<p>It was billed as one of the best AFL draft crops we’ve seen in a while, and it has certainly lived up to the hype.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over 70 players have made the jump to play their first AFL game already this year, with the talent pool across the competition getting deeper as the fresh young talent begins to make a name for themselves.</p> <p>With many rising stars tipped for long and illustrious careers, which rookies have made the biggest impressions in their first year in the system?</p> <p>Let’s look at the best 10 AFL rookies for 2025 and see who could take out the Rising Star award.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sam Lalor - Richmond</h2> <p>The number one pick from last year's draft exploded out of the blocks and made an instant name for himself. With power, speed, and the full package, he’s a prospect the Tigers faithful will love watching for years to come.&nbsp;</p> <p>The favourite for the 2025 Rising Star gong, How long until they bestow the coveted number four jumper of the man who has been dubbed ‘Mini Dusty’?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Harvey Langford - Melbourne</h2> <p>Entering the game with an AFL-ready physique, Harvey Langford didn’t take long to establish himself as part of the Dees engine room.</p> <p>After claiming the Larke Medal for his impressive performances for Vic Country in the u18 National Championships, the Mount Martha product has already endeared himself to the Dees faithful with a bright start in the midfield and up forward.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Levi Ashcroft - Brisbane</h2> <p>The younger brother of 2024 Norm-Smith Medallist Will, Levi Ashcroft has quickly matched his brother's ability to accumulate the football in his first year at AFL level.</p> <p>The midfielder won everything he possibly could in his junior career, and he harbours hopes to join his dad and brother as Lions premiership players in his career to come.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Murphy Reid - Fremantle</h2> <p>More commonly known as “Brucey” by his teammates, Murphy Reid burst onto the scene with four goals in a 16-minute burst on debut against the Cats in Round 1 2025.</p> <p>Since then, he’s shown off all his silky skills and spatial awareness and forms a big part of the exciting, young Dockers engine room.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Xavier Lindsay - Melbourne</h2> <p>The second of the Dees' prized early draft selections in 2025, Xavier Lindsay is a poised running machine.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’s shown he can play both inside and outside the contest and run all day, the Utility will be a player the Melbourne fans fall in love with because he can just about do it all!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sid Draper - Adelaide</h2> <p>Sid Draper was the name on everyone's lips heading into the draft with plenty of conjecture about where and how early he would go.&nbsp;</p> <p>Luckily for ‘Sid the Kid’, he was able to stay home in his native South Australian and has already proven that he is too good for SANFL footy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Having shown off his explosiveness, speed, agility, and knack of finding the ball, Draper is a youngster who has all the traits of the modern game to be a dynamic player, and cult figure for his boyhood club.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cooper Lord - Carlton</h2> <p>Picked in last year's mid-season draft, and enjoying his first proper season of AFL football, Cooper Lord has elevated to the level quickly.</p> <p>From the starting sub to a mainstay playing and impacting full games regularly for the Blues as a midfielder, Lord has been a shining light and a nice find for the Blues.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Finn O’Sullivan - North Melbourne</h2> <p>He was long thought a contender to go as best in his class, and when you see Finn O’Sullivan play, it’s not hard to understand why.&nbsp;</p> <p>Composed in possession and knows how to find the ball. He’s going to be a star for the Roos and lead the midfield for years to come.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sam Davidson - Western Bulldogs</h2> <p>There aren’t many people who put a medical degree on hold to chase the AFL footy dream, but that’s exactly what Sam Davidson has done.&nbsp;</p> <p>Plucked from Richmond’s VFL team, and continuing the longstanding trend of the VFL’s ‘Fothergil-Round-Mitchell’ Medallist from the previous year getting drafted onto an AFL list the following year, Davidson quickly established himself as a key piece in the Bulldogs lineup in his first year at the top level.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’d be handy if his teammate needed a quick on-field diagnosis of an injury too!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Isaac Kako - Essendon</h2> <p>He was a cult hero even before he arrived at the Hangar. How could you not be with an awesome hairdo like he has?&nbsp;</p> <p>Isaac Kako has shown glimpses of what he can be in his first season. His speed, class, and connection in the Bombers' front half have been on show in patches in his first year. They’re enough to make Bombers fans salivate about what he could be.&nbsp;</p> <p>There they are, the best rookies of the 2025 AFL Season. If you like this list and think it’s impressive, and want to read about some more young guns, check out our article on who the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/youngest-ever-afl-players">youngest AFL players of all time</a> are.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>2025 AFL Rising Star Award Odds</h2>