Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[Calcium Man]

If you don’t put anything in, you’re not going to get anything out.

Up until last year you couldn’t match a top 40 bid. So what was the point?

 

[briztoon]

Up until last year you couldn’t match a top 40 bid. So what was the point?

Ask Essendon, they kept theirs going.

 

[SSSSSS]

to be fair, I wonder if Greaves knowledge of his heritage had anything to do with it, where as, Cochrane only just found out and explored it further.


Im with the masses and don't like it but here we are. I wonder if Pauly Vandenbegh who worked at Port Adelaide for 12 years and is now at AFL house, had anything to do with the decision?

IIRC Greaves found out about his heritage through his dad only recently (I'm not going to put a number on it but lets say within the last few years). Similar circumstance to Cochrane.

Welp in goes into the AFL ‘secret herbs and spices category’ of who knows what they are doing. No one has ever accused the AFL of being a well run organisation and things like this don’t change that. Did they say why or was it just ‘because reasons’.

Yeh I thought as much at the time.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Ask Essendon, they kept theirs going.

Richmond were too busy winning flags to bother.

 

[Yoda_]

way to miss the point about the inequality of the NGA zones.

How should the NGA zones be equal then?

IIRC Greaves found out about his heritage through his dad only recently (I'm not going to put a number on it but lets say within the last few years). Similar circumstance to Cochrane.

Ive got no explanation, as I mentioned, I wonder if former Port Adelaide Indigenous officer Pauly Vanderbugh, who is now at AFL house in a very similar role had anything to do with allowing this. If anything, re Cochrane, (a) why did Stuart wait until he was 46 to investigate his heritage, and (b) why after your first son who is already on an AFL list did you decide to investigate your heritage further.

Bemusing really

 

[ButtersBall]

How should the NGA zones be equal then?



Ive got no explanation, as I mentioned, I wonder if former Port Adelaide Indigenous officer Pauly Vanderbugh, who is now at AFL house in a very similar role had anything to do with allowing this. If anything, re Cochrane, (a) why did Stuart wait until he was 46 to investigate his heritage, and (b) why after your first son who is already on an AFL list did you decide to investigate your heritage further.

Bemusing really

The application was actually originally for both Tom and Douggie (https://nit.com.au/20-08-2024/13198...igenous-search-for-sons-afl-draft-eligibility). The AFL rejected Tom's application, probably because it was made only around 6 months before his draft, and sat on Douggie's for a further 12-18 months.

I've also got no idea why Greeves was rejected. The only difference I can see between their applications is that Cochrane submitted his about a year earlier.

 

[sc2001]

How should the NGA zones be equal then?



Ive got no explanation, as I mentioned, I wonder if former Port Adelaide Indigenous officer Pauly Vanderbugh, who is now at AFL house in a very similar role had anything to do with allowing this. If anything, re Cochrane, (a) why did Stuart wait until he was 46 to investigate his heritage, and (b) why after your first son who is already on an AFL list did you decide to investigate your heritage further.

Bemusing really

All VIC clubs should have 1 metro region each is a good start lol

 

[hammer180]

Not true. We've got Tanner Armstrong in the AFL Academy next year.

Don't forget Cody Walker potential no.1 pick.

 

[tigs2010]

Don't forget Cody Walker potential no.1 pick.

That's different, we taught him everything he knows

 

[hammer180]

That's different, we taught him everything he knows

Exactly, must feel like the 90s for carlton having other clubs develop talent and then they just swoop in and take it.

 

[cairo tiger]

young gus kennedy the seaford flyer how is he going?

 

[Jen2310]

Kris Pendlebury has been appointed senior coach for Gippsland Power.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Not long until this crew take centre stage.

 

[tigs2010]

van Dyk ran a 6:15 according to his manager at the SANFL testing

 

[Hawks_Footy]

Apart from Cochrane and Walker are there many NGA/ F&S club tied players highly rated?

 

[#BallMagnet]

Apart from Cochrane and Walker are there many NGA/ F&S club tied players highly rated?

Possibly, but likely at tier 2 some are:
Robinson - WA (Freo NGA)
Armstrong - VC (Rich NGA)
Murray - Allies (Bris Academy)
Matthews - Allies (GWS Academy)
Kenh - WA (WC Academy)

 

[Haggas]

Apart from Cochrane and Walker are there many NGA/ F&S club tied players highly rated?

Possibly, but likely at tier 2 some are:
Robinson - WA (Freo NGA)
Armstrong - VC (Rich NGA)
Murray - Allies (Bris Academy)
Matthews - Allies (GWS Academy)
Kenh - WA (WC Academy)

Aidan McCartney - Sydney (Academy) or North Melbourne (F/S)
Blake Justice - Essendon (NGA)
Cooper Hodge - Hawthorn (F/S) or Brisbane (Academy)
Marcus Prasad - Melbourne (NGA)
Khaled El Souki - Western Bulldogs (NGA)
Ivan Wilkinson - Adelaide (NGA)
Matthew Owen - Brisbane (Academy)
Harper Banfield - West Coast (F/S)
Guy Jenkin - Sydney (Academy)
Robert Farmer - West Coast (NGA)
Sam Harris - North Melbourne (F/S)
Archie Devine - North Melbourne (NGA)

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Rookie draft for the 2025 crew is tomorrow but it's virtually go time for the 2026 crew now.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Are we readying ourselves for the prospect of seeing at least one of the selections playing in the 2040's?

 

[#BallMagnet]

Let the draft results from the previous 48hrs be a sign of the times regarding what the AFL clubs are now looking for in young prospects.

Must have a solid endurance/speed profile irrespective of your size/weight.
Must have the ability or experience in playing multiple positions.
Must have strong fundamental kicking and hand skills.
Must be able to work both ways, and the ability to work in transition.

Reaching the heights of AA, AFL Academy or National Combine selection isn't a sure fire guarantee that you're going to make it either by the look of the names that were left on the board.

It will be interesting to see new names emerging in the next 12 months against those already being highly rated.

 

[bulldogs201616]

So if the top 2 players are linked to clubs who are the next best players

 

[Haggas]

So if the top 2 players are linked to clubs who are the next best players

Best non club tied players

Archie Van Dyk
Wil Malady
Arki Butler
Gabriel Patterson
Kodah Edwards
Jack Pickett
Marlon Neocleous
Cody Templeton
Kale Matthews-Hampton
Noah Williams
Harry Van Hattum
Heath Mellody

 

[#BallMagnet]

Best non club tied players

Archie Van Dyk
Wil Malady
Arki Butler
Gabriel Patterson
Kodah Edwards
Jack Pickett
Marlon Neocleous
Cody Templeton
Kale Matthews-Hampton
Noah Williams
Harry Van Hattum
Heath Mellody

Haggas, if you had to make a player comparison against kids just recently drafted what would it look like?

At a guess:

Archie Van Dyk - D Sharp
Wil Malady - M.Marsh
Arki Butler - L. Dovaston
Gabriel Patterson - S.Cumming
Kodah Edwards - L.Carmichael
Jack Pickett - A.Ludowyke
Marlon Neocleous - T.Matthews
Cody Templeton - J.Murray
Kale Matthews-Hampton - H.Dean
Noah Williams - O.Taylor
Harry Van Hattum - L.Emmett
Heath Mellody - H.Barker

 

[Haggas]

Haggas, if you had to make a player comparison against kids just recently drafted what would it look like?

At a guess:

Archie Van Dyk - D Sharp
Wil Malady - M.Marsh
Arki Butler - L. Dovaston
Gabriel Patterson - S.Cumming
Kodah Edwards - L.Carmichael
Jack Pickett - A.Ludowyke
Marlon Neocleous - T.Matthews
Cody Templeton - J.Murray
Kale Matthews-Hampton - H.Dean
Noah Williams - O.Taylor
Harry Van Hattum - L.Emmett
Heath Mellody - H.Barker

Yeah you're pretty on the money there