Sam Grlj (Canterbury Cobras JFC) and Jack Ison (Parkside JFC) at the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft Combine. Image: Asanka Ratnayake & Graham Denholm / AFL Photos
AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top midfield prospects ahead of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
This year’s 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 midfielders 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.
Below are the Victorian midfield prospects, click here for players from other states.
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE - VICTORIANS
Oskar Ainsworth
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Western Jets
Community Club: Williamstown
Date of Birth: 26/04/2007
Height: 187cm
A powerful forward/midfielder, Ainsworth propelled himself into the Victoria Metro team in the back half of the National Championships with two bags of five goals for the Western Jets against the Calder Cannons and Bendigo Pioneers, allowing him to get a taste of the next level. Ainsworth continued to be a threat up forward for the Jets throughout the Coates Talent League season, with his natural leap, overhead marking and innate goal sense all features of his game. Kicked 21 goals from his average of 18 disposals in 12 matches for the Jets.
Sam Allen
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Glen Iris
Date of Birth: 13/01/2007
Height: 182cm
A well-balanced and smooth-moving wingman, Allen’s elite running capacity separates him from others. He runs a sub six-minute 2km time trial but also looks capable of playing on the inside as well. During pre-season testing, Allen showcased his athletic capacity and power by ranking No.1 nationally in the running vertical jump with a leap of 101cm. He started the year well with the Oakleigh Chargers, averaging 21.3 disposals (9.3 contested) across the first three rounds before suffering a season-ending ACL injury at training. Is now on the road to a full recovery. Allen is the grandson of former Melbourne best and fairest winner Ray Groom, who later became premier of Tasmania and is a member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
Oliver Greeves
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community: Vermont
Date of Birth: 07/02/2007
Height: 191cm
A big-bodied midfielder/forward, Greeves is strong in the contest with his sharp competitive edge, prolific with his ball winning and creative by hand and foot. Greeves starred for Victoria Metro throughout the National Championships, averaging 25.2 disposals at 71% efficiency, 4.5 clearances and 2.8 tackles. He won Vic Metro’s MVP award, finished runner-up in the Larke Medal as the carnival’s best and fairest and secured All Australian honours. Greeves was a star all year at club level for the Eastern Ranges, earning Coates Talent League Team of the Year honours after averaging 25.5 disposals and kicking 11 goals in their premiership winning season, including having 35 disposals and kicking four goals in a stunning preliminary final performance against the GWV Rebels. Did not test at the national Draft Combine due to illness. Another graduate of the Marsh AFL National Academy, he is a great nephew of Geelong legend Carji Greeves, the first winner of the Brownlow Medal.
Sam Grlj
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Canterbury
Date of Birth: 26/07/2007
Height: 182cm
A medium defender or midfielder, Grlj possesses dazzling speed and a neat step through traffic, which allow him to break the lines and set up the play. A model of consistency with the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League, he averaged 20.3 disposals at 72% efficiency, five tackles and 3.9 clearances playing predominantly in the midfield. Held a leadership role with Victoria Metro, with his acceleration again a feature during the National Championships, where he averaged 17 disposals across the four matches. Grlj grasped the opportunity to play two VFL games for Richmond late in the year, including having 18 disposals on debut against the Gold Coast Suns. His strong form at all levels contributed to him earning Coates Talent League Team of the Year honours. Was most impressive at the national Draft Combine, where he showcased his speed and endurance with a time of 2.93 seconds for the 20m sprint and finished second overall for the 2km time trial with an elite 5:59.
Hunter Holmes
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Prahran
Date of Birth 19/02/2007
Height: 188cm
A medium midfielder in his first year in the Oakleigh Chargers program after previously playing only school football, Holmes had a progressive development year. He averaged 18.7 disposals, 3.1 clearances and 3.2 tackles to force his way into the Victoria Metro squad. He went on to play three matches at the National Championships, where he showed glimpses of his elite potential, averaging 14.3 disposals. Holmes still has a massive upside given his lack of exposure at the elite level, but his eye-catching burst from stoppages along with clean hands and decision making are great fundamentals to begin with. His time of 2.89 seconds for the 20m sprint was the third fastest at the national Draft Combine. Those athletic traits are not surprising given he is the brother of Geelong best and fairest Max Holmes and their mother, Lee Naylor, is a former Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning sprinter.
Jack Ison
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Parkside
Date of Birth: 26/03/2007
Height: 191cm
A left-footed inside midfielder and forward, Ison has shown slices of his elite AFL traits over the past three years, with injury hindering his ability to string games together. He gave glimpses of his undoubted talent with his size, speed and neat kicking very AFL-like in his three matches for Victoria Metro at the National Championships. He averaged 13.3 disposals and 3.7 tackles for Metro but looked to have enormous scope for rapid improvement. Continuity of playing and high performance didn’t come until his final four games for the Oakleigh Chargers this year, where he finally was able to put on display his unique talent. This included having 30 disposals and 10 clearances against the Calder Cannons, following it up with 27 disposals against the Sandringham Dragons in eye-catching finals performances. He did not test at the Draft Combine due to a tibial bone stress issue. Ison is a member of Carlton’s Next Generation Academy program given his Indigenous heritage and is certain to attract attention on Draft night.
Riley Onley
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Shepparton United
Date of Birth: 30/03/2007
Height: 195cm
A tall midfielder, Onley uses his height and reach to excel around stoppages and has a good burst of speed to break the game open. A powerful player who covers the ground extremely well, he divided his playing time this year between Scotch College, the Murray Bushrangers and Victoria Country. Was at his dominant best in the final two games of the National Championships against the Allies and Victoria Metro, with his bursts through the midfield and ball use superb. Onley averaged 23 disposals (9.8 contested), 4.8 marks and four clearances for Victoria Country to win All Australian honours, as well as being named in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. A graduate of the Marsh AFL National Academy, he missed testing at the Draft Combine due to hamstring injury.
Sullivan Robey
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: Rowville
Date of Birth: 04/10/2007
Height: 192cm
A tall midfielder/forward, Robey has emerged in the back half of the year with some outstanding performances for the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League. After only making his club debuting in Round 12, he has become a potential Draft bolter in nine matches, averaging 19.7 disposals and kicking 18 goals. Among his outstanding performances was a 40-disposal and three-goal haul against the Western Jets in Wildcard Round, along with kicking four goals in the Ranges’ Grand Final victory over the Sandringham Dragons. A powerful player with one-touch hands, as well as being a beautiful set shot for goal, Robey has been a late physical developer, growing six centimeters after being overlooked by the Dandenong Stingrays in his 16th year. Was one of a handful of players to earn a late invite to the national Draft Combine, with AFL clubs eager to find out more about the potential hidden gem.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE - VICTORIANS
Xavier Bamert
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: East Malvern Knights
Date of Birth: 29/01/2007
Height: 185cm
A left-footed inside midfielder with a high work rate and strong ball-winning ability, Bamert has had some injury interruptions after starring for Victoria Metro at the U16 National Championships in 2023. Missed the Sandringham Dragons premiership win in 2024 due to injury but returned as club captain this year. Played 16 matches and averaged 19.2 disposals to lead the Dragons to another Grand Final, where he featured in the best players as they fell just short of a history-equalling fourth-consecutive flag. Was serviceable for Victoria Metro at this year’s National Championships, playing all four matches and averaging 12.8 disposals. His time of 6:10 for the 2km time trial was outstanding and ranked first at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne.
Blake Chambers
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Eastern Ranges
Community Club: Rowville
Date of Birth: 31/05/2007
Height: 182cm
Wingman/half back who really blossomed as the year progressed. Chambers was on the edge of Victoria Metro selection as a train-on squad member. He has all the athletic attributes, with his speed and agility impressive along with his vision and precise kicking. Strong over the ball and with a high footy IQ, Chambers averaged 18 disposals in 19 games with the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League, highlighted by an outstanding 29-disposal performance in the Grand Final win which showcased his skillset.
Archie Dollman
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: St Kevin’s
Date of Birth: 21/02/2007
Height: 183cm
Wingman who had an impressive back half of the year for the Oakleigh Chargers after debuting in Round 10. Dollman’s form and potential in eight Coates Talent League matches saw him gain a late call to state Draft Combine testing. He averaged 17.4 disposals per game and showed excellent athletic capacity, a neat step through traffic and was brave and competitive to certainly grab his opportunity.
Nick Driscoll
State: Victoria Metro
Community Club: Northern Knights
Community Club: Eltham
Date of Birth: 07/04/2007
Height: 182cm
Midfielder who is prepared to take the game on using his speed to break open the play. Capable of playing either inside or outside, Driscoll is an extremely hard competitor who was ultra consistent for the Northern Knights this year, averaging 17.4 disposals in 16 matches, including a season-high 28 disposals against the Gippsland Power in Round 18. Showed an impressive combination of speed and endurance at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne, recording 2.94 for the 20m sprint and 6:27 for the 2km time trial.
Kye Fincher
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: East Brighton Vampires
Date of Birth: 18/11/2007
Height: 184 cm
A medium midfielder who can also play as a rebounding defender, Fincher uses his speed and penetrating kicking to break the game. Won selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year for his excellent performances at all levels this year. He averaged 23.3 disposals in nine matches for the Sandringham Dragons, including 22 disposals in the Grand Final defeat to the Eastern Ranges when he was among his team’s best players. Such is his versatility, he spent some time in defence for Victoria Metro and averaged 20.5 disposals, with his hard running to outnumber the opposition another feature of his game. Played one VFL game for Sandringham and amassed 26 disposals on debut against Essendon, giving a clear indication of his talent and potential. Tested well at the Draft Combine with his running vertical jump of 85cm and agility test of 8.31 seconds both impressive. Is part of St Kilda’s NGA program having been born in Hong Kong.
Jessie Johnstone
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Bendigo Pioneers
Community Club: Tongala
Date of Birth: 21/09/2007
Height: 186cm
Athletic wingman/defender who is extremely well balanced and uses his speed, neat left-foot kicking skills and outside run to penetrate inside 50m. Johnstone was a model of consistency for the Bendigo Pioneers this year, playing 16 matches and averaging 16.2 disposals. His standout performance came against the Murray Bushrangers in Round 17 when he picked up 33 disposals. Showcased his endurance at the state Draft Combine in Melbourne with a strong 6:39 for the 2km time trial.
Sam Niklaus
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Warrnambool
Date of Birth: 05/03/2007
Height: 184cm
A midfielder/defender, Niklaus reads the game exceptionally well and is a fine interceptor. He is also composed with the ball, making sound decisions and executing neatly. Niklaus shared his football commitments this year between the GWV Rebels and Xavier College, where he was the captain. He performed strongly in his six Coates Talent League matches, averaging 20.8 disposals and 4.7 marks, before a foot injury cut short his season in the final month.
Harry Scott
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Richmond VFL
Community Club: Old Scotch/Leongatha
Date of Birth: 24/01/2005
Height: 188cm
Quick midfielder who is extremely athletic, Scott is a late developer who has transitioned from a wingman to an inside midfielder across two years in Ricmond’s VFL program. Had a breakout campaign this season, playing 19 matches and averaging 21.1 disposals at 71 percent efficiency to be one of the Tigers’ most consistent and productive players. A neat user of the footy, he is the son of former Richmond player Allister Scott who played 19 games for the Tigers in the early 90s. His agility stood out at the Draft Combine, completing the course in 8.07 seconds to be ranked second overall at the State event held in Melbourne.
Aaron Sharkie
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Blackburn
Date of Birth: 20/01/2007
Height: 184cm
Midfielder and half back who is a relentless runner. Sharkie uses this great capacity to help his team outnumber and outwork the opposition, whilst using the ball with precision on both feet. Can play as both an inside and outside midfielder and has also been developed as a rebounding defender in the Coates Talent League. Has no trouble finding the footy, averaging 24.6 disposals in nine matches with the Oakleigh Chargers, with his two appearances for Victoria Metro netting similar numbers in matches against South Australia and Western Australia when playing midfield. He showcased his endurance with an impressive 6:21 seconds on the 2km time trial at state Draft Combine in Melbourne.
Callum Smith
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Vermont
Date of Birth: 12/09/2007
Height: 189cm
A medium midfielder, Smith attacks the ball with ferocity, has clean hands and a strong burst from stoppage. Was a consistent player with the Dandenong Stingrays this year, averaging 22.1 disposals (50 percent contested), 4.9 tackles and 4.8 clearances. Smith also showed potential in his four matches with Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging 16.3 disposals. His strong form across the season was rewarded with selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. The grandson of Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Kevin Bartlett, Smith’s agility was on show at the Draft Combine, recording a time of 8.23 seconds on the agility test.
Hunter Wright
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Bendigo Pioneers
Community Club: Golden Square
Date of Birth: 20/10/2007
Height: 188cm
A left-footed midfielder, Wright is exceptionally clean with his hands, a great decision- maker and neat kick. Started the 2025 season in fine touch after a very promising bottom-aged year in 2024 before hitting an unfortunate run with injuries. Was kept to just two matches for Victoria Country at the National Championships, where he was a little underdone. However, he returned to play 12 matches for the Bendigo Pioneers, averaging 20.5 disposals (nine contested), 4.5 tackles and 4.8 clearances to remind all of his undoubted talent.
FOR OTHER 2025 TELSTRA AFL DRAFT PROSPECT PROFILES: