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Carlton's father-son talent that could land in the top five
Jaiden Sciberras • October 8th, 2025 12:39 pm
The 2025 National Draft is just around the corner, and following the official AFL Draft Combine, a number of players have cemented their positions amongst the talent ranks.
With the draft set for November 19 and 20, the country’s most talented prospects arrived in Melbourne over the weekend to complete a range of physical tests, proving their athletic ability ahead of next month’s draft.
Although this season’s crop has widely been considered a step back from previous years, Fox Footy’s draft expert Ben Waterworth believes there remains plenty of star potential.
“It’s not as deep as last year, I think that’s been made very clear in conversations with clubs,” Waterworth told AFL Trade Radio.
“It lacks the depth, certainly compared to last year’s draft, and looking ahead to next year as well. We always tend to find diamonds in the rough at this time of the year as well.”
Eagles' potential top two
The West Coast Eagles enter the 2025 draft with as strong a hand as any, with Pick 1 locked up via their wooden spoon finish and Pick 2 expected to land in their lap courtesy of Oscar Allan’s departure.
And at the pinnacle of the draft talent, a potential “unicorn” out of Victoria appears all but bound for WA.
“Cooper Duff-Tytler is in the Pick 1 mix,” Waterworth said.
“West Coast have Pick 1 and are likely to get Pick 2 due to the Oscar Allan compensation, and I think Cooper Duff-Tytler is in the conversation to go with one of those first two picks.
“He is 200cm, he predominantly plays his best footy as a ruck this year, but even at 200cm a lot of the best rucks in the competition are taller than that, so he has been tried a little bit more as a forward, and I think clubs were very happy with what they saw in terms of his ability to impact the scoreboard and his competitiveness inside forward 50.
“He was excellent on the weekend, he finished 9th in the 2km time trial, and then in the 20-metre sprint, 2.92 seconds which came in eighth. He has the aerobic capacity, and the anaerobic burst.
“Clubs knew about (this) during the season, but this only enhances and solidifies his chances as a top two prospect this season.”
Beyond Duff-Tytler, the Eagles will also remain well in the mix for Willem Duursma, brother of Essendon’s Xavier, North Melbourne’s Zane and Carlton W’s Yasmin.
Willem has presented as a highly consistent talent across the course of the season, and it is widely believed that he rounds out the top two alongside the Victorian ruckman.
“It’s either Cooper, or Willem Duursma for Pick 1 this year,” Waterworth said.
“I think Willem has probably been the most consistent and bankable of all prospects so far this season. He is a Brendan Goddard-like player in terms of his versatility and size.
“He is just over 190cm, but he has got the versatility to play across any line. We saw that in the National Championships, where he started as a defender, but as the Championships moved forward, he played a bit more midfield, and then late in the last game for Vic Country, he pushed forward and kicked a classy goal.
“Really consistent, happy to play anywhere and happy to go anywhere (interstate). For mine, I think he goes in the top two of the National Draft this year.”
Suns academy talent
Another brother remains prevalent at the top-end of the draft, with Zeke Uwland, brother of Gold Coast’s Bodhi, presents as a top five prospect.
While the Suns’ academy talent has undeniable talent, an injury-riddled season has kept him from a potential first overall selection. However, he is expected to slot straight into the Suns’ 23 in 2026.
“He’s had a very interrupted season with a back injury, but coming into the season we knew that he was going to be very highly rated.
“In July, I had him at number one, even though he hadn’t played that much. He is in the very similar mould to an Errol Gulden – not necessarily a tall player but a wonderful left foot kick, great running power off the half back flank and the wing, and he will slot straight into that Gold Coast best 23, should he be fit to go at the start of next season.
“Tested quite well, considering the interrupted campaign that he has had so far. I have no doubt that he is getting a bid in the top five – he might be the first tied player that gets a bid on draft night.”
Blues' potential top five bid
One of the biggest risers in the National Draft is Carlton’s father-son prospect Harry Dean.
The elite key defender was in and around first-round conversations, however following a stellar National Championships campaign, the defender could hear his name called within the top five.
“I would say that he is a potential top five bid on draft night, which I think is why the compensation picks that Carlton got back for Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni are so important,” Waterworth said.
“Harry Dean was in the first-round mix heading into the National Championships, but he blew scouts away. I watched him play two games, and in the last game he played for Vic Country, he took three or four intercept marks in the first quarter – this is a man against boys as a key defender.
“I spoke to a scout in AFL club land after the National Champs, and he said Harry Dean could potentially play Round 1 next season, that’s how well he has been going.
“He is a 193cm key defender – I sort of compare him a little bit to Cal Wilkie. A left footer, the ability to intercept but also very strong one-on-one.
“He played on a variety of different sized opponents, so he has got the versatility as that key defender. He is a very, very exciting prospect for Carlton fans.
“He hasn’t officially nominated Carlton or vice-versa, but I think it is an absolute certainty that that happens in the next month.”
Top 10 draft picks as it stands:
- West Coast
- Richmond
- Richmond (via North Melbourne)
- Essendon
- Essendon (via Melbourne)
- Gold Coast (via Port Adelaide)
- Gold Coast (via St Kilda)
- Hawthorn (via Carlton)
- Carlton (via Tom De Koning compensation)
- Sydney
*West Coast expected to land Pick 2 via Oscar Allan compensation, sliding above Richmond's selections.
