List Mgmt. 2026 AFL Draft (Picks as of Round 4: 11, 22, 29, 47, 52, 65)

[JHF1870]

It’s just totally against anything the club has ever stood for.
I can’t buy it, I remember going back some years ago it would have been better for us to lose to North in the last game of the year.
We played great that day and won,I’ve seen to much Port to ever want too deliberately lose.

Players will never go out there to lose.

The problem in lieu of a lottery is what we've seen in the past with teams where the coaching staff made questionable decisions to prevent winning on gameday.

I have no issue bringing in young guys to play the long game, preserving the older players for longevity and playing guys out of position. It's a learning experience. If you've got a guy by round 17 who's got a niggling injury then setting them up for better recovery for the next season is also important. You don't want a player pushing through injuries delaying the next season.

 

[240volt]

Players will never go out there to lose.

The problem in lieu of a lottery is what we've seen in the past with teams where the coaching staff made questionable decisions to prevent winning on gameday.

I have no issue bringing in young guys to play the long game, preserving the older players for longevity and playing guys out of position. It's a learning experience. If you've got a guy by round 17 who's got a niggling injury then setting them up for better recovery for the next season is also important. You don't want a player pushing through injuries delaying the next season.

I understand that but what has been suggested is deliberately losing games like some sides have done for years.
Truth is it doesn’t work , yes you can get a couple of star players but your chasing glory on them like Carlton did with Judd.

 

[JHF1870]

I understand that but what has been suggested is deliberately losing games like some sides have done for years.
Truth is it doesn’t work , yes you can get a couple of star players but your chasing glory on them like Carlton did with Judd.

who? The media, Bigfooty people, general fans?

And in what way "Try to lose" how?

 

[240volt]

who? The media, Bigfooty people, general fans?

And in what way "Try to lose" how?

By not playing your best side and not going full in on game day.
The tanking discussion has started already on here and we have only played 4 games with one poster already suggesting the benefits of finishing low on the ladder next year.
Once you get that mentality you can’t just flick a switch and it’s all back to full on boys.

 

[#Port Patriot#]

Their should never be any lose mentality or tank mentality just because of the draft situation and rules being proposed by the AFL.

Carr and coaches and entire team should be focusing on implementing new systems and strategies moving forward as the foundation and getting all players on board including the young ones with potential. Especially potential to be part of the 23 squad and contending side.

What ever happens happens with wins / losses this season.

Media noise and outside noise shouldn't be an issue inside the port walls by anyone, including players. It would be good if the media shut up regarding Butters and stop asking him or team mates every single time. Port should come out and say straight up, stop asking about Butters and let him play or no more interviews with our players.

I still believe as I've said before, regardless of where Port finish, they'll still get Cochrane and DONT need to trade Butters out to do so. That's just garbage spun by Victorians and stupid media numpties.

They'll still get Pilot and Salopek as well in 2027 without needing to trade players. Getting a bit annoyed at people on here too, saying Port need to trade out all their players just to get these players coming through when they don't.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

It’s just totally against anything the club has ever stood for.
I can’t buy it, I remember going back some years ago it would have been better for us to lose to North in the last game of the year.
We played great that day and won,I’ve seen too much Port to ever want to deliberately lose.

Agree.

But Ken Hinkley was more against everything that the club has ever stood for and we were being absolutely destroyed in his tenure so it was the lesser of two evils then. Things are different now. Like I said I want to win every game again now.

 

[Addy23]

What do you guys think of Josh Tovey? His name popped up in the draft board as a potential MSD. I took a look at his stats and seems to be getting the pill. 3 rounds in and averages 25 touches. Big bodied mid around 195cm. Strong contested marker and looks like he can pull his weight around stoppages with his strength.

Should be on an AFL list. Has improved in multiple facets of the game in last 2 years and fits the mould of a modern midfield prototype

 

[Long live PAFC]

Tanking and not caring about losing or wanting to finish low on the ladder should never be entertained by port. These are culture killers.

 

[Long live PAFC]

These ‘reviews’ on port’s list and comparisons with the tigers moving on players to speed the rebuild are skin deep at best.

Butters is 25, bergmann 24 and Georgiades 24. If our rebuild is 3-7 years, those guys will be in the prime of their careers, carrying the side, the side will be built around them. And none have made moves to leave. Only Zak, who is out of contract and chosen to not sign on, appears to be gone.

That’s completely different to moving on an old has been in Clayton Oliver

10

Clayton Oliver

Age

28

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.8

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

18.4

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

6.3

5star

CL

6.3

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

4.6

2star

HB

14.6

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.8

5star

, an old Petracca, or players that wanted to leave in Rioli, Bolton and Baker. Those three are also older than Bergs, Butters or Mitch.

We would trade out three of our best players who would form the nucleus of our next flag tilt, in a compromised draft, for some draft picks and hope that we get players as good as Mitch, Zak and Miles?

If you’re St Kilda, what are you giving for Miles? Maybe a top ten pick with some coming back to you. And what about every other Victorian team - wouldn’t the pies, cats, dogs want him? What could they offer? A pick in the teens?

If you’re Freo do you want Mitch and, even if you did, what could you offer for him, a pick in the teens? If you’re the eagles, you’re not offering pick 1-5 for him and do you actually need him?

Zak seems destined to leave. He’s a top 5 player in the league. He wants to go to a top club, or at least a club that looks like to finish in the top 4. At best we appear to be getting three picks in the 15-25 range, across a couple of drafts. What would the pies accept for Nick Daicos? Or bulldogs for a younger bont? Or Sydney for Chad, Errol or Heeney?

 

[PJ Power]

To get Cochrane, Pilot and Salopek without trading Butters, Bergman or Georgiades, we will likely need to finish bottom 4 in each of the next two years, and probably get inventive with trading future picks or combining seconds into an extra 2027 first to get Salopek as well as Pilot.

We then need to use our second round picks - two early ones this year - to bring in additional midfield and wing talent, and get clever with mid-season and later picks to add a better ruck option, 1-2 KPDs and x-factor small-mid forwards and defenders.

Final cherry on top will be to bring in NWM as a FA in 2029, when the list is primed for a premiership assault.

I reckon this is achievable but it will mean tolerating low finishes this year and next for supporters and our players and coaches.

 

[240volt]

All sounds good trading this and that to get these players but what about the other 12 B graders running around because all we have picks and capital left for is list cloggers.

 

[philthy05]

I think we will be able to draft our ngas and fs but where it’s going to **** us over is trying to trade anyone in.

Any half decent player wants to get traded here we would have to choose them or f/s

Which is an absolutely bullshit thing to do when we’ve watched decades of teams doing as they like in the offseason.

 

[VineValerian]

Their should never be any lose mentality or tank mentality just because of the draft situation and rules being proposed by the AFL.

Carr and coaches and entire team should be focusing on implementing new systems and strategies moving forward as the foundation and getting all players on board including the young ones with potential. Especially potential to be part of the 23 squad and contending side.

What ever happens happens with wins / losses this season.

Media noise and outside noise shouldn't be an issue inside the port walls by anyone, including players. It would be good if the media shut up regarding Butters and stop asking him or team mates every single time. Port should come out and say straight up, stop asking about Butters and let him play or no more interviews with our players.

I still believe as I've said before, regardless of where Port finish, they'll still get Cochrane and DONT need to trade Butters out to do so. That's just garbage spun by Victorians and stupid media numpties.

They'll still get Pilot and Salopek as well in 2027 without needing to trade players. Getting a bit annoyed at people on here too, saying Port need to trade out all their players just to get these players coming through when they don't.

The one flaw in your argument that you neglected to mention, was that you need to remember it's Port Adelaide 2026 you're talking about.

A club that relentlessly overpays for average mature aged players and high draft picks, and gets shafted year in/year out at the trade table!

 

[Long live PAFC]

I think we will be able to draft our ngas and fs but where it’s going to **** us over is trying to trade anyone in.

Any half decent player wants to get traded here we would have to choose them or f/s

Which is an absolutely bullshit thing to do when we’ve watched decades of teams doing as they like in the offseason.

Agreed it’s going to be challenging.

Aleer might be able to be shaken loose on the cheap. Maybe a third or fourth rounder. Outside of that, it’s going to be very difficult.

 

[Jonts]

Do port need Salopek and Rodan?

Like there is no discount to getting them now

Is there a world where they're mid teen or 20s picks and we just don't match it

I get pilot and Cochrane, you don't ignore blue chip talls

 

[all seeing eye]

Do port need Salopek and Rodan?

Like there is no discount to getting them now

Is there a world where they're mid teen or 20s picks and we just don't match it

I get pilot and Cochrane, you don't ignore blue chip talls

Salopek is going to be a very good, currently underage playng at u18 coates level grade.

 

[philthy05]

Do port need Salopek and Rodan?

Like there is no discount to getting them now

Is there a world where they're mid teen or 20s picks and we just don't match it

I get pilot and Cochrane, you don't ignore blue chip talls

Dunno,

Imagine Lachie jones under this system lol.

Tank your whole draft for a low value medium defender.

Tho I don’t think this new system is really as bad for midrange picks.

I think it’s much easier to obtain or trade up that second of two picks when you’re talking about matching say a pick 25-40 than matching a top ten.

This new system really makes it hard for early bids or having multiple kids in one year.

We’re gonna get punished cause we have had **** all fs and ngas for years but getting them all of a sudden:

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

I think the good thing for F/S picks is you’re under much less pressure from a retention perspective

You know Rozee and JHF will never leave, but on the other side of the coin the constant bullshit with butters and Bergman.

Same as realistically at Brisbane, for the ashcrofts and fletcher, they’re highly unlikely to be poached.

So if they’re good enough I think you would always really be inclined to take them when they’re bid on

 

[Long live PAFC]

knowing the AFL, these rules get changed or thrown out in 2 years time when they realise they’re a train wreck.

See the lock out of the first 20 selections, or the various bidding rule changes they’ve made, threatened, thought about and then stuffed up along the way.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Their should never be any lose mentality or tank mentality just because of the draft situation and rules being proposed by the AFL.

Carr and coaches and entire team should be focusing on implementing new systems and strategies moving forward as the foundation and getting all players on board including the young ones with potential. Especially potential to be part of the 23 squad and contending side.

What ever happens happens with wins / losses this season.

Media noise and outside noise shouldn't be an issue inside the port walls by anyone, including players. It would be good if the media shut up regarding Butters and stop asking him or team mates every single time. Port should come out and say straight up, stop asking about Butters and let him play or no more interviews with our players.

I still believe as I've said before, regardless of where Port finish, they'll still get Cochrane and DONT need to trade Butters out to do so. That's just garbage spun by Victorians and stupid media numpties.

They'll still get Pilot and Salopek as well in 2027 without needing to trade players. Getting a bit annoyed at people on here too, saying Port need to trade out all their players just to get these players coming through when they don't.

Have you found paragraphs? Nice.

 

[davesnothere]

I'd like to get the next Thilthorpe/TDK and develop them ourselves.

I've had a flick through some of the draftees and still unsure on the top 10. I did like a few of the players. Armstrong plays like Serong and Kenh plays like Quaynor but it's hard to tell without being a recruiter because they're lookng 3-5 years growth and some players don't start out. I still think Langford for the Dees is an example of someone with tremendous upside.

I'm not sure on the talls at this stage.

Also Lyon and Heally suggesting we should let players walk the end of season and load up. Would want 4 top 10 picks in that case

The goal needs to be 8 first round picks over the next 2 years. Dougie/Zemes/Louis/and I’ve no idea how good Tevita is or where he plays. If he gets midfield time in the championships he’s definitely a 1st rounder.

If we can find another 4 high end picks?

 

[Peninsula Boy]

The whole Dougie escapade is going to be based on three major things. '

Where or if Dougie is nominated. There is a huge difference between 1 and 4.
Where we finish on the ladder and what our first pick will be.
To a lesser extent, what we get back from Butters.

We could get away with paying for Dougie with our first pick and not much else.
If he's nominated first overall, we will have to pay through the roof.

 

[It Just Is]

The goal needs to be 8 first round picks over the next 2 years. Dougie/Zemes/Louis/and I’ve no idea how good Tevita is or where he plays. If he gets midfield time in the championships he’s definitely a 1st rounder.

If we can find another 4 high end picks?

There is no way that happens, unfortunately. They players you mentioned will almost certainly be our only picks in the first 2 rounds of the draft.

 

[RossFC]

Updated thread title after round 4.

 

[davesnothere]

Kids to watch. Interesting discussions.

Take a look at this video, 'afl draft 2026'
https://share.google/PPBWvdI1ybPcmNfCB