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Sport Nation
The curious case of the 2020 AFL Draft
Luke Mathews • September 14th, 2025 10:17 am
Every year, the AFL draft poses as an opportunity for struggling clubs to fast-track their rise up the ladder by getting their hands on the best young kids in the country.
It’s been well documented how successful the 2001 draft class was, with plenty of future champions finding their way onto AFL lists, while 2021 is looming as one of the best in recent years.
Just one year before that, the 2020 draft has failed to reach the same heights, with several players not living up to expectations after failing to make their mark at the AFL level.
The year was marred by the COVID pandemic, which prevented most underage footy taking place, with recruiters not getting an ideal look at prospects.
Clubs have been left to rue plenty of decisions made on draft night, with Essendon taking three top ten picks into the draft, while Collingwood had five selections inside the top 31.
We’ve taken a look back at the top 20 selections to see where all the players are currently.
1. Jamarra Ugle Hagan
The key forward was taken by the Dogs at pick 1 as an Academy selection after Adelaide bid on him. Has had plenty of eye-catching moments in his first four years, but hasn’t played at all in 2025 due to off-field issues. His future is now up in the air.
2. Riley Thilthorpe
The South Australian was an easy choice for the Crows after the bid for Ugle-Hagan was matched He made a fast start to life in the AFL with five goals on debut. Spent most of 2024 on the sidelines but has made up for lost time in 2025 with an All-Australian selection and one of the few success stories from his draft class.
3. Will Phillips
Caught everyone by surprise when North Melbourne took him at pick 3, with the club enticed by his leadership qualities. Has never been able to lock down a spot in North’s team after playing in multiple roles and is currently without a contract for 2026 after playing just five games this year.
4. Logan McDonald
After being passed up on by Adelaide and North Melbourne, the Swans swooped to take the promising tall at pick 4. Showed some good signs early in his career, but has failed to take the next step and become a genuine A-grader. Was dropped for the 2022 Grand Final, was subbed out of the 2024 decider and hasn’t played this year due to injuries.
5. Braeden Campbell
The left footer was taken by the Swans as an Academy selection after Hawthorn bid on him at pick 5. Whilst he isn’t a superstar yet, the lively small is a consistent player for Dean Cox’s side and is one of the best ball users for the Swans.
6. Denver Grainger-Barrass
Despite being one of the most attractive prospects in the draft, the Western Australian slipped down to Hawthorn’s pick. The defender was never able to lock in a spot in the Hawks' backline and was delisted when the side brought in Tom Barrass and Josh Battle. He is currently on Carlton’s VFL list.
7. Elijah Hollands
The highly touted midfielder was one of the biggest surprises on draft night when he slid down to Gold Coast’s pick. The Murray Bushrangers product didn’t play in his first year after sustaining an ACL in his draft year and ended up only playing 14 games for the Suns. Had some good moments in his two years at the Blues, but has recently been told to find a new home.
8. Nik Cox
The versatile big man hit the ground running at AFL level with his speed, endurance and ability to kick well on both feet standing out. Since the promising start, the tall has struggled, and several concussions have meant he hasn’t played in 2025, which has put his career in jeopardy.
9. Archie Perkins
Was one of the talking points before the draft after the midfielder told interstate clubs he wasn’t prepared to make the move. Looked like becoming a gun on-baller which the Bombers desperately needed, however hasn’t taken the next step which they would’ve hoped after taking him at pick 9.
10. Zach Reid
In need of a defender to help build their spine, the Bombers selected Reid, who was one of the best key defenders in the draft. The Gippsland Power product’s career has been marred by injuries, but he did show some promise early in 2025 with an eye-catching performance on ANZAC Day.
11. Luke Pedlar
The South Australian was taken by the Crows at pick 11 and had a solid start to his career at West Lakes. Has only played 37 games in five years and has only played seven games in 2025.
12. Tanner Bruhn
The Geelong Falcons product didn’t look too pleased when he was taken by the Giants at pick 12 on draft night. Didn’t spend long in Western Sydney and requested a trade back home to Geelong at the end of 2022. Hasn’t featured for the Cats in 2025.
13. Tom Powell
Was the second of North’s first round picks for 2020 and chose to boost their midfield stocks with another on-baller. Had a good start to his career at Arden Street and features regularly in Alastair Clarkson’s side.
14. Heath Chapman
The defender was an easy choice for the Dockers at pick 14, who were looking to shore up their defensive stocks. Was in and out of the side across his first four years, but has solidified his spot in 2025.
15. Connor Stone
One of three selections the Giants received from Geelong as part of the Jeremy Cameron trade. Has taken a while to break through at the AFL level despite looking like taking the next step after a promising preseason. The promise hasn’t transpired, having only played seven games in 2025. Is contracted for next year.
16. Lachie Jones
The defender was taken by the Power as an Academy pick after Collingwood bid on him at pick 16. Debuted almost instantly but was in and out of the team across his first three years. Has become a reliable defender and has played 18 games in 2025
17. Ollie Henry
After 10 games in his first year, the Geelong Falcons product showed promise with a number of clutch moments in his second year. Opted to turn his back on the Pies and head to Geelong for family reasons at the end of 2022. Kicked four goals in last year’s Preliminary Final but has been in and out of the side in 2025.
18. Ryan Angwin
The second selection as part of the Jeremy Cameron trade, the midfielder debuted in 2022 and suffered a broken leg in his first game. Has only played nine games in 2025, but does have a contract for 2026.
19. Finlay Macrae
Was taken by the Pies at pick 19 with the hope he would turn out like his half-brother Jack. Played nine games in his first year under Nathan Buckley and Robert Harvey, and was showing positive signs. Has been dominant week in and week out for Collingwood’s VFL team, but has never been able to break into the AFL side permanently and is now without a contract for 2026 after not playing a game in an injury-plagued 2025.
20. Max Holmes
Easily the best selection from the 2020 draft, excluding Academy picks. The Cats caught everyone by surprise when they orchestrated a trade with Richmond on draft night, which involved them giving away their future first-round pick. Stephen Wells chose Holmes, who looked like a massive bolter, but has been a shrewd piece of recruiting. The pacy midfielder is one of the best onballers in the competition and took out the Cats' best and fairest in 2024. Made every other club look silly.
Other notable picks:
32. Errol Gulden
The Swans were rapt when Gulden slipped all the way down to pick 32 and was an easy choice to match Geelong’s bid. The wingman made his debut in Round 1 and has become one of the best players in the comp due to his silky skills and ball-winning ability.
33. Shannon Neale
Despite missing out on Gulden, the Cats swooped on Neale with their second selection for the night. After just five games in his first two years, the key forward made his mark last year as Tom Hawkins' replacement and has kicked 41 goals in 22 games in 2025.
44. Beau McCreery
With their sixth and final pick on the night, Collingwood chose to select an aggressive and speedy small forward. One of just two players from the 2020 draft to play in a premiership, the South Australian is a key player in Craig McRae’s side.
7. Josh Treacy (Rookie Draft)
The Bendigo Pioneers product wasn’t taken in the national draft however, the Dockers took a punt on the key forward with pick 7 in the rookie draft. Has proven to be an absolute steal with the 'Big Cohuna' kicking 87 goals across the last two seasons.
13. Jack Ginnivan (Rookie Draft)
The Pies took a punt on a small forward from the Bendigo Pioneers with pick 13 in the rookie draft, and the polarising figure has packed a lot into his first five years at AFL level. His career includes an almighty spray from Kane Cornes in his sixth game, an ANZAC day medal, a ducking controversy, a drug-related suspension, a premiership, a trade and a clash with an opposition coach. Now performing very strongly for Hawthorn.
