Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[bluebaggerjuls]

Hi all - new to this forum and apologies if this has been covered previously in this thread...

Wondering what academy players the Swans, Brisbane and Gold Coast have for 2026? And how they are tracking? I know the Swans have given away a lot for Curnow but my thinking is they may have 1-2 academy players up their sleeve for next year.

swans have Aidan McCartney also a north father son (son of Jason). Be interesting to see which team he nominates. From what I’ve seen north fans seem to have some optimism he may pick them

 

[nineteen eighty]

Suns. Archie Hill. Probably 3rd best kid in QLD in this age group.

Lions. Caylen Murray & Matthew Owen. Top two kids in the state.


As for the NSW kids, you could chase up the U17 futures squad, to see who played.

Thanks for the heads up.

As I suspected, the Northern Eastern teams have a number of Academy kids coming through next year. In the futures match on GF day, the Swans had 3, GWS 1, Brisbane a few and GCS I think 1.

I know the points rule has been changed for next year but they'll still get snapped up if they are good.

It's easy for these teams (as the Swans did this year) to throw away first round picks if they know they have Academy kids coming through.

 

[bluebaggerjuls]

Thanks for the heads up.

As I suspected, the Northern Eastern teams have a number of Academy kids coming through next year. In the futures match on GF day, the Swans had 3, GWS 1, Brisbane a few and GCS I think 1.

I know the points rule has been changed for next year but they'll still get snapped up if they are good.

It's easy for these teams (as the Swans did this year) to throw away first round picks if they know they have Academy kids coming through.

if say McCartney shot himself into top 5 contention Swans would really struggle to get the picks to match now

 

[briztoon]

Thanks for the heads up.

As I suspected, the Northern Eastern teams have a number of Academy kids coming through next year. In the futures match on GF day, the Swans had 3, GWS 1, Brisbane a few and GCS I think 1.

I know the points rule has been changed for next year but they'll still get snapped up if they are good.

It's easy for these teams (as the Swans did this year) to throw away first round picks if they know they have Academy kids coming through.

The new, new rules will make it hard to match kids significantly higher than what ever picks a team hold, especially if they bring in the two pick rule.

As for the QLD kids, I’d say at this stage, they project as end of first round, early second round talent. They’re not high end draft prospects at this stage.

Gold Coast don’t look to have any high end kids in the U17, U16 or U15 age groups, at this stage.

 

[Membling]

For Swans:

2026:
McCartney - looks more likely to nominate North all said and done
Guy and Will Jenkin - third rounders IMO at best. Good footy nous but will need substantial growth for their style of game to transfer
Price - midfield but sameish kind that we have in middle
Blackwell-Price - as above

May be a bolter or two ala Harry Kyle. 2027 is where it get interesting for the swans academy IMO

 

[Chip Scab1]

For Swans:

2026:
McCartney - looks more likely to nominate North all said and done
Guy and Will Jenkin - third rounders IMO at best. Good footy nous but will need substantial growth for their style of game to transfer
Price - midfield but sameish kind that we have in middle
Blackwell-Price - as above

May be a bolter or two ala Harry Kyle. 2027 is where it get interesting for the swans academy IMO

After Neck, NWM (seriously), Buckley(GWS) and Josh Kelly should Ayden choose Swans, that'll do me - I reckon.

Enough BS. I'll buy a horse instead.

 

[anotherletdown]

swans have Aidan McCartney also a north father son (son of Jason). Be interesting to see which team he nominates. From what I’ve seen north fans seem to have some optimism he may pick them

Things can change but it's a very slim chance he chooses Sydney as things stand.

The other possibilities in this draft are a pair of twins who probably end up playing on opposite wings, funny enough. Picks wise we're not talking top 30. There was one other guy but he'll likely stick with athletics, and so he should to be honest

2027 looks more promising from an academy perspective

 

[RanaNaved]

How's this draft looking in terms of KPD player's? Any looking high end?

 

[txbyhull]

View attachment 2383159

Love to see us with a few in there

 

[Jen2310]

 

[RedmanWasHere]

ACADEMY SQUAD ALERT!

Tanner Armstrong	VIC C	Murray Bushrangers	Shepparton United
Arki Butler	VIC M	Sandringham Dragons	Beaumaris
Harrison Chapman	VIC M	Eastern Ranges	Boronia
Dougie Cochrane	SA	Central District	Port District
Kodah Edwards	SA	South Adelaide	Willunga
Jack Gordon	SA	Central District	Port District
Ethan Herbert	SA	North Adelaide	Walkerville
Archie Hill	QLD	Gold Coast Suns Academy	Broadbeach
Tate Hodgson	VIC M	Northern Knights	Park Orchards NRP
Lewis Houndsome	VIC M	Northern Knights	Yarrambat
Garrison Kenh	WA	East Perth	Ellenbrook
Xavier Ladbrook	VIC C	Gippsland Power	Nar Nar Goon
Koby LeCras	WA	West Perth	Manning
Wil Malady	VIC C	Gippsland Power	Bairnsdale
Ethan Matthews	NSW/ACT	GWS GIANTS Academy	Ingleburn
Aidan McCartney	NSW/ACT	Sydney Swans Academy	Willoughby
Heath Mellody	WA	Claremont	Wembley Downs
Caylen Murray	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	Maroochydore
Gabriel Patterson	SA	Glenelg	Plympton
Jack Pickett	VIC C	Geelong Falcons	Torquay
Darcy Szerszyn	VIC C	Dandenong Stingrays	Seaford
Harry Van Hattum	VIC M	Northern Knights	St Mary's
Benji van Rooyen	WA	Claremont	Wembley Downs
Cody Walker	VIC C	Bendigo Pioneers	Echuca
Noah Williams	VIC C	Geelong Falcons	St Joseph's

 

[txbyhull]

So who are the midfielders I should be emotionally investing in the Eagles taking with our first next year? Van Dyk? Any kind soul got some initial player comparisons for the high end midfielders?

 

[Futbolista]

No Lucas Robinson (SF) in the Academy squad?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Going early (and will bookmark to see how many I get right) but my predicted 28 man 2025-26 AFL Academy squad as follows:

Tanner Armstrong.
Charlie Bovill.
Arki Butler.
Dougie Cochrane.
Seamus Doherty.
Max Downes.
Kodah Edwards.
Cain Florance.
Jack Gordon.
Ethan Herbert.
Archie Hill.
Guy Jenkin.
Garrison Kenh.
Koby LeCras.
Aiden McCartney.
Wil Malady.
Jermaine Miller.
Caylen Murray.
Marlon Neocleus.
Matthew Owen.
Lucas Robinson.
Hau-Tze Rock.
Thatcher Simmons.
Leo Steed.
Jack Surkitt.
Harry Van Hattum.
Cody Walker.
Levi West.


Look forward to be mostly wrong and your predictions.

BUMP!

Half right.
Half wrong.

Surprised about Neocleus, Owen and Robinson as well as 0 Tassie names and 0 NT names.

 

[#BallMagnet]

What’s the go with Hodgson being named.
Has he even played a game this year. Injured?

Van Dyk a glaring omission.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Flabbergasted at no Van Dyk, wowee

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

No Lucas Robinson (SF) in the Academy squad?

Bit slow and one dimensional imo. Not a huge surprise for me.

 

[Futbolista]

Bit slow and one dimensional imo. Not a huge surprise for me.

He's at least in the best 25 mate despite all that.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Who's going to be the Sullivan Robey of the 2026 draft crop? Someone who hasn't had the expose or opportunities like many of the others have or may have been injured.

Memphis Webb (SA) comes to mind. Did a knee early in the season this year.
Should be back up and firing come 2026.

 

[txbyhull]

Who's going to be the Sullivan Robey of the 2026 draft crop? Someone who hasn't had the expose or opportunities like many of the others have or may have been injured.

Memphis Webb (SA) comes to mind. Did a knee early in the season this year.
Should be back up and firing come 2026.

I think the nature of your question would mean someone most people haven’t heard of. The reason Robey was such a bolter is because who wasn’t even on a list and grew 15cm or so in 18 months before the draft

 

[RedmanWasHere]

I think the nature of your question would mean someone most people haven’t heard of. The reason Robey was such a bolter is because who wasn’t even on a list and grew 15cm or so in 18 months before the draft

Yep.

Memphis Webb was namedropped in this thread a few times last year (and probably the year before.)


FWIW:

2025: Sullivan Robey.
2024: Alix Tauru.
2023: James Leake.
2022: Bailey Humphrey.
2021: Mac Andrew.
2020: Max Holmes.
2019: Cody Weightman.
2018: Sam Sturt.
2017: Wil Powell.
2016: Griffin Logue, Tim Taranto and Ollie Florent. (Take your pick.)
2015: Tom Doedee.
2014: Jordan De Goey.
2013: Jack Leslie.
2012: Jonathon O'Rourke.
2011: Nick Haynes.
2010: Isaac Smith.
2009: Jasper Pittard.
2008: Stephen Hill.
2007: Chris Masten.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Yep.

Memphis Webb was namedropped in this thread a few times last year (and probably the year before.)


FWIW:

2025: Sullivan Robey.
2024: Alix Tauru.
2023: James Leake.
2022: Bailey Humphrey.
2021: Mac Andrew.
2020: Max Holmes.
2019: Cody Weightman.
2018: Sam Sturt.
2017: Wil Powell.
2016: Griffin Logue, Tim Taranto and Ollie Florent. (Take your pick.)
2015: Tom Doedee.
2014: Jordan De Goey.
2013: Jack Leslie.
2012: Jonathon O'Rourke.
2011: Nick Haynes.
2010: Isaac Smith.
2009: Jasper Pittard.
2008: Stephen Hill.
2007: Chris Masten.

Weren't Oliver and Bontempelli also bolters?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Weren't Oliver and Bontempelli also bolsters?

Forgot about Oliver and I thought Bont was talked about in 2012.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

You could argue Crippa flew from the outer too.

Conversely, Marsh slid big time in 2013.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Webb definitely one that has been 'forgotten' about. Some of his underage games were truly dominant. Bloke can jump over a tree, great leap and user of the footy.