AFL Fantasy Draft Track Watch 27/01/25

Want to stay ahead in your AFL Fantasy Draft? We’ve gathered the latest track watch updates from all 18 AFL clubs to give you key insights into player form, role changes, and preseason buzz.

With match simulations ramping up at each club, we are starting to get a clear idea of potential starting lineups and key AFL Fantasy player news.

All this information is being incorporated in to the AFL Draft Pros Fantasy Rankings. Make sure to subscribe to our mailing list to have a copy issued to your inbox prior to the preseason matches kicking off.

These updates aren't just hype—they're backed by player interviews, track watchers, training performances, and insights straight from the track. Let's break it down.

• Riley Thilthorpe is looking massive and primed for the season according to his teammates. His presence could become pivotal in the forward line. In 2025 it is looking like streaming key forwards will be a legitimate play for our AFL Fantasy Draft forward lines and Thilthorpe is another name you can add to that streaming list.

• Isaac Cumming is back in training and playing in defence and wing during match simulations.

• Both Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine are spending significant time through the midfield in match play. There is not room for the two of them to spend significant time in there once the real season starts though. Rankine is still in line to get more time out of the two.

• James Peatling is staying busy but has been slotted on the wing. It might limit his involvement compared to what were hoping for if this role holds in to the regular season. Peatling was interviewed on Channel Nine during the week but didn’t give much away to the AFL Fantasy community in that interview.

• Only just started match simulation this week (later than other clubs).

• Reports are that Keidean Coleman isn’t tracking as quickly as AFL Fantasy fans would like and is unlikely to be on the field for the start of the season.

• Dayne Zorko is spritely as ever (even chirping Dunkley during media interviews about his form). All track watchers still have Zorko as the main distributor out of the backline for Brisbane. We say let others get sucked in to the hype on Zorko and use your early draft picks elsewhere.

• Levi Ashcroft still hasn’t resumed training following shoulder surgery. This is good news for fantasy coaches keen on Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft or any of the other usual Brisbane midfielders this year.

• With Hipwood injured and Daniher retired, Brisbane will struggle to piece together a forward line at the start of the year, a matchup to exploit early with defensive streaming options.

Heaps of match sim footage has emerged from Carlton training which is helping us decipher key AFL Fantasy position news.

• Olle Hollands is playing clearly playing off half-back with poise, while Elijah Hollands is impressing overall out of the forward line.

• Sam Docherty is floating between training with the defence group and the midfield group. He’s likely to plug a few holes for the Carlton team as the year goes on.

• Adam Cerra’s midfield role is real and he is looking ultra fit, definitely one to bump up the draft rankings compared to where he is currently being drafted.

• Tom De Koning is lining up in both the ruck and up forward. We are no clearer on how much he will be sharing the ruck with Pittonet this year.

• Nick Haynes lined up in the preferred teams defensive set up. This makes him a possible depth option to monitor through the preseason.

• Just a whole bunch of injury news this week from Collingwood involving De Goey, Nick Daicos and Mitchell. Daicos the only one with positive news it seems.

• We learnt that Josh Daicos is flagged for potential half-back time. Keep a close eye once he returns to the track—it could be fantasy gold.

• Positive reports continue to surround Dan Houston. He’s functioning well in match simulations and looks set for another strong season.

• Veteran Dylan Shiel continues to look sharp playing off half back.

• Young guns Archie Roberts and Elijah Tsatas are showing plenty of promise in match simulation.

• Still no sign of Jye Caldwell on the track.

• Zach Merrett is a lock for midfield dominance, but Darcy Parish remains on a modified program, raising concerns about his preseason readiness.

• Sean Darcy is off to Qatar for conditioning work, creating more interest around Luke Jackson, who looks like a must-have flexer.

• Jordan Clark is being praised for his leadership skills on the field. No reason why we should see a decline in his output in 2025.

• Andy Brayshaw is looking the biggest he’s ever looked and is dominating training according to insiders.

• Lawson Humphries keeps getting big wraps in player interviews regarding his preseason form and the shape that he has come back in over the break.

• We are no clearer on the role of Sam De Koning this year within the Geelong lineup. This week he even got thrown up as a potential forward line option.

• Connor Budarick and Wil Powell have been putting in some impressive performances off half back at training. However, with Daniel Rioli and John Noble back there, you couldn’t trust them.

• Lachie Weller has been training as a wingman all preseason.

• It’s been more difficult to get a read at GWS due to the match simulations featuring a mix of first choice players on both sides.

• Stephen Coniglio, Kieran Briggs, and Finn Callaghan were absent from match simulation this week.

• Media is reporting a lot of hype about rookies performances in the preseason hitout but be weary on getting too excited because of what’s been stated above.

• Brent Daniels is looking like he’s justifying being considered a draft premium AFL Fantasy forward this year, impressing all week on the track.

• Some injury concerns as Dylan Moore nurses a sore quad, while James Sicily is working back from shoulder surgery.

• Match simulation showed us that the top-choice midfield features Lloyd Meek, Jai Newcombe, James Worpel, and Will Day, with Day dominating match simulations as a standout performer.

• Josh Ward received a shout-out from the coaching staff during the week, while Connor MacDonald impressed playing on the wing in the first half of match simulation and impacting across the ground before resuming his normal forward role.

• Massimo D’Ambrosio was also impressive on the wing in match simulation and regularly provided an outlet from defence for the team.

• Kysiah Pickett was missing on the track this week and has been doing himself no favours on social media. As the AFL Fantasy community may remember, Pickett will miss the first four games this year so has to be faded in all formats.

• Social media footage has emerged of Clayton Oliver showing him linking up in multiple chains during training drills is making him hard to resist as not being a premium option in our AFL Fantasy Draft rankings.

• Christian Petracca’s timeline to return is still unknown at this space. Fade him in your draft lists

• Caleb Windsor has been confirmed to play off half back this week. News that Salem hobbled off the track with an injury makes this all very exciting for Windsor’s prospects this year. A big watch.

• Caleb Daniel is taking all the kickouts, making him the valuable AFL Fantasy forward option we all need.

• Luke Parker is now training with the midfield group, creating some intrigue around his role and potential for our Fantasy forward lines.

• Interestingly Zac Fisher continues to play off half-back in match simulation, potentially adding versatility to North’s lineup.

• Similar to Oliver above, footage has also emerged of Sheezel’s involvement in transition training for the Kangaroos and he is often spotted getting 3 to 4 possessions per chain. Should be drafted in everyone’s top 5.
  

• Logan Evans, Lachie Jones, Ryan Burton and Josh Sinn all took their turn at taking the Houston role. Will need preseason game to play out as Farrell is currently sitting out

• While Willem Drew is absent with injury, Jason Horne-Francis looks set for an expanded midfield role.

• Jase Burgoyne is a mainstay on the wing for the preferred team during match simulation.

• Travis Boak was spotted regularly in the B team at training.

• Tim Taranto is everywhere in match simulation. Get excited for his 2025 output.

• Footage from match simulation has confirmed Jayden Short’s half back distributor role. He was regularly looked for on a short lead (pardon the pun) which we know is fantasy gold. Confidence is rising in Short.

• Toby Nankervis was on a modified program, while Rhyan Mansell is getting plenty of buzz to play Shai Boltons role within the remaining Richmond lineup.

• Tom Lynch looked dominant in match simulations, though keep in mind his direct opposition was limited.

• Rising star Mattaes Phillipou might face injury concerns. Keep an ear out for news early in the week.
  UPDATE 28/1: Phillipou has been confirmed out for 10-14 weeks. A big blow for our forward line options.

• Jack Sinclair and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera continue their roles off half-back, showcasing their capacity to coexist fantasy-wise.

• Ross Lyon is keeping his cards very close to his chest with his plans for Rowan Marshall. We don’t think there is any bad news stories to be had with Marshall no matter where he ends up on the field. You can still draft him in the top 2.
  UPDATE 28/1: Marshall has been confirmed to have an injured pelvis and will miss 5-8 weeks. A nasty injury on the eve of the season and he no longer should go inside the top 2. Monitor closely as this will stop his running program on the eve of the season which is not great news for Fantasy or Saints fans.

• Match simulation to date has locked in Jack Macrae as a premium forward option in 2025. Macrae has barely moved from the CBA mix.

• Callum Mills looks locked in to Sydney’s midfield this year.

• Brodie Grundy sat out of match simulation this week. One to monitor.

• Chad Warner spent portions of the match simulation up forward. This will be exciting for our forward lines if it continues in to the preseason matches.

• Surprise, Surprise, Elliot Yeo is injured again for West Coast. In some good news for fantasy coaches, this will increase the likelihood of Jack Graham’s full time involvement in the Eagles midfield while Yeo is out.

• Not much else to report from West Coast other than Matthew Flynn’s ankle injury wasn’t as bad as first feared.

• Talk of plenty of playing on and flicking the ball on in training reports. This is more bad news for the fantasy outlook for West Coast in 2025.

• Marcus Bontempelli is absolutely flying even by his standards.

• Even the impossible to impress Bevo, has been reported as impressed by Ryley Sanders work rate through training and match simulation. With Treloar on the sidelines he is getting significant CBA action at training. A good smoky option at this stage for our forward lines.

• Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been missing from the training track. If still unable to play in the early rounds the door opens for Aaron Naughton as a streaming option for our forward lines but not much more. Sam Darcy’s stock should also rise because of this and because English is battling an abdominal injury.

Final Word – Stay Ahead with AFL Draft Pros Track Watch

This preseason track watch gives AFL Fantasy Draft players a distinct edge. With each club's key updates covered, you're in the best position to fine-tune your draft list. Remember, preparation is key to dominating the competition.

Want more insights? Subscribe now for exclusive AFL Fantasy Draft Rankings spreadsheet and many other updates.