Preview 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[GC2015]

Would there be anything stopping clubs re-rookie-ing existing fring Indigenous kids and then just drafting another player with the free list spot. I guess the argument is at least they're retained on a list rather than delisted, but may not mean much of a direct increase in Indigenous draftees in the immediate team, other than for teams that don't already have indigenous players on their list.

I think it'll have to be an additional player not already on an afl list. Hence providing more opportunites for indigineous players yet to get an opportunity. Imagine there will be specific rules when this comes into place. Ie: Someone that has nominated for the draft but overlooked.

Yeah, I'd guess the rules will prevent teams from doing that because it's counter productive for what they're trying to achieve. They want more Indigenous players on lists, not the same ones that were already in the league.

 

[Mutineer]

Couldn’t find one. Did anyone go and watch?

Good question, bugger all in the media on the VFL Young Guns vs Vic Country game?

Pie 4 Life did Rookie Me have anyone at the game?

 

[txbyhull]

Koby LeCras apparently done an ACL

edit: clarified below that it is not a full tear and thus is at this point not a 1-year timeline

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

Club holding pick 5 could place a bid and see if they can also get an additional end of first rounder in the process. Dogs will likely try and match him at pick 5.

This would be pointless. Clubs can only receive one extra pick, and Walker/Cochrane will already have been bid on by then. If anyone bids on El Souki, it won't be motivated by the extra pick.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Koby LeCras apparently done an ACL

That sucks. I feel for the kid.

Hopefully he recovers fully.

 

[omerz]

That sucks. I feel for the kid.

Hopefully he recovers fully.

Out for about 12 weeks I’ve heard.

 

[tigs2010]

Out for about 12 weeks I’ve heard.

That would be one of the more impressive ACL recoveries.

 

[txbyhull]

Not a full rupture and will be reassessed in about 3 weeks time. Definitely out for champs but I would expect he doesn't miss the combine and is fine for 2027 pre-season.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Yeah, you hear ACL and immediately assume that it's a 1 year injury. Good to hear that it isn't the case with LeCras.

 

[txbyhull]

How tall is Matthews-Hampton these days?

 

[MarcMaverick]

How tall is Matthews-Hampton these days?

Kale Matthews-Hampton, yeah? 187cm

 

[txbyhull]

Kale Matthews-Hampton, yeah? 187cm

Yeah I thought he'd have grown a bit

 

[Davo-27]

That goal is unbelievable for a ruckman, he is huge in person too.

 

[Jen2310]

That goal is unbelievable for a ruckman, he is huge in person too.

Monster.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Do the draft experts have an overall feeling of the quality of this years draft compared to previous years, most clubs are anxious with this being the last uncompromised draft before Tassie get in and can imagine clubs will be reluctant to trade out of it, especially the first round unless there is a view that it is a poor year.

 

[Jen2310]

2026 Marsh AFL National Championships schedule

The AFL has released the schedules for the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships

www.afl.com.au

​

2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – U18 BOYS​

Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania), South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.

DATE	MATCH.	VENUE	TIME
Sat 13 June	Western Australia v South Australia	Mineral Resources Park	10:30am
Sun 14 June	Allies v Victoria Country	Blacktown ISP	12:45pm
Sat 20 June	Western Australia v Victoria Metro	TBA (Perth)	TBA
Sun 21 June	South Australia v Allies	Alberton Oval	1:00pm
Sun 28 June	Victoria Metro v Allies	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Fri 3 July	Victoria Metro v South Australia	Marvel Stadium	TBA
Fri 3 July	Victoria Country v Western Australia	Marvel Stadium	TBA
Wed 8 July	Victoria Country v South Australia	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Wed 8 July	Allies v Western Australia	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Sun 19 July	Victoria Country v Victoria Metro	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA

​

​

 

[#BallMagnet]

Do the draft experts have an overall feeling of the quality of this years draft compared to previous years, most clubs are anxious with this being the last uncompromised draft before Tassie get in and can imagine clubs will be reluctant to trade out of it, especially the first round unless there is a view that it is a poor year.

I'm no expert but looking at the major talent pathways, I think it bats pretty deep and it has a great spread of quality across all positions depending on clubs needs.
Plenty of quality prospects still sit behind the more common names you generally see across the mocks drafts. They tend to all be naming the same prospects and don't really project beyond 1-30 selections.

I've mentioned before but I think a deep draft is influenced by the prospects that come from outside of the major player being Victoria.
SA will again be strong, WA should be competative but the Allies might drop off a bit this year.

To your point about Tassie coming in, agree this might be last time for a while to really load up on young talent.
I'd expect the number of total national draft selections this year to be in the 65-70 range.

 

[EDFL follower]

2026 Marsh AFL National Championships schedule

The AFL has released the schedules for the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships

www.afl.com.au

​

2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – U18 BOYS​

Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania), South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.

DATE	MATCH.	VENUE	TIME
Sat 13 June	Western Australia v South Australia	Mineral Resources Park	10:30am
Sun 14 June	Allies v Victoria Country	Blacktown ISP	12:45pm
Sat 20 June	Western Australia v Victoria Metro	TBA (Perth)	TBA
Sun 21 June	South Australia v Allies	Alberton Oval	1:00pm
Sun 28 June	Victoria Metro v Allies	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Fri 3 July	Victoria Metro v South Australia	Marvel Stadium	TBA
Fri 3 July	Victoria Country v Western Australia	Marvel Stadium	TBA
Wed 8 July	Victoria Country v South Australia	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Wed 8 July	Allies v Western Australia	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA
Sun 19 July	Victoria Country v Victoria Metro	TBA (Melbourne)	TBA

​

​

Im not sure of the history but couldnt NSW, Queensland, Tassie etc have their own teams and form a second division to give more kids exposure?

 

[Miller1971]

it used to be like that.

But QLD are probably only a few years from being able to field their own side in D1 anyway.

they could have done so last year and in 2023, and will be handy again in future.

 

[HAWKS2016]

Khaled Souki 4 goals 2 behinds with approximately 20 disposals

 

[EDFL follower]

Clancy Snell took a heap of intercept marks today for gippy power - outstanding game

 

[briztoon]

Clancy Snell took a heap of intercept marks today for gippy power - outstanding game

How did the Brisbane boys look?

Anyone standout?

 

[EDFL follower]

How did the Brisbane boys look?

Anyone standout?

They were very good. Very high standard game. At one stage the score was 10.1 to 9.1. Great goal kicking.
Don’t really know any of the Brisbane players but Hodge had a good game and number 17 was dangerous in the forward line

 

[baggersforflaggers]

Anyone get Gayfers hanger on record! Wowwwwwwww

 

[Jen2310]

Anyone get Gayfers hanger on record! Wowwwwwwww