Riley Onley has been named in the under-18 All-Australian team after he starred for Vic Country in the 2025 AFL National Championships, booking a spot on the best 22’s interchange.
While Vic Country fell short of claiming the cup, Onley did no damage to his draft stocks in the campaign — if anything, he placed himself further on the radar of AFL club list managers.
Among a plethora of gun midfield talent, Onley’s consistency has earned him acknowledgement in the national championships’ best 22, featuring alongside the likes of potential number one pick prospects Cooper Duff-Tytler and Willem Duursma, as well as Murray Bushrangers teammate Harry Dean.
Other Vic Country members include Josh Lindsay and Jesse Mellor.
The 194cm midfielder dazzled the championships with damaging possessions and demonstrated his upside as he began to accumulate disposal figures nearing on game-highs each match.
Onley averaged 23 disposals, four clearances and 6.8 score involvements a game, including a 28-disposal game with seven clearances and 13 score involvements in a win against the Allies.
The big-bodied gun has averaged 25.5 disposals in his appearances for the Bushrangers this year and featured in the best for Shepparton United in his sole senior game this season.
According to Rookie Me Central, Onley is pressing for a top 30 selection in this year’s AFL draft and, with the projected compromised nature of this year’s pool, Onley could be the Goulburn Valley’s latest first round selection, following in the footsteps of Matt Whitlock who was taken with pick 27 in last year’s national draft.
Onley’s championships has set the 18-year-old up for a strong finish to his draft campaign, with two home and away fixtures plus a wildcard game scheduled in the remainder of the Coates Talent League regular season.
On Thursday morning, Onley was also announced as part of a 64-strong list of the country’s top talents who have been invited to the 2025 AFL Draft Combine on October 3-5.
The 2025 AFL draft takes place on November 19 and 20.
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