speed and brings both a genuine physical presence and imposing marking target to his team’s forward 50. He also has very good fundamentals, including a vice-like grip with his marking and booming kick for goal. These were on display when he slotted six majors in a Victoria Country trial match against Victoria Metro in preparation for this year’s National Championships. His power and scoreboard impact were apparent all year, kicking 28 goals in 13 matches while representing Victoria Country and the Dandenong Stingray. This included four goals in his final match of the year, when he also picked up 22 disposals,12 marks and 14 hitouts as the Stingrays when down to the GWV Rebels. Was also a dominant figure in school football for Haileybury, where he played under former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd. Ah-Mu hails from a strong sporting background, with his father having represented Samoa in both athletics and rugby.
Sam Ainsworth
State: South Australia
State League Club: Norwood
Community Club: Tea Tree Gully
Date of Birth: 12/08/2007
Height: 198cm
Mobile ruck who competes fiercely in the ruck and around the ground, where he displays good ball-winning ability. Ainsworth was something of a surprise packet to play as impressively as he did against the best rucks the National Championships, having previously been seen as a tall forward or defender. He played a prominent role for South Australia in their title-winning run at the Champs, averaging 15.8 disposals, three marks and 15.2 hitouts. Provided consistent supply to his midfielders with outstanding games against both the Allies and Victoria Metro and was rewarded with All Australian honours. Played a combination of under 18s and reserves football for Norwood throughout the season, which included playing as a key forward at reserves level and kicking three goals on three occasions to add to his impressive development this year.
Cody Curtin
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Claremont
Community Club: West Coast
Date of Birth: 18/05/2007
Height: 200cm
A powerful key position player, Curtin showed outstanding promise at both ends of the ground in his bottom-age season last year. His intercept marking in defence and contested marking and accurate goalkicking in attack were hallmarks of his game at club and representative level, which saw hm play all four games for Western Australia at the 2024 National Championships. Curtin’s physical presence, strong one-on-one marking and accurate conversions were again features of his game this year, kicking 45 goals and just 12 behinds in 17 matches at club and representative level. This included kicking six goals in Claremont’s Colts Grand Final win. He was the target man for Western Australia at this year’s National Championships, kicking three goals against both Victoria Country and Victoria Metro in impressive outings. Was a member of the 2025 Marsh AFL National Academy and is the young brother of Adelaide Crows youngster Daniel Curtin, who finished on the podium in the prestigious AFL Rising Star award this year.
Will Darcy
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Old Scotch
Date of Birth: 14/03/207
Height: 196cm
Mobile tall forward who has grown 16cm over the past three years. Darcy is mobile, with strong hands overhead and is clean below the knees. Still very much a work in progress, he showed glimpses of his potential at Scotch College and will take benefit from five matches with the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League this year. The son of former Western Bulldogs captain Luke, he is eligible to join his older brother, star forward-ruck Sam Darcy, at the Bulldogs via the father-son rule. If selected, he will need time to physically develop and hone his skills. Currently managing a lumber stress injury and was unable to test at the Draft Combine.
Cooper Duff-Tytler
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Calder Cannons
Community Club: Woodend-Hesket
Date of Birth: 22/08/2007
Height: 201cm
An exciting dual-sport athlete, Duff-Tytler won an gold medal playing under 16 basketball for Australia at the 2023 FIBA Asian Cup. However, last year he opted to pursue a football career after impressing as a potential future star through the Victorian talent pathway programs in recent years. A gifted athlete, Duff-Tytler covers the ground extremely well and becomes an extra midfielder after taking the ruck contest. He dominated for the Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League, averaging 20.4 disposals, 5.6 marks and 17 hitouts in five matches. He played a combination of ruck and forward for Victoria Metro, averaging 14.5 disposals, four marks and 14 hitouts to earn All Australian honours. Was given a taste of VFL football with Essendon and showcased his potential by kicking three goals from 13 disposals playing as a forward in the final round clash with Sandringham. To cement his standing as an elite prospect, Duff-Tytler excelled in testing at the national Draft Combine with top ten finishes in the 20m sprint (2.92 seconds) and 2km time trial (6:21).
Louis Emmett
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Glen Iris
Date of Birth: 23/03/2007
Height: 199cm
A ruck and tall forward, Emmett uses the ball effectively on his preferred left foot while his overhead marking is a real weapon. A very mobile player, he is still developing his ruck craft but had a major influence at the U16 National Championships in 2023, where he averaged 18 disposals, six marks and 15 hitouts to earn All-Australian selection. After a very promising bottom-age year in 2024, Emmett again caught the eye early this year with the Oakleigh Chargers and when representing the Australian U18 team. He showcased some of his abundant talent against VFL side Coburg, recording 15 disposals, five marks and a goal while splitting his time between ruck and forward duties. Despite some injury challenges with a hip flexor issue, Emmett was prominent for Victoria Metro during the National Championships, averaging 12.7 disposals in three matches. A former rower, he showed his elite aerobic capacity with a time of 6:07 for the 2km time trial at the national Draft Combine, which ranked third overall and was a special result for a player of his size.
Liam Hetherton
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: North Albury
Date of Birth: 02/05/2007
Height: 198cm
A tall forward, Hetherton is agile, competes fiercely and is very strong overhead. He excelled as a bottom-ager last year, kicking five goals from seven marks for NSW-ACT in an U17 Futures match against Victoria Country in August before backing that up with eight marks and three goals for Team Sloane in the Marsh AFL National Futures match at the MCG on AFL Grand Final day. He began very impressively this year, kicking 11 goals in the first three matches for the Murray Bushrangers, including five majors against the Bendigo Pioneers. A member of the Marsh AFL National Academy, Hetherton also gained invaluable experience and held his own playing two matches for the Australia U18 team against bigger-bodied VFL opponents in April. Was on the verge of representing the Allies at the National Championships when injury struck, with a stress reaction in his lower back ruling him out for the remainder of the season and leaving scouts to wonder what might have unfolded after an exciting beginning. Was unable to test at the Draft Combine while still in a recovery phase.
Archie Ludowyke
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: East Sandringham
Date of Birth: 19/11/2007
Height: 197cm
A left-footed tall forward, Ludowyke has spectacular ability in the air with his natural leap and clean hands. He won All Australian honours at under 16 level in 2023 and showed more glimpses of his talent as a bottom-age player last season. Made a promising start to 2025, which included a five-goal haul against the Eastern Ranges in Round 2 of the Coates Talent League before booting five majors in two games for the Australia U18 side against VFL opponents Richmond and Coburg. Unfortunately Ludowyke succumbed to a PCL injury during Victoria Metro’s third match of the National Championships which ruled him out for the remainder of the year. Nearing the end of a successful rehab program, he was unable to test at the Draft Combine with just thin slices of his elite potential left to evaluate his Draft position.
Zac McCarthy
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Old Carey
Date of Birth: 27/10/2007
Height: 199cm
A tall forward/ruck, McCarthy has raw athletic talent, being extremely mobile with an impressive natural leap and strong hands overhead. Neck and hip issues, along with school football commitments, kept him to just three games in the Coates Talent League with the Oakleigh Chargers but he impressed by averaging 17 disposals, 3.7 marks and nine hitouts. Played all four games with Victoria Metro at the National Championships, hitting the scoreboard with three goals against Western Australian and two majors against the Allies, with his composure, marking overhead and speed for his size all on display. Is a member of Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy as his mother was born in Vietnam, meaning the Magpies can match a bid in the Draft.
Taj Murray
State: Northern Territory
State League Club: Northern Territory Academy/North Adelaide
Community Club: Nightcliff
Date of Birth: 05/02/2007
Height: 201cm
An athletic ruckman, Murray covers the ground extremely well and competes fiercely. He was a standout player for the Northern Territory at the U16 National Championships in 2023, averaging 13 disposals, seven contested possessions, four tackles and 16 hitouts to win his side’s MVP award and earn All Australian honours. Murray relocated to South Australia last year and split his commitments between North Adelaide, the Northern Territory Academy and the Allies, while also playing school football. Murray starred for the Northern Territory Academy in three matches in the Coates Talent League, averaging 11.7 disposals, 4.7 marks, 3.7 tackles and 22.7 hitouts to win the Hunter Harrison Medal as the best player from Queensland, NT, NSW-ACT and Tasmania in the lead up to Allies selection. Began the National Championships in outstanding form and was among the Allies’ best with four goals,11 disposals and 15 hitouts in the narrow loss to South Australia in the opening game. Unfortunately illness interfered with his ability to further impact the Championships.
Aidan Schubert
State: South Australia
State League Club: Central District
Community Club: Gawler Central
Date of Birth: 21/12/2007
Height 196cm
An athletic tall forward, Schubert presents well as a target in attack with his clean hands overhead a feature of his game, along with his conversion in front of goal. Had an outstanding season at club level, kicking 28 goals in 13 matches for Central District to win the SANFL U18 MVP Award. Was also one of the stars in South Australia’s title-winning team at the National Championships, finishing fourth in the Larke Medal voting and earning All Australian honours. Averaged 17 disposals and seven marks across the carnival, booting four goals against the Allies and three in the big win over Victoria Metro. Made his SANFL senior debut late in the year and then showed his elite competitive edge and endurance at the national Draft Combine, recording 6:21 for the 2km time trial, which was ranked eighth overall.
Isaac Waller
State: Queensland
State League Club: Brisbane Lions Academy
Community Club: Maroochydore
Date of Birth: 30/03/2007
Height: 204cm
A developing ruck and key position player, Waller possesses enormous upside given his athletic profile. While still very raw, he is strong overhead and has shown good ruck craft to give his midfielders first use of the ball. Displayed plenty of his natural talent across seven games for the Brisbane Lions Academy this year, averaging 10 disposals, 2.5 marks and 17.5 hitouts. Also got a feel for the next level by playing a VFL game for the Lions. At representative level he played all four National Championships matches for the Allies, competing aggressively and averaging 12.5 hitouts and 6.5 disposals. Waller has excellent bloodlines, being the grandson of former South Melbourne star Peter Morrison.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE
Zac Harding
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Wodonga Bulldogs
Date of Birth: 01/01/2006
Height: 199cm
A mobile ruckman with an excellent vertical jump and natural speed, Harding uses those assets to become something of an extra midfielder. He was given permission to play as a 19-year-old in both the Coates Talent League and National Championships this season following injury disruptions in his Draft year and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Harding finished runner-up in the Murray Bushrangers’ best and fairest award after averaging 18.5 disposals, 2.6 marks and 28 hitouts. He was also very impressive playing for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 14.5 disposals, 3.8 tackles and 24 hitouts, featuring among his team’s best players against Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria Metro. Harding went on to make his VFL debut for Carlton throughout the season, before producing eye-catching results in the 20m sprint (2.98 seconds) and running vertical jump (86cm) at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne. Harding’s father Dean played 19 games for Fitzroy in the early 1990s.
Jasper Hay
State: Tasmania
State League Club: Tasmania Devils
Community Club: Clarence
Date of Birth: 10/05/2007
Height: 199cm
A ruck who is a dual sport athlete, Hay was also a junior basketball star who was selected in an under 15 All Australian squad in 2022. He has an exciting vertical leap which he uses to great effect at stoppages and in marking contests, while he also brings outstanding work rate. Hay won Tasmania’s MVP award and earned All Australian selection at the U16 National Championships in 2023 after averaging 11 disposals, three marks and 23 hitouts across the tournament. He continued honing his craft playing 10 matches for the Tasmania Devils in the Coates Talent League this year, averaging 11.6 disposals, 3.3 marks and 14 hitouts. A member of the Marsh AFL National Academy, he gained great experience playing in defence in two matches for the Australia U18 team in April, acquitting himself well in a relatively new role. Also gained experience playing as a key defender for the Allies this year with his mobility, vertical leap and endurance assets.
Jim Houston
State: NSW-ACT
State League Club: GWS Giants Academy
Community Club: Hay
Date of Birth: 10/02/2007
Height: 197cm
A developing ruck/tall defender, Houston emerged as a genuine prospect with some dominant games for the GWS Giants Academy with his competitiveness and contested marking real features of his performances. In five matches for the Giants Academy he won plenty of the ball, averaging 17.6 disposals and six marks, which included a best on ground performance against the Sandringham Dragons when he picked up 24 disposals, 12 marks and 24 hitouts. Won selection for the Allies at the National Championships, where he played a variety of roles including as a tall defender and forward with limited time in the ruck as he continued to progress with his development.
Marcus Krasnadamskis
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: Berwick
Date of Birth: 18/06/2007
Height: 201cm
A dual sport athlete who has always played basketball as well as football, Krasnadamskis focused on just a potential AFL career in the middle of this year. Showed enormous athletic talent and fundamental skills for the Eastern Ranges in their run to winning the Coates Talent League premiership. In 13 matches he averaged 11.5 disposals, 2.7 clearances and 14 hitouts to play an important role for his team, featuring among their best players in finals wins over the Calder Cannons and GWV Rebels. His elite athletic ability was showcased during testing at the end of the year, with his 2.89 seconds for the 20m sprint and running vertical jump of 88cm both ranked second at the state Draft Combine event held in Melbourne.
Jai Leach
State: Queensland
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Palm Beach-Currumbin
Date of Birth: 24/11/2007
Height: 197cm
Tall forward/ruck who emerged from playing underage football at Palm Beach-Currumbin to show enough potential in three games with the Oakleigh Chargers to win a late call up for the state Draft Combine. An Indigenous talent who was a member of the Eddie Betts Academy this year, his fundamentals skills and athleticism caught the eye of the scouts in his matches for the Chargers, where he averaged 13 disposals, 3.7 clearances and 4.3 tackles. His running vertical jump of 82cm was a top ten finish at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne and a real show of promise for a youngster who won’t turn 18 until just after the AFL Draft.
Cooper Ramsay
State: Western Australia
State League Club: East Fremantle
Community Club: Palmyra
Date of Birth: 09/01/2007
Height: 202cm
Developing ruck with little exposure to state league football, Ramsay is something of a wildcard in this year’s Draft having played only one Colts game with East Fremantle and one state under 18s trial match this year. He represented Western Australia as an approved 17-year-old in last year’s U16 National Championships, playing matches against South Australia and Victoria Country to provide him with accelerated development. Showed he was extremely willing to compete both in ruck contests and around the ground and was also clean below the knees. Has a soccer background but also experience in boxing, jiu-jitsu and rugby league.
Kalani White
State: Queensland
State League Club: Gold Coast Suns Academy
Community Club: Broadbeach
Date of Birth: 05/05/2007
Height: 201cm
A tall defender who has also shown he can go forward, White excites with his athleticism and outstanding overhead marking. He is still growing into his rangy body but has a supernatural leap and the size to win contests in the air or bring the ball to ground. White was rarely beaten deep in defence during the 2023 U16 National Championships to earn All Australian honours. Continued to progress with his development this year, playing five matches with the Gold Coast Suns Academy, where he averaged 10 disposals and four marks. Also played predominantly in defence for the Allies at this year’s National Championships. Played three VFL games for the Casey Demons, kicking two goals on debut against Essendon. A member of the 2025 Marsh AFL National Academy, he showed glimpses of his potential with his strong marking in two matches for the Australia U18 team against VFL opponents in April. The son of former No.1 Draft pick Jeff White, who played 236 game matches for Fremantle and Melbourne, he is eligible to join Melbourne under the father-son rule, with the Demons already committing to selecting him.