Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[#BallMagnet]

WHO IS TRAINING AT YOUR CLUB?​

Adelaide: Jack Gordon, Ethan Herbert, Gabriel Patterson
Brisbane: Caylen Murray
Carlton: Lewis Houndsome, Cody Walker
Collingwood: Tate Hodgson, Harry Van Hattum
Essendon: -
Fremantle: Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen
Geelong: Jack Pickett, Noah Williams
Gold Coast: Archie Hill
Greater Western Sydney: Ethan Matthews
Hawthorn: Harrison Chapman
Melbourne: Xavier Ladbrook, Darcy Szerszyn
North Melbourne: Aidan McCartney
Port Adelaide: Dougie Cochrane, Kodah Edwards
Richmond: Tanner Armstrong
St Kilda: Arki Butler
Sydney: -
West Coast: Garrison Kenh, Koby LeCras
Western Bulldogs: -


https://www.afl.com.au/news/1460947

I still don't really understand why AFL clubs only provide invites and have involvement with only Academy, NGA, F/S, AFL Academy prospects to train with them in the build up and into their draft year. Why is it these kids get this valuable experience, opportunities and the chance to work with AFL clubs and rub shoulders against AFL Players over others because they fall under these categories.
Should be open.
If an AFL club has a real interest in a young prospect, what's to stop them having them involved also.

One example being Van Dyk out of SA. Clearly in SA's top 3 prospects and likely a high draft talent.
Not Club NGA
Not Club Academy
Not Club F/S
Not AFL Academy (unsure how he missed out?)

Sorry mate, no invite and you'll have to train elsewhere.

Neocleous from Vic another.

Crazy how clubs don't work around this to allow themselves to get greater access to the available talent around the country to then be able to make more informed decisions on the prospect.

 

[Jen2310]

Harry Van Hattum (he told me he’s now 206cm) and Tate Hodgson this morning

 

[SaintLoopy]

Harry Van Hattum (he told me he’s now 206cm) and Tate Hodgson this morning

View attachment 2509681

Ouch. That’s going to be scary.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Harry Van Hattum (he told me he’s now 206cm) and Tate Hodgson this morning

View attachment 2509681

what are they feeding these kids these days!! Hattum looks like he is 25!

 

[Yoda_]

WHO IS TRAINING AT YOUR CLUB?​

Adelaide: Jack Gordon, Ethan Herbert, Gabriel Patterson
Brisbane: Caylen Murray
Carlton: Lewis Houndsome, Cody Walker
Collingwood: Tate Hodgson, Harry Van Hattum
Essendon: -
Fremantle: Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen
Geelong: Jack Pickett, Noah Williams
Gold Coast: Archie Hill
Greater Western Sydney: Ethan Matthews
Hawthorn: Harrison Chapman
Melbourne: Xavier Ladbrook, Darcy Szerszyn
North Melbourne: Aidan McCartney
Port Adelaide: Dougie Cochrane, Kodah Edwards
Richmond: Tanner Armstrong
St Kilda: Arki Butler
Sydney: -
West Coast: Garrison Kenh, Koby LeCras
Western Bulldogs: -


https://www.afl.com.au/news/1460947

Blake Justice is in ourNGA, spent time, may still be, training with the club

 

[Jen2310]

what are they feeding these kids these days!! Hattum looks like he is 25!

He is huge. I felt so small chatting to him. Gonna be a monster when he grows up..

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Cody Walker has finished school and training with Carltons AFL side, is there anything that says he must play Coates talent league? Can he continue to train with our AFL side and play VFL through the 2026 season?

 

[#BallMagnet]

Cody Walker has finished school and training with Carltons AFL side, is there anything that says he must play Coates talent league? Can he continue to train with our AFL side and play VFL through the 2026 season?

I don’t see why not.
If it’s good enough for Cochrane to transfer to the Powers affiliate Port Adelaide for the SANFL season it should be the same for Walker.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Cody Walker has finished school and training with Carltons AFL side, is there anything that says he must play Coates talent league? Can he continue to train with our AFL side and play VFL through the 2026 season?

From my understanding non-listed players aren’t allowed to train with AFL clubs during the season. Clubs can get exemptions during preseason though.

They can however train and play with a VFL side. Luke McDonald did it in his top age year, when North were aligned with Werribee in the VFL. Same goes with Cochrane at Port, he’ll train and play with the Port SANFL side.

 

[THE_GUN]

Harry Van Hattum (he told me he’s now 206cm) and Tate Hodgson this morning

View attachment 2509681

Could still be growing also being a july birthday
height: 206cm
D.O.B: 01-07-2008

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Provided he gets selected for SA, imagine a ruck battle between The Mad Hatter and Jobe Janeway. (207cm.)

 

[Jen2310]

Could still be growing also being a july birthday
height: 206cm
D.O.B: 01-07-2008

Can you imagine if thats the case.
And he isn't a stick like some at that height.
Sam Darcy continued to grow after he was drafted, and Harry is already basically the same height.

 

[THE_GUN]

Can you imagine if thats the case.
And he isn't a stick like some at that height.
Sam Darcy continued to grow after he was drafted, and Harry is already basically the same height.

Would love to know what his agility speed and leap are like

 

[Jen2310]

Would love to know what his agility speed and leap are like

Seemed pretty good this past week. Good athleticism for his size. Doesn't lumber around, but moves pretty quick. Great hands in the air, able to clunk contested marks.
I'd love to know where he is ranked. Surely top 5-10

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Based on what I've seen of The Mad Hatter, any descriptions of him and 'raw' would be a disservice.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Provided he gets selected for SA, imagine a ruck battle between The Mad Hatter and Jobe Janeway. (207cm.)

Herbert will no doubt be SA's #1 Ruck but Janeway looks promising as well and a suitable backup. Looks to move quite well in the transition game much like Herbert.
Got some bulk about him also at that height and I think he's pretty new to the SA Pathways so he should continue to improve.
I heard he's a country lad, Apprentice Sparky. Good luck having that kid up in your roof space.
At least he'd be able to change the light bulbs easily.

 

[Yoda_]

Any Coates talent league squad updates released yet?

 

[Jen2310]

Any Coates talent league squad updates released yet?

Not the metro sides - they still need to round down the final side, but a couple of the country coates league sides. geelong? and Rebels.

 

[Mutineer]

Any Coates talent league squad updates released yet?

Coates have dropped there sponsorship so a name change of the comp incoming.

 

[Yoda_]

Coates have dropped there sponsorship so a name change of the comp incoming.

TAC Cup was peak underage footy

 

[madjoe]

Coates have dropped there sponsorship so a name change of the comp incoming.

I love the app they have if they can stream games for free and not behind a paywall sponsors will jump at the chance. IT's good footy

 

[eaglevision]

I love the app they have if they can stream games for free and not behind a paywall sponsors will jump at the chance. IT's good footy

It’s been shifted to the AFL app now, streaming still free for now.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Is there somewhere I can look at who is in the AIS Academy?

 

[bzparkes]

Is there somewhere I can look at who is in the AIS Academy?

PROFILED: 2026 AFL Academy squad

The footballing calendar moves quickly and in the wake of this year's draft, eyes are already turning to the best of the 2026 crop.

central.rookieme.com

 

[madjoe]

It’s been shifted to the AFL app now, streaming still free for now.

Got get those live streams onto YouTube or something it's painful on the app to hard to see stats but i'm being picky as komo sport do a coverage of the game behind a paywall lol