Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[madjoe]

Yeh I like him a lot too. Next years draft is pretty strong. Definitely better than this years

Small things stand out at that level, He got beaten and knocked over by a bigger guy, ball up. hits the contest as speed and wins the pill. also loved his dad running around oval all game ha

Even the talls stood out Noah Bevis so raw but looks a talent.

 

[madjoe]

Gus Kennedy is son of former Frankston player Paul and boy is there plenty to get excited about

Great thing about footy is people see different things, imo he hasn't stood out but is built like a brickhouse which is a good sign.

 

[Futbolista]

Yeh I like him a lot too. Next years draft is pretty strong. Definitely better than this years

This year is fine for sheer depth but it is spread around and not dominated by Vic M or Vic C.

 

[Yoda_]

Yeh I like him a lot too. Next years draft is pretty strong. Definitely better than this years

next years is having more exposure imho, Calder have had something like 12 eligible for 2026 play already.

I do like some of the 26 types

 

[Yoda_]

This year is fine for sheer depth but it is spread around and not dominated by Vic M or Vic C.

I think the depth is a touch generous, is it safer to suggest more guys with one (or even two) elite traits could be found later in the draft?

 

[Futbolista]

I think the depth is a touch generous, is it safer to suggest more guys with one (or even two) elite traits could be found later in the draft?

I think so.

 

[briztoon]

We don't have top end academy picks. Ashcroft x2, Fletcher are all father sons.

Listed Academy Graduates | Brisbane Lions

The official AFL website of the Brisbane Lions Football Club

www.lions.com.au

That's the list. Our first rounders via academy are Hipwood (pick 14/2005) and Sam Marshall (pick 25 last year). Rest are all later picks or selections out of scrapheap whom we persisted in academy as overagers or VFL and they came good later.

Coleman (undrafted as 18 yo, pick 24 as 19 yo), Payne (pick 54), Bruce (Cat B selection age 22) etc.

We are not very good at hoarding talent via this academy pathway. We should be absolutely robbing the QLD market using academy but that hasn't been the case so far. We may finally have one this year in Annable as a genuine top 10. Should do a better job in this area like Gold Coast are doing.

Coleman was pick 37, 2019.

Gold Coast are putting $2m a year in to their academy. Not sure any other academy is coming close to that figure.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Said it at the start of the year that I reckon this draft is shaping up as a genuine super draft.

2025 pool looks alright and a few guns in the open pool in CDT and Lindsay etc but Walker, Cochrane, Butler, Prasad and Robinson are far more tantalizing prospects for me.

The quality of the 16s carnival they played in last year was almost better than what I saw of the 18s champs

 

[PMBangers]

Said it at the start of the year that I reckon this draft is shaping up as a genuine super draft.

2025 pool looks alright and a few guns in the open pool in CDT and Lindsay etc but Walker, Cochrane, Butler, Prasad and Robinson are far more tantalizing prospects for me.

The quality of the 16s carnival they played in last year was almost better than what I saw of the 18s champs

There's potential that only 1 of those names you mentioned is unaligned next year, kind of puts it in the same spot as this year

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

There's potential that only 1 of those names you mentioned is unaligned next year, kind of puts it in the same spot as this year

Well, at least it would force through some changes to the system if this years doesn't.

 

[Eric Shin]

Yep, no more of a scam than Collingwood getting 2 x Daicos' cause their dad.

Give me 2 players of their combined quality that the Academy's have produced.

Is it a flawed system? Yep, in so many ways. But if it helps a quality 15yo develop and get drafted that probably wouldn't just playing local footy, that's pretty good.

Pretty sure Cooper isn't the top or even 2nd top rated in his age group in the Lion's Academy. So it won't be Lions 'stealing him' in the top 10. Reckon all clubs will have a shot at him if they want to bid on him. Bet they don't though.

Except Josh Daicos was passed on 57 times by all 18 clubs and Collingwood ended up using their draft pick to take him after no bid for him.

 

[#BallMagnet]

A few bottom agers being named for a run as the champs kick into gear.
WA & Vic C backing quite a few of them in this week by the looks.
SA and Allies didn’t go with any game 1 & I assume Vic M will go with limited bottom agers throughout.

SA
Edwards (Emerg)

Allies
Nil

WA
Mellody
Gale
Wilson
Van Rooyan
Spawning-Guy (Emerg)

Vic C
Neocleous
Walker
Malady
Szerszyn
Armstrong (Emerg)

Vic M
Assume Butler

 

[madjoe]

Gus Kennedy is son of former Frankston player Paul and boy is there plenty to get excited about

Yeh he has it sign me upto the Kennedy train, kid is a tank and hits the contest at speed.

 

[giantroo]

One for the Doggies, NGA Prospect



View attachment 2312210

Kicked 4.4, 15 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles against the Cannons today.

 

[HAWKS2016]

Kicked 4.4, 15 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles against the Cannons today.

Baseline Footy on Instagram: "Khaled El Souki’s MONSTER fourth quarter stole the W from Calder!! Bulldogs NGA kid is looking good 🥹🥹 @khaled.elsouki7"

3,419 likes, 11 comments - baselinefooty on June 23, 2025: "Khaled El Souki’s MONSTER fourth quarter stole the W from Calder!! Bulldogs NGA kid is looking good 🥹🥹 @khaled.elsouki7".

www.instagram.com

 

[giantroo]

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Dude looks my age.

OOF!

 

[Haggas]

 

[Yoda_]

I think Blake Justice has been more impressive than Sam Harris at CTL level this year mate

great list none the less

 

[Haggas]

I think Blake Justice has been more impressive than Sam Harris at CTL level this year mate

great list none the less

Yeah he's just out of the top 50 but he is climbing

 

[Haggas]

I think Blake Justice has been more impressive than Sam Harris at CTL level this year mate

great list none the less

Need to find time to watch CTL games. I'll try watch the finals atleast

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

View attachment 2357972

Minor correction.

 

[Haggas]

Minor correction.
View attachment 2358561

Oh I hope so brother

 

[Juice030103]

Cochranes a beast

 

[briztoon]

Minor correction.
View attachment 2358561

Believe you need to swap the Lions academy boys around, pretty clear Caylen Murray has gone past Owen. Actually a little p!ssed he didn’t make the U18 squad for the championships.