Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[dinnaz]

What's the knock on Lachie Hicks from the Jets? Strikes me as such a pure footballer who rarely plays a bad game. Good inside/outside craft, running capacity and uses the ball pretty well. Surprised if he isn't pushing into top 10 calculations.

I've never seen a player who is like a statue at stoppages. Is better around the ground but isn't all that damaging with pace or kicking etc. #20+ odd (2nd rounder) for mine as a bit of a first guess.

 

[eaglevision]

If we could add 2 of Archie Van Dyk , Jordan Knapp & Cody Templeton ( which you dont have in your top 30 )
Would be a very very nice draft haul

Love AVD, have him and Templeton in my top 30. Hope WCE take him with our 2R if we are going a mid.

 

[dinnaz]

Could be that he has a personality or an attitude problem that rubs the recruiters the wrong way. That can be the case. Probably the reason why NHH, was overlooked entirely.

NHH had a couple of really good games last year but then was invisible for more. Just not good enough rather than a case of the Dayle Garlett's.

 

[THE_GUN]

Love AVD, have him and Templeton in my top 30. Hope WCE take him with our 2R if we are going a mid.

Keep your dirty west coast hands off our richmond draft kids

 

[KinderSmock]

Would certainly make for an interesting run in if the favourite open pool player did not make another appearance. Would he still go number 1 in the open given the positional needs of the sides likely picking at 1?

Wardlaw went very early and missed a large chunk of time in his draft year. Likely a discount because others will have more time to prove themselves.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

Are metro and country still doing trials? Surely squads will be announced soon.?

 

[eaglespremiers]

Are metro and country still doing trials? Surely squads will be announced soon.?

Trials are done. The girls had theirs on Sunday.
Expect squads out in the next week.

 

[dinnaz]

Would certainly make for an interesting run in if the favourite open pool player did not make another appearance. Would he still go number 1 in the open given the positional needs of the sides likely picking at 1?

Kreuzer has been the only ruck that has been "best available player" come draft time as a must pick option. HVH isn't at that level and would be a massive reach IMO.

 

[txbyhull]

Kreuzer has been the only ruck that has been "best available player" come draft time as a must pick option. HVH isn't at that level and would be a massive reach IMO.

I mean… he’s currently number 1 open pool pretty handily

 

[FF Trevor]

I mean… he’s currently number 1 open pool pretty handily

From what I have seen, you could easily make an argument that HVH is the best available!

 

[THE_GUN]

Massive investment to select a Ruck as 1st pick IMO
HVH looks great but as the season goes on i think some top line mids will really come into this race and take over that mantle

 

[dinnaz]

I mean… he’s currently number 1 open pool pretty handily

Nahhhh, and its not even close. Clubs will shy away from the way hes a plodder with poor endurance.

 

[txbyhull]

Nahhhh, and its not even close. Clubs will shy away from the way hes a plodder with poor endurance.

I’m curious what you think you see in opposition to a vast majority of everyone else?

What do you not like about HVH, and what is it that you think makes whoever you have ahead of him a better prospect

 

[dinnaz]

I’m curious what you think you see in opposition to a vast majority of everyone else?

What do you not like about HVH, and what is it that you think makes whoever you have ahead of him a better prospect

His 1 wood is that he's a big unit. It's easy to be bigger than everyone else in juniors though. Thai AIS v Richmond game was more in line with what to expect with no size advantage.

Wins all the hit-outs and gets them to advantage and towers over the opposition which will always be a problem to contain especially 1v1 and late in games. IMO these alone ensure he will be at least serviceable at league level however he struggles in a lot of other aspects.

Barely gets off the ground after gassing out in the first 5 minutes, doesn't follow up in the contest and jogs from stoppage to stoppage. Is a poor kick -though out of the blue will pull off a ripper, is poor below the knees, has no outstanding athleticism, transition game is non existent.

As a forward he amounts to standing there and waiting for the ball to land on his head. I don't think he reads the play all that well or just reacts too slow. Set shots are solid enough.
Has a decent pair of hands but weirdly for such a massive guy he struggles with body contact as if he's not expecting it. At this stage relies on clearing out the opposition with a shove a bit too much and taking the mark quasi-uncontested.

A few other thoughts based on how similar players have gone over recent years in the AFL.
-Brayden Preuss and Toby Conway. Both massive units have likewise struggled with durability
-Sean Darcy has been left behind almost overnight with how the game is being played as a less athletic type


He can certainly ragdoll a man when he wants

 

[Dudoro]

Massive investment to select a Ruck as 1st pick IMO
HVH looks great but as the season goes on i think some top line mids will really come into this race and take over that mantle

Could not agree more. Seems a massive risk taking a position on the ground that is typically filled with late picks as it is not rated as important. As long as your ruck is not being beaten convincingly. Very interesting and could be a chance for whoever has the #1 pick that they look to split it.

 

[THE_GUN]

Could not agree more. Seems a massive risk taking a position on the ground that is typically filled with late picks as it is not rated as important. As long as your ruck is not being beaten convincingly. Very interesting and could be a chance for whoever has the #1 pick that they look to split it.

Personally i think for Richmond a Ruckman like Madden with support from Thomas Sims & Noah Balta is a sufficient ruck department and a Gun mid would accelerate our future quicker but i will let the list managers make the right call on which player is selected as they see them alot more than me and are paid to do that job

 

[Mutineer]

His 1 wood is that he's a big unit. It's easy to be bigger than everyone else in juniors though. Thai AIS v Richmond game was more in line with what to expect with no size advantage.

Wins all the hit-outs and gets them to advantage and towers over the opposition which will always be a problem to contain especially 1v1 and late in games. IMO these alone ensure he will be at least serviceable at league level however he struggles in a lot of other aspects.

Barely gets off the ground after gassing out in the first 5 minutes, doesn't follow up in the contest and jogs from stoppage to stoppage. Is a poor kick -though out of the blue will pull off a ripper, is poor below the knees, has no outstanding athleticism, transition game is non existent.

As a forward he amounts to standing there and waiting for the ball to land on his head. I don't think he reads the play all that well or just reacts too slow. Set shots are solid enough.
Has a decent pair of hands but weirdly for such a massive guy he struggles with body contact as if he's not expecting it. At this stage relies on clearing out the opposition with a shove a bit too much and taking the mark quasi-uncontested.

A few other thoughts based on how similar players have gone over recent years in the AFL.
-Brayden Preuss and Toby Conway. Both massive units have likewise struggled with durability
-Sean Darcy has been left behind almost overnight with how the game is being played as a less athletic type


He can certainly ragdoll a man when he wants
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On what I've seen Van Hattum is way more athletic and has a far superior leap than any of the 3 ruck men you named there. Endurance can be improved massively in a full time AFL system.

 

[KrispyKreme]

On what I've seen Van Hattum is way more athletic and has a far superior leap than any of the 3 ruck men you named there. Endurance can be improved massively in a full time AFL system.

Many kids, or rucks don’t have a great tank. I think west coast fans forget what dean cox was like early on.

 

[eaglevision]

Many kids, or rucks don’t have a great tank. I think west coast fans forget what dean cox was like early on.

To be fair the bloke had iron deficiency anaemia and when that was treated we got what we got.

 

[KrispyKreme]

To be fair the bloke had iron deficiency anaemia and when that was treated we got what we got.

But he ended up a superstar. The running power will come, he’s a athletic freak.

 

[FF Trevor]

On what I've seen Van Hattum is way more athletic and has a far superior leap than any of the 3 ruck men you named there. Endurance can be improved massively in a full time AFL system.

Won the vertical running jump at the testing earlier in the year with a 103cm

 

[eaglevision]

But he ended up a superstar. The running power will come, he’s an athletic freak.

I’d be surprised if he’s not #3 on most draft boards after the club linked boys. Absolute no brainer for Tigers and Bombers in my view. Bit more to consider for Eagles having just taken CDT but at that level of the draft you just take best available.

 

[TigerTime88]

Reading Butler, Texeira and Williams the next few in line.

If we got a ruckman I’d be happy but at the same time those top line mid selections seem to be more lockable. Butler sounds like he is full of talent.

 

[KrispyKreme]

I’d be surprised if he’s not #3 on most draft boards after the club linked boys. Absolute no brainer for Tigers and Bombers in my view. Bit more to consider for Eagles having just taken CDT but at that level of the draft you just take best available.

Bombers will take Arki Butler. I think there running with a theme atm. Seem to enjoy taking lads who went for Essendon growing up. Obviously we both have a need for a ruck.

 

[Donflicted]

Bombers will take Arki Butler. I think there running with a theme atm. Seem to enjoy taking lads who went for Essendon growing up. Obviously we both have a need for a ruck.

Reliance has to be a mental thing when it comes to any Essendon supporter born from 2000 - to this date cause we have been proper poo poo