With the 24th pick in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft, Geelong has secured exciting young midfielder, Harley Barker from Mount Barker in South Australia.
Barker is regarded as one of the most damaging prospects in the 2025 draft crop, after starring on a wing for South Australia during the under-18 national championships.
Fittingly, Barker has drawn plenty of comparisons to Cats star Ollie Dempsey, possessing an elite work rate and willingness to push the boundaries of his opponent’s coverage regularly put him in scoring positions. His strong carnival earned him a spot on the wing in the under-18 All-Australian team.
However, upon returning to Sturt after the championships, Barker suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Standing at 187cm, he is a taller wing option with elite speed, exceptional endurance and a penetrating kick capable of slicing through defensive structures. Beyond football, he also brings a background in athletics and volleyball.
It marks the fifth time that Geelong has selected a player with pick 24 in a National Draft, with Barker following in the footsteps of past Cats players like Steve Johnson (2001), David Wojcinski (1998), Tim Kelly (2017) and Toby Conway (2021).
Geelong hold another selection on the second night of the draft, which will kick off at 7.00pm AEDT on Thursday, with their pick currently sitting at number 33.
