List Mgmt. 2026 AFL Draft Prospects And Discussion

[Sizzlepack]

Wait till Rooney gets stronger and older. He's proper good

Is he tied to us, or is he open pool?

 

[Thunderstruck]

2028 isn’t he? Heard many great things.

Yep, he's got many years but has size, power, skill and that classic football brain well advanced for his age

 

[Thunderstruck]

Is he tied to us, or is he open pool?

Open

 

[suburpy]

Is that Port Academy tied Zemes Pilot?

Yes he is tipped as a top 10 prospect

Either him or Kodah Edwards, who is a goal kicking mid, left footer, Boards have him at about #6. Would love to have his talent at our club.

 

[Mutineer]

Either him or Kodah Edwards, who is a goal kicking mid, left footer, Boards have him at about #6. Would love to have his talent at our club.

I'd have Kodah's teammate Archie Van Dyk slightly ahead of him on last year's underage form. Unfortunately Archie must have an injury as he's yet to appear in 2026.

 

[noobermensch]

A first look at the prolific Jacob McNicol who's started off the AAMI Talent League with a bang, racking up possessions and kicking goals for fun over the first three weeks of the season. McNicol plays the classic junior footy mid/fwd role for Glenelg, and a significant portion of their forward thrust comes from his classy left boot, directly kicking goals himself or setting up his teammates inside F50. He did sky a few kicks where a bit more composure would have been nice, but when you kick the ball 28 times the odds are you'll get a few wrong.

Unfortunately, the broadcast was quite choppy at times, so we probably missed a few of his moments.

 

[suburpy]

I'd have Kodah's teammate Archie Van Dyk slightly ahead of him on last year's underage form. Unfortunately Archie must have an injury as he's yet to appear in 2026.

All 3 (Pilot, Van Dyk and Edwards) are clearly good players. Of the three only one won the SANFL B and F in U16, only one was a representative in the AFL national academy this year. One captained SA at U16 level, also won best team man during the U16 championships, so clear leadership. Last year as a lower age U18, one was second in the SANFL for clearances, second in the sanfl for inside 50's and streets ahead in ranking points from 2 less games than any other player near him, likely because he kicks the ball alot (Second most in U18 last year) and he scores goals, was second in tackles in U18's last year as well. As a lower age U18 one was third in the SANFL under 18 as well. He aslo won the South Adelaide U 18 B and F. It was Edwards - this kid is a jet and exactly what the crows need.

 

[bigman]

Herbert another huge game. 29 touches, 34 hit outs, 11 clearances, 9 inside 50s.

 

[noobermensch]

Kodah Edwards was back after missing a week, with a carbon copy of his first game. Once again influential at stoppage and round the ground when deployed as a midfielder and looking extremely dangerous as a forward. His ability to win 1v1s with clever body work is a real highlight, as is his powerful first step to create separation. Similar to week one, he wasn’t always as composed with the ball as you’d like to see.

 

[Mutineer]

As usual one of the very best big bodied midfield prospects in this year's draft is tied to Fremantle via NGA...

28 disposals on debut for South Fremantle in the WAFL Seniors.

Lucas Robinson | WAFL

wafl.com.au

 

[Mutineer]

Ethan Drever one of the Rebels best again yesterday in their win over the Western Jets,

 

[Mutineer]

My big hope for us from the Rebels in the 2026 draft athletic 188cm midfielder Ethan Drever's stats from Friday's game vs the Western Jets.

34 Disposals 17 kicks 17 handballs 6 Marks 10 Tackles 9 i50's 1 goal

 

[119others]

Yes - absolutely. Sorry, but I absolutely cannot say anymore. completely off radar. And we won't have to wait too long. But clubland (every single club) knows exactly who he is. Will be announced in due course.

thanks for the intrigue - has my little mind wandering

so if NOT crows f/s and NOT already identified as a NGA prospect, the ONLY other option i am aware of is the 'pre crows sanfl father-son' (max michalanney rule). wonder if anyone can shed any further light on this as the only other option?

and certainly respect your absolute discretion shown, but can i at least ask an estimate on when this may be out in the open? this month would you guess?

 

[suburpy]

No Archie Van Dyk last night who I think is equally as good a midfield prospect who also hits the scoreboard. Injured?

Yep he is injured. Interestingly he averages 0.7 Gols Per Game, Edwards is 1.2. Edwards averages more clearances and tackles, Van Dyk more possesions.

 

[hugecannon]

Yep he is injured. Interestingly he averages 0.7 Gols Per Game, Edwards is 1.2. Edwards averages more clearances and tackles, Van Dyk more possesions.

Is Van Dyk more of an outside receiver than an inside mid?

 

[Mutineer]

Is Van Dyk more of an outside receiver than an inside mid?

No
He's 186cm solidly built Inside/outside midfielder with an excellent tank, clean on the inside with great hands, excellent overhead, tough and just racks up the possessions at will. Has also spent some time down back as the team's distributor.

 

[noobermensch]

Herbert is on a serious tear at U18s level to start the season. It appears he may have outgrown this level of competition, so we now wait to see how he fares with the step up to AFL Academy and state rep footy in the coming months. Stat wise he produced a rare quadruple double in this game with 31 disposals, 12 clearances, 10 inside 50s and 34 hit outs, again showing his elite work in the tap and following up around the ground.

 

[DaKids]

Wait till Rooney gets stronger and older. He's proper good

They took him to the 16s carnival last year as a bottom ager to observe the standard from half back.

By game 2 was in the midfield rotations.

You’re spot on here

 

[noobermensch]

Apologies for putting these in the old thread:

 

[cleanhands]

Apologies for putting these in the old thread:

Watched 4:30 of Herbert pack marks?

 

[noobermensch]

Watched 4:30 of Herbert pack marks?

Not sure what you mean?

 

[cleanhands]

Not sure what you mean?

I watched till the 4:30 didn’t see a lot of contested marks,

 

[noobermensch]

I watched till the 4:30 didn’t see a lot of contested marks,

Right I see. Yeah he's less of a contested marking beast than HVH but he can take them.

 

[Mutineer]

Right I see. Yeah he's less of a contested marking beast than HVH but he can take them.

When you're racking up 31 disposals 34 hit outs, 12 clearances and 10 inside 50's at will it doesn't leave a lot of time for contested marks when your continually on your bike around the ground.

He's a ripper prospect and the super athletic type ruckman that is very much in favour with the change in ruck rules.

 

[plugger59]

thanks for the intrigue - has my little mind wandering

so if NOT crows f/s and NOT already identified as a NGA prospect, the ONLY other option i am aware of is the 'pre crows sanfl father-son' (max michalanney rule). wonder if anyone can shed any further light on this as the only other option?

and certainly respect your absolute discretion shown, but can i at least ask an estimate on when this may be out in the open? this month would you guess?

Can't disclose any more info. Not fair to the lad and his family. It'll be their story to tell, not mine. Bit of a minor hold up with the process but all will be announced soon enough.
Not trying to be a look at me smartarse. Just a bit of info that there will be positive news coming because we all need as much of that as we can get atm.