Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[EDFL follower]

Are the games Saturday or Sunday?

Also I’m assuming they won’t be streamed?

Games are Sunday. No idea if they will be streamed

 

[Mutineer]

Can you put the lists up please.? Can’t see them properly without a Twitter account.

Do the 2 finger trick to enlarge if you're on a mobile phone.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

No Talent League games streamed as well this week

 

[Jen2310]

No Talent League games streamed as well this week

wtf? surely not..
I thought all were streamed unless its part of that exlusive kommunityTV

 

[Calcium Man]

No Talent League games streamed as well this week

It’ll be the herald suns game on kommunity tv. Oakleigh game is the only actual game in Victoria so it’ll have their commentators on it.

 

[briztoon]

How come there was absolutely no commentary here about yesterday’s academy game?

Has chat moved somewhere else?

 

[Mutineer]

How come there was absolutely no commentary here about yesterday’s academy game?

Has chat moved somewhere else?

Koby LeCras the standout to my eye, looked the most dangerous of all the Academy players playing wing/half forward, took a couple of really good contested marks to go with his 18 disposals and 3 goals. Looks a definite riser on all draft boards. Walker found plenty of it but some of his kicking was pretty ordinary.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

How come there was absolutely no commentary here about yesterday’s academy game?

Has chat moved somewhere else?

Genuinely think this draft class is lacking a bit of excitement.

Outside of Cochrane and Walker who are already off the board) there really aren’t too many prospects that make you want to watch this draft class. There just isn’t much buzz or hype surrounding many players at all. Nothing like we’ve seen in the past with Daicos, Reid and Nick Watson.

No exciting small forwards and not many classy ball users, no real dominant key forwards.

Still a lot to play out but I reckon this draft will be a bit of a crap shoot.

 

[txbyhull]

Genuinely think this draft class is lacking a bit of excitement.

Outside of Cochrane and Walker who are already off the board) there really aren’t too many prospects that make you want to watch this draft class. There just isn’t much buzz or hype surrounding many players at all. Nothing like we’ve seen in the past with Daicos, Reid and Nick Watson.

No exciting small forwards and not many classy ball users, no real dominant key forwards.

Still a lot to play out but I reckon this draft will be a bit of a crap shoot.

Dunno if I agree with that, reckon this year is better than last myself

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Dunno if I agree with that, reckon this year is better than last myself

I thought last years draft was a little underrated if anything. There was plenty of hype around Duurs, Duff-Tytler Grlj, Robey and Farrow.

Just not seeing/feeling the same amount of buzz around similarly ranked players this year.

 

[txbyhull]

I thought last years draft was a little underrated if anything. There was plenty of hype around Duurs, Duff-Tytler Grlj, Robey and Farrow.

Just not seeing/feeling the same amount of buzz around similarly ranked players this year.

I think there’s been a fair bit of buzz around HVH and Butler last year and this year. It’s also only April. Reckon there’ll be a lot of good convo the next few months especially over champs. Already seeing guys like Drever and McNichol tear it up to start the year. Big KPF out in Pickett who will still go early etc. lots to play out

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I think there’s been a fair bit of buzz around HVH and Butler last year and this year. It’s also only April. Reckon there’ll be a lot of good convo the next few months especially over champs. Already seeing guys like Drever and McNichol tear it up to start the year. Big KPF out in Pickett who will still go early etc. lots to play out

HVH should be getting more hype! The kid is a unicorn considering his athletic profile and height.

Hopefully a few you mention really announce themselves at the champs! I’ll be watching with interest.

 

[txbyhull]

HVH should be getting more hype! The kid is a unicorn considering his athletic profile and height.

Hopefully a few you mention really announce themselves at the champs! I’ll be watching with interest.

Everyone should be keeping an eye on George Gale out of Claremont

 

[Davo-27]

Went to Werribee today, was lovely and warm in the sun, the first game was the best of the 2 and it was absolutely dominated by Vic Metro, vic country getting 3 of the first 4 goals and barely getting near it afterwards, the score ending up Vic Metro 119 - 35 Vic Country

Some players that stood out


Vic Country (without Drever) Game 1
Good
Clancy Stuart tried hard in the midfield, lacks a bit of athleticism, but was a light in the darkness for vic countrys midfield

Worth a mention
Jack Emerson tried hard as a leading target for vic country winning llenty of it and trying to link with fumbly team mates
Toby Hellesey as an underager showed a few glimpses, looks a good tall prosoect for the future
Charlie Hanegraaf was ok at hbf, contested hard all day under a lot of pressure

Vic Metro
Good
Gus Teixeira had a big second half, looked very good with some wayward disposal, got so much of it even resting forward, bog stats-wise
Jordan Knapp is a classy unit, good clearances and i50s, classy disposal, good composure, massive tick for AFL Traits imo
Angus Tippett was very good and flexible in positions for a tallish guy, good athleticism
Archie Fogarty was involved in a bunch of good plays on the wings
Harper McCulloch was good in spurts, good undedage performance

Worth a mention
Harvie Cooke came on after half time and provided plenty of run even if not always used on the outside
Angus Brown looked dangerous up forward for an underager
Judd Lemon linked up well in a dominant midfield
Chas Woodward had a good game out wide on the wings
Harrison Leeder played the 3rd tall forward well
Sam Gayfer also cashing in on the dominance
Jake Miller had a few good plays

Oliver Griffen kicked a couple goals or so, but didnt really stamp himself of the game
‐---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game 2 was a lot closer of a game, i left before the game ended so not sure who won, but vic ketro were in the lead when i left

Vic Country (Oliver Boddenberg inj early in 1st)
Good
Sonny Beasy looked good in midfield, tough little inside mid who provided run every now and then
Jackson Phillips another mid who played well in the trials, inside mid, provided a lot of clearance wins directly and indirectly

Worth a mention
Charlie Gray had to take a few tough marks and run hard into position on the wing
Max Thompson looked classy all day on the flanks, when he had it he made something happen
Jett Elek was good as the forward/ruck option with Dent backing him up in the ruck it gave him an option to fly for some hangers up forward

Vic Metro (El Souki i didnt notice DNP?)
Good
Lachie Hicks was a strong inside mid
Seb Maric took a lot of leading marks and i50s good all around KPF game, couldve kicked a few more goals, unless he kicked some late that i mightve missed

Worth a mention
George Dimer very small player but he plays with a lot if heart and spirit
Brodie Wilson looked great as a small forward
Mitch Gillan played well in the midfield
Griffin Barker i think he played a half underager, didnt get huge numbers, but absolute class with his depth and accuracy of kicking
Albert MacGowan not his best game, but still had a few good moments
Flynn Woolhouse, got fed the ball a lot by Marsic and kicked a couple at least i think, took a couple good hangers as well


Diappointed in
Cody Templeton
Marcus Krasnadamskis
Clancy Snell

Here is my view of the 2 vic trial games at Werribee on Sunday 19th April 2026...

 

[eaglespremiers]

Here is my view of the 2 vic trial games at Werribee on Sunday 19th April 2026...

Hope Sonny Beasy and Eamon Austin get a look in.
Both have been elite for us so far this year.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Some short highlights I've put together from the Academy game:

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Is there anywhere stats are available?

 

[Mutineer]

Is there anywhere stats are available?

Herald Sun had them

 

[MarcMaverick]

Wrong year (and thread) but Cohen Dent's surely 7ft now.

A couple of photos I've seen of him and he's almost all of the frame.

Just saw his height, 210cms at 16/17. What are they feeding him? He might be taller than Sandilands.

 

[Yoda_]

Bit of this year and a bit of next year but Calder are playing a Northern Territory U18 side on Thursday night at Highgate Reserve, 6:15pm.

Furthermore, Bachar Houli

14

Bachar Houli

Age

38

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.4

5star

K

12.8

5star

HB

9.6

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.5

4star

MG

431.0

5star

D

22.8

5star

K

10.5

4star

HB

12.3

5star

M

6.5

5star

T

2.3

3star

MG

302.8

4star

D

14.0

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.4

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

Foundation are also playing there very first Talent League game on Saturday at 345pm against Giants Academy at Blacktown.

It sounds like a few NGA kids tied with Talent League clubs will be granted access to play for the BHF team.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Just saw his height, 210cms at 16/17. What are they feeding him? He might be taller than Sandilands.

He's a few cms taller than the big Fish and Justin Madden.

And he's still got more in him.

 

[MarcMaverick]

He's a few cms taller than the big Fish and Justin Madden.

And he's still got more in him.

They aren't getting any smaller are they.
I wouldn't be surprised if in the future guys who are Max Gawn's height are inside mids.

Like it's insane how there are kids in this draft pool that clear 2 metres easily in height.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

They aren't getting any smaller are they.
I wouldn't be surprised if in the future guys who are Max Gawn's height are inside mids.

Like it's insane how there are kids in this draft pool that clear 2 metres easily in height.

And would've first topped 200cm maybe 2 years ago.

He's pretty much cleared the Undertaker.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

With so much talk about Walker & Cochrane stealing the limelight from this draft pool, what is the general consensus of depth and quality?

 

[#BallMagnet]

With so much talk about Walker & Cochrane stealing the limelight from this draft pool, what is the general consensus of depth and quality?

I personally think it’s runs pretty deep.
I reckon there’s plenty of talent to be found depending on what you are targeting or needs.
A great spread of all positional types well into the later rounds not in the limelight.