Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[hammer180]

I see port have started tanking already for Dougie Cochrane.

Can we put that in the cochrane thread?

 

[Golden_6]

Is Cochrane (PA) likely to go number 1?

If he falls to that 3-4 range and PA finishes bottom 3, there's every possibility that they could walk away with Cochrane and 2 additional top 5 picks if no team that finishes below them bids on Cochrane.

That situation would be far preferable for Port than 3 top 15ish picks from the Dogs/Cats that will fall due to bidding (with the 2026 pick wiped out for Cochrane anyway).

 

[Rash]

Is Cochrane (PA) likely to go number 1?

If he falls to that 3-4 range and PA finishes bottom 3, there's every possibility that they could walk away with Cochrane and 2 additional top 5 picks if no team that finishes below them bids on Cochrane.

That situation would be far preferable for Port than 3 top 15ish picks from the Dogs/Cats that will fall due to bidding (with the 2026 pick wiped out for Cochrane anyway).

thats why we are trying to hide cochrane

He is listed as injured: TBC return date

 

[KanesBurner]

Is Cochrane (PA) likely to go number 1?

If he falls to that 3-4 range and PA finishes bottom 3, there's every possibility that they could walk away with Cochrane and 2 additional top 5 picks if no team that finishes below them bids on Cochrane.

That situation would be far preferable for Port than 3 top 15ish picks from the Dogs/Cats that will fall due to bidding (with the 2026 pick wiped out for Cochrane anyway).

Thats the only way I could have seen Port taking the compo but the AFL is changing the compo rules (with no notice as per usual) that they’ll start after the first 8 picks. If Port got 2 picks before Dougie I assume they wouldn’t match.

Other problem is a club would likely just bid anyway knowing Port could easily match.

 

[txbyhull]

The idea that Walker and Cochrane won’t be bid on in the top 2 is laughable. Clubs know how good they are. Unless a kid comes out and becomes a far and away number 1 then it’s locked they’ll be bid on no matter how they play this year. Zeke got a bid at 2 after playing like 4 games all year.

Can’t hide them no matter how hard they try

 

[KanesBurner]

The idea that Walker and Cochrane won’t be bid on in the top 2 is laughable. Clubs know how good they are. Unless a kid comes out and becomes a far and away number 1 then it’s locked they’ll be bid on no matter how they play this year. Zeke got a bid at 2 after playing like 4 games all year.

Can’t hide them no matter how hard they try

Doesn’t always go that way though, Tom Green fell to 10, Daicos 4. Sometimes teams just take their best available.

If they are still the clear 1 & 2 at years end then yeah there’s very little chance they slide through. I think a lot of it comes down to strength of draft and I don’t know how this one rates.

 

[Rash]

Doesn’t always go that way though, Tom Green fell to 10, Daicos 4. Sometimes teams just take their best available.

If they are still the clear 1 & 2 at years end then yeah there’s very little chance they slide through. I think a lot of it comes down to strength of draft and I don’t know how this one rates.

West coast want to get us back because we took rioli after they supported him with his drug/mental health 2 year break.

 

[bluebaggerjuls]

who would they bid on at 1 is the question. A bid on pick 1 v 2 could be the difference in having to go into deficit

 

[Donflicted]

Apart from Dougie and Walker who is the next best player to compete for the number one and two pick?

 

[weltschmerz]

Apart from Dougie and Walker who is the next best player to compete for the number one and two pick?

2026 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Wildcards

While a pair of club-tied talents lead the pack, several other prospects are in the running for this year's race to pick one.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Donflicted]

2026 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Wildcards

While a pair of club-tied talents lead the pack, several other prospects are in the running for this year's race to pick one.

central.rookieme.com

Thank you

With that Welcome to Essendon Arki Butler

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

The idea that Walker and Cochrane won’t be bid on in the top 2 is laughable. Clubs know how good they are. Unless a kid comes out and becomes a far and away number 1 then it’s locked they’ll be bid on no matter how they play this year. Zeke got a bid at 2 after playing like 4 games all year.

Can’t hide them no matter how hard they try

History has shown that all it takes is for clubs to make backroom deals to stop the bid. See GWS not bidding on Daicos after conveniently having made a deal for the Pies first rounder the year before.

 

[txbyhull]

West coast want to get us back because we took rioli after they supported him with his drug/mental health 2 year break.

I would've said it's likely because you have the more gettable of the 1a and 1b players. Not that I think either are realistic

 

[RanaNaved]

Eagles bid on Zeke who barely played and Dean before CDT. If/when they get pick 1 it's almost impossible not seeing them bidding on both Walker and Cockring, provided they don't regress terribly

 

[Donflicted]

Eagles bid on Zeke who barely played and Dean before CDT. If/when they get pick 1 it's almost impossible not seeing them bidding on both Walker and Cockring, provided they don't regress terribly

Think its going to be very common now regardless of what NGA or F/S belongs to what club

 

[KanesBurner]

West coast want to get us back because we took rioli after they supported him with his drug/mental health 2 year break.

The Eagles might be annoyed but I don’t know why they would be at Port? Rioli wanted out, port didn’t force him to leave. They can absolutely feel aggrieved at Rioli.

Port also facilitated them getting picks 8 & 12 which the list management team wanted, regardless of the fans opinions.

 

[Yoda_]

The idea that Walker and Cochrane won’t be bid on in the top 2 is laughable. Clubs know how good they are. Unless a kid comes out and becomes a far and away number 1 then it’s locked they’ll be bid on no matter how they play this year. Zeke got a bid at 2 after playing like 4 games all year.

Can’t hide them no matter how hard they try

club tied prospects, especially father/sons are historically bid on later than many expect them to. I do sense clubs are getting increasingly frustrated with the NGA's and as such are likely to bid earlier than expected nowadays

 

[Monsterdarlz]

Bit different 2021 had JHF, Darcy, Finn and Daicos. JHF was neck and neck with Nick all under-age footy and you can't argue that Darcy wasn't highly rated/ worth a bid perhaps maybe at three but given gws had Collingwood pick they didn't feel the need to.

2019 was a super draft green doesn't get bid on a head of the likes of Rowell, Anderson or Jackson.

This year there is no clear cut open pool talent that can match Walker or cochrane. If there's a Anderson Rowell JHF level player the academy / fs doesn't come into pick one equations.

Both could take the year off and would almost certainly attract top 4 bids at worse

 

[txbyhull]

The gap on the rest of the crop is not sufficient to where it is impossible for someone else to come into pick 1 equations, but it is to the point where it is highly unlikely.

Chances HVH goes into pick 1 discussion depends solely on who has number 1, Arki depends if he goes into the midfield full time (or at least 60/40) but we saw with a guy like Lindsay that even if you are absolutely elite in position that recruiters (or more so the media and those doing draft gossip) want to see versatility and midfield chops, I don't think Lucas Robinson is the type of player to go 1 anymore.

There's a few guys I really like, but none I see knocking on the door of Cochrane and Walker. Love Kodah Edwards, think he will be this year's Sam Cumming and will go from late top 10 to top 5 on draft night only to have it come out after the fact that multiple clubs had him rated at 3.

 

[botts]

When does the Coates league start? Is it this week?

 

[tigs2010]

When does the Coates league start? Is it this week?

Correct

 

[ABAB]

The Eagles might be annoyed but I don’t know why they would be at Port? Rioli wanted out, port didn’t force him to leave. They can absolutely feel aggrieved at Rioli.

Port also facilitated them getting picks 8 & 12 which the list management team wanted, regardless of the fans opinions.

Port Power facilitated lol. Who wouldn't trade pick 8 and 12 for pick 2???? The supporters were pissed as the club accepted unders in that trade.

 

[txbyhull]

Port Power facilitated lol. Who wouldn't trade pick 8 and 12 for pick 2???? The supporters were pissed as the club accepted unders in that trade.

Good thing it’s ended up as a good trade

 

[ABAB]

Good thing it’s ended up as a good trade

I know you like to smoke a lot of Copium, like the shocking Baker trade where even your CEO had to hold a Press Conference to "explain" it to the supporters as it wasn't the first time they've done a shocking trade for a top 2-3 pick.

 

[KanesBurner]

Good thing it’s ended up as a good trade

Just block that guy, after reading the forums for years he’s the biggest nuffy by a mile. First thing I did when I created an account .

Crows = Good, Everyone else = bad, Port = worse than everyone else. Thats the entire posting history. Literally 0 value.