Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[THE_GUN]

You could argue Crippa flew from the outer too.

Conversely, Marsh slid big time in 2013.

Cripps was definitely a Bolter

I remember at the time he was considered a mid 2md rounder 25-35 range

 

[PMBangers]

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

Very tall group but feel they've pretty much nailed it, strong draft class from 12 months out

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Very tall group but feel they've pretty much nailed it, strong draft class from 12 months out

I’m interested in the academy vs VFL sides games in particular the ruck splits between the 2 Van’s and Houndsome.

 

[Futbolista]

Very tall group but feel they've pretty much nailed it, strong draft class from 12 months out

No love for Lucas Robinson (SF) either? Seems people are off him. Might not have breakaway speed at stoppages but I'd back him to get hands on the ball first more often or not and dish it off to players that do have an extra yard. And sure his handpass kick ratio is going to be off - like in the academy game where he got 3 kicks and 16 handpasses.

 

[txbyhull]

No love for Lucas Robinson (SF) either? Seems people are off him. Might not have breakaway speed at stoppages but I'd back him to get hands on the ball first more often or not and dish it off to players that do have an extra yard. And sure his handpass kick ratio is going to be off - like in the academy game where he got 3 kicks and 16 handpasses.

Is Robinson a Sharp type? Need to rewatch the futures game as I pretty much watched it exclusively for Walker and Cochrane

 

[Futbolista]

Is Robinson a Sharp type? Need to rewatch the futures game as I pretty much watched it exclusively for Walker and Cochrane

Maybe but not every player can be a receiver surely?

Or has the landscape changed again?

 

[txbyhull]

Maybe but not every player can be a receiver surely?

Or has the landscape changed again?

I feel like the idea nowadays is if you’re going to be that first hands guy that you need either an elite athletic POD, or you need to be able to hurt teams by foot even if you’re not elite on the outside. You look at our former teams and it’s the situation of marking the other fellas up hard and saying Pridda you can have the ball you beat us yourself.

One-dimensionality and non-plus athletes I guess is what’s being phased out rather than the actual first-touch focus

 

[Futbolista]

I feel like the idea nowadays is if you’re going to be that first hands guy that you need either an elite athletic POD, or you need to be able to hurt teams by foot even if you’re not elite on the outside. You look at our former teams and it’s the situation of marking the other fellas up hard and saying Pridda you can have the ball you beat us yourself.

One-dimensionality and non-plus athletes I guess is what’s being phased out rather than the actual first-touch focus

Fair enough mate. Might end up in the Kane Bevan (WP) situation. Although Bevan has turned out to be a very good state league player with less talent than Robinson.

 

[PMBangers]

No love for Lucas Robinson (SF) either? Seems people are off him. Might not have breakaway speed at stoppages but I'd back him to get hands on the ball first more often or not and dish it off to players that do have an extra yard. And sure his handpass kick ratio is going to be off - like in the academy game where he got 3 kicks and 16 handpasses.

I feel as if I'm pretty consistent in not rating those sorts

 

[Futbolista]

I feel as if I'm pretty consistent in not rating those sorts

Yep fair enough....I might need to rethink his WA rating over the next 12 months. It's difficult when I know he will be the most prolific mid.

 

[txbyhull]

Yep fair enough....I might need to rethink his WA rating over the next 12 months. It's difficult when I know he will be the most prolific mid.

To be fair at the end of the day, a year ago I was convinced the Eagles would have pick 3 or 4 and we’d be locking in Roddy. Now we have 1 and 2, likely no midfielder, and Rodriguez might not get picked until the 30s

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Yep fair enough....I might need to rethink his WA rating over the next 12 months. It's difficult when I know he will be the most prolific mid.

George Stevens is a similar type who was dominant at junior level. Unfortunately with the pace of todays game, if you're not able to run and pressure once the ball gets to the outside you're in strife.

 

[PMBangers]

I’m interested in the academy vs VFL sides games in particular the ruck splits between the 2 Van’s and Houndsome.

Houndsome will probably just be a KPF next year I imagine

 

[Wrenny]

Houndsome will probably just be a KPF next year I imagine

And also a good looker…. very Houndsome.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

I’m sure Lewis displays dogged behaviour on field.

 

[#BallMagnet]

I feel like the idea nowadays is if you’re going to be that first hands guy that you need either an elite athletic POD, or you need to be able to hurt teams by foot even if you’re not elite on the outside. You look at our former teams and it’s the situation of marking the other fellas up hard and saying Pridda you can have the ball you beat us yourself.

One-dimensionality and non-plus athletes I guess is what’s being phased out rather than the actual first-touch focus

If anything this snub will drive him to prove the doubters wrong and he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder throughout 2026 along with working hard on bringing extra attributes to his game.
Same could be said for the likes of Van Dyk and Neocleous who were also unlucky I felt.

In the end the selectors have to try and put together a balanced team of kids from all position types and just can't go with a plethora of inside type mids.
They've also done their best to try and include kids that represent the overall national competition whilst trying to pull together a competative outfit.

 

[#BallMagnet]

If anything this snub will drive him to prove the doubters wrong and he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder throughout 2026 along with working hard on bringing extra attributes to his game.
Same could be said for the likes of Van Dyk and Neocleous who were also unlucky I felt.

In the end the selectors have to try and put together a balanced team of kids from all position types and just can't go with a plethora of inside type mids.
They've also done their best to try and include kids that represent the overall national competition whilst trying to pull together a competative outfit.

For those up to speed on all the WA lads, could Gale have also be considered unlucky not to be named or a stretch?

 

[Futbolista]

For those up to speed on all the WA lads, could Gale have also be considered unlucky not to be named or a stretch?

Nice tidy player but no complaints from me that he didn't make the squad.

This is the most speculative WA list I've seen for years. So many players could jump up or really sink.

A lot will need to jump up I reckon.

Having said that, it's time for WA to being some decent effort to the championships.

It's only four games and a lot of observers rate 95% of WA players season efforts solely from the championships. A little too much I believe but WA players need to accept that and bring max effort.

While I accept colts isn't as good as coates, it's still good.

I've said it before but if one was to base individual talent in cricket on the Melbourne Premier League and the Perth Premier League, then it's obvious the Vic league is an overall better standard but WA has no trouble finding world class players from the WACA premier. Colts is the same.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Nice tidy player but no complaints from me that he didn't make the squad.

This is the most speculative WA list I've seen for years. So many players could jump up or really sink.

A lot will need to jump up I reckon.

Having said that, it's time for WA to being some decent effort to the championships.

It's only four games and a lot of observers rate 95% of WA players season efforts solely from the championships. A little too much I believe but WA players need to accept that and bring max effort.

While I accept colts isn't as good as coates, it's still good.

I've said it before but if one was to base individual talent in cricket on the Melbourne Premier League and the Perth Premier League, then it's obvious the Vic league is an overall better standard but WA has no trouble finding world class players from the WACA premier. Colts is the same.

I guess each of the individual National State Academies plan and run their pathways in different ways that targets competitiveness and to provide the kids with exposure, high end training and the platform to ultimately try and be drafted.

SA obviously found the right combination of talent and with its specific or tailored Academy Program to have a successful 2025 campaign. They'll likely follow this formula again for 2026/27 as they look to have the talent coming through.

I expect most of the other State Academy Programs do something similar but size and travel distances to bring the elite talent together on a consistent basis will always be a challenge. May not be for lack of trying.

The CTL looks to have the balance somewhat right and this might be due to geographical reasons as they have regional teams which further supports the overall strength of their competition.
Not the case for WAFL & SANFL and whilst NSW/QLD/TAS/NT Academy's get a run against CTL teams throughout the season, they no doubt also face the same challenges.

 

[txbyhull]

Power granted NGA access to 2026's potential No.1 pick

Dougie Cochrane's application to join Port Adelaide's Next Generation Academy as an Indigenous player has been approved

www.afl.com.au

What a f***ing sham

 

[Grockadoc]

Power granted NGA access to 2026's potential No.1 pick

Dougie Cochrane's application to join Port Adelaide's Next Generation Academy as an Indigenous player has been approved

www.afl.com.au

What a f***ing sham

Yep. Laughable.

 

[Milanista28]

If Butters asks to leave, they'd get the picks the need to match at least.

 

[hammer180]

Open pool top 5 now looks like?

 

[bzparkes]

Open pool top 5 now looks like?

 

[JohnHinckleyJr]