EDFL products Isaac Kako, Harry O'Farrell, Lucca Grego, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, and Jayden Nguyen have made their ways to AFL lists for season 2025.
It was one of the more successful draft hauls in recent history on the men's side of things and it started on night one when Isaac Kako was taken at pick 13 after Essendon matched a bid.
A member of the James Hird Academy and a lifelong Bombers supporter who’s trained at the NEC Hangar via the JHA since the age of 13, Kako became the first Iraqi player in AFL history.
Kako's footy journey started with Northern Saints in 2014 where he would go on to win the Under 12 Division 3 Best and Fairest in 2017 and the Under 12 Division 2 Best and Fairest in 2018, before representing the EDFL at interleague level.
The livewire would move to Pascoe Vale in 2021, winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the Under 16 Division 1 Best and Fairest as a bottom-ager.
A senior debut would come in 2023 where he kicked three goals against Essendon Doutta Stars.
Kako transferred back to Northern Saints and spent the entire 2024 season with Calder Cannons and Vic Metro, become the first drafted player since the Northern Saints merger in 2007.
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At Pick 40, Carlton selected Maribyrnong Park's Harry O'Farrell.
O'Farrell started at Maribyrnong Park in the Under 11s in 2017 and played 34 games with the club across four seasons before representative and school footy took over.
Following Jordan Croft from last season, Maribyrnong Park still have the most active AFL players out of all EDFL clubs joining Touk Miller, Rory Atkins, Luke Ryan, Croft, and Brandon Ryan.
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Lucca Grego was taken with pick 48 by West Coast.
Grego moved across to Keilor in 2023 and despite playing just two games with the club, he told Star Weekly Mick McGuane is having a major influence on his career.
“He is probably one of the best coaches that I’ve ever had,” he said. “The way he communicates to all the players and the way he breaks down the game of footy is just unbelievable.
“He is already mentoring me and helping me along the way."
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With the night winding down and clubs beginning to pass, Geelong selected Keighton Matofai-Forbes with pick 69, the third last player taken in the National Draft.
Matofai-Forbes started his career with Burnside Heights in 2014, playing 29 games before moving to Hillside.
He spent six seasons with the Sharks and played 90 games with interleague appearances, the 2022 Under 16 Division 2 Best and Fairest, and premierships in tow.
Matofai-Forbes crossed over to Keilor for the 2023 season and made an instant impact, kicking four goals on senior debut on Good Friday against Strathmore.
Overall, he would play 29 games for Keilor including eight senior appearances for 19 goals.
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Essendon would land another EDFL junior when it signed Jayden Nguyen as a Category B Rookie through his involvement in the James Hird Academy, the first Vietnamese player in AFL history.
Nguyen first appeared in the EDFL in 2016 with Avondale Heights, playing 67 games with the club as well as two interleague appearances.
He made the move to Aberfeldie in 2022 and won the Kevin Sheedy medal as the Best and Fairest Under 16 Division 1 player.
Nguyen played 28 games with the two blues including five senior appearances in 2023.
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