List Mgmt. 2026 AFL Draft

[tropicaltiger]

Hotton isn’t a pure mid. Will spend a lot of time forward. Ditto Lalor (not sure he has the hamstrings to be a full time mid). Smillie I have genuinely put a line through. Won’t make it. Bust. Grlj is a back flanker. KMac won’t make it - VFL player. Cumming is a hybrid.

We need at least two more star mids.

You’ve put the line through a kid who hasn’t even had a chance yet. That’s pretty average

if someone has only been on here for 5 minutes and they have an Avatar of a french soccer player I rarely take them seriously.

 

[TigerTime88]

I think of all the tall forwards we have we are probably stocked enough. Jonty looks the goods for mine and even if he is a half decent target you can build around that.

Would hope there is a star mid available at our pick next year. Probably think we only finish above Eagles or Dons next year and so should be top 3 before academy BS again. I think you can never have too many gun mids.

The other consideration is what free agent targets we go after to top off any position.

 

[tigs2010]

Weird draft next year.

Normally a lot of mids a year out and the talls come. Seems a heap of talls in this one and we will definitely be hoping the mids come given our 2024 draft.

Arki Butler would have to be in our thinking. Has the speed/power combo we loaded up with this year.

 

[tigs2010]

Stars of the future: 10 draft prospects to watch in 2026 - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1451032

Was wondering how soon this would come out.

Van Dyk missed Academy but Twomey has him in his 10 to watch.

Injuries permitting think SA win again next year and we could be fishing in that pond again

 

[fargothegreat]

Hopefully we can get in a high quality mid/forward prospect with our first pick next year, and then add Tanner Armstrong as either an inside mid or hard-nosed small defender (if he can tidy up his kicking), Jack Leys as a speedy/skillful wingman and Archie Daffy as well if he's good enough.

 

[KrispyKreme]

Stars of the future: 10 draft prospects to watch in 2026 - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1451032

Was wondering how soon this would come out.

Van Dyk missed Academy but Twomey has him in his 10 to watch.

Injuries permitting think SA win again next year and we could be fishing in that pond again

3 players there I think we could use
Archie Van Dyk
Arki Butler
Marleon Neuocles

 

[Calcium Man]

Cumming was best available.

And Grlj was a couple picks behind consensus best available, but undoubtedly is the best fit for our list.

North picking best available has turned out brilliantly hasn't it. We are building a team.

But we aren’t Norf?

They’ve picked in first round from memory Thomas, Simpkin, LDU, Phillips, JhF, Sheezel, wardlaw, Mckercher, Duursma and FOS.

Basically all mid variations bar Duursma.

Prior to this draft our last 8 first rounders were
1x kpd
1x tall intercepting defender
1x inside mid
2x kpf
1x Forward/Ruck
2x mid/forwards

We also aren’t as desperate for homegrown talent as Norf, we will always have an advantage for targeting players from other clubs due to being a massive club.

 

[tigs2010]

3 players there I think we could use
Archie Van Dyk
Arki Butler
Marleon Neuocles

Went through the last 5 and only 5-7 end up top 25 picks.

Wonder who the 3 duds are

 

[KrispyKreme]

Went through the last 5 and only 5-7 end up top 25 picks.

Wonder who the 3 duds are

What

 

[tigs2010]

What

Last 5 years of this article most between 3 & 5 of them are picked 25 or later or worse not at all.

2025 had Emmett, Leray, Onley, King & Ludowyke

 

[Calcium Man]

Went through the last 5 and only 5-7 end up top 25 picks.

Wonder who the 3 duds are

Hopefully Murray, Dougie and Walker… not holding my breath though.

At a guess though reckon Patterson, Houndsome and Lecras

 

[KrispyKreme]

Last 5 years of this article most between 3 & 5 of them are picked 25 or later or worse not at all.

2025 had Emmett, Leray, Onley, King & Ludowyke

Yeah it’ll change a fair bit aye

 

[tigs2010]

Hopefully Murray, Dougie and Walker… not holding my breath though.

At a guess though reckon Patterson, Houndsome and Lecras

Could be Neo because hes size of an ant too.

 

[Calcium Man]

Could be Neo because hes size of an ant too.

I’d like to know how quick Van Dyk is too. Futures game kind of reminded me of sharps, game was so outside he couldn’t get involved. But also maybe he wasn’t taking it seriously like Sharp.

 

[KrispyKreme]

Could be Neo because hes size of an ant too.

He would be a nice fit, but now I think about it maybe not we do have MRJ, GREENE, chuck, Campbell

 

[Calcium Man]

He would be a nice fit, but now I think about it maybe not we do have MRJ, GREENE, chuck, Campbell

Right now we aren’t desperate for anything bar a ruck, can obviously change if Smil doesn’t come on etc..

Imo we can target needs unless bpa is on a different tier level (like Dougie over Neo/HVH or Robey over Grlj… oh wait). But I’m honestly not sure what that need is until we see how the team gels over next 12 months.

 

[KrispyKreme]

Right now we aren’t desperate for anything bar a ruck, can obviously change if Smil doesn’t come on etc..

Imo we can target needs unless bpa is on a different tier level (like Dougie over Neo/HVH or Robey over Grlj… oh wait). But I’m honestly not sure what that need is until we see how the team gels over next 12 months.

Yeah Ruck option is one, is it this year with the great ruck talent or the next one. Either way with delistings and retirements I wouldn’t be surprised if we have 4-8 list spots. Sooo we have a large room for free agency in 2026 plus adding 1-3 new Rookies. I am hoping we pick up some of the F/S boys if they’re any good but at the same time I’d use the cost of picks this year for some quality players to come into the side

 

[tigs2010]

Yeah Ruck option is one, is it this year with the great ruck talent or the next one. Either way with delistings and retirements I wouldn’t be surprised if we have 4-8 list spots. Sooo we have a large room for free agency in 2026 plus adding 1-3 new Rookies. I am hoping we pick up some of the F/S boys if they’re any good but at the same time I’d use the cost of picks this year for some quality players to come into the side

2026 has the rucks.

Van Hattum is in that top 10 article and looks a proper ruck sized CDT.

Then Herbert & van Rooyen also look pretty good.

 

[KrispyKreme]

2026 has the rucks.

Van Hattum is in that top 10 article and looks a proper ruck sized CDT.

Then Herbert & van Rooyen also look pretty good.

Well might be worth drafting a ruck in then. Swapping out with Ryan if he doesn’t show promise this year. Ryan’s ruck work never looked bad imo but I just have never seen the love of putting him down in the forward his hands permanently have butter in them. Can never seem to make a grab

 

[Calcium Man]

2026 has the rucks.

Van Hattum is in that top 10 article and looks a proper ruck sized CDT.

Then Herbert & van Rooyen also look pretty good.

Just get Dodson out of the saints.

 

[Calcium Man]

Well might be worth drafting a ruck in then. Swapping out with Ryan if he doesn’t show promise this year. Ryan’s ruck work never looked bad imo but I just have never seen the love of putting him down in the forward his hands permanently have butter in them. Can never seem to make a grab

See I think the opposite with Ryan. He looks so awkward and ungainly overhead but somehow takes the mark.

In general though he’s a dud.

 

[KrispyKreme]

See I think the opposite with Ryan. He looks so awkward and ungainly overhead but somehow takes the mark.

In general though he’s a dud.

I always thought he needs to pack size on.
But he double/triple grabs a lot.

 

[Punt Road Feral]

Unfortunately for us, Walker will pan out much better than Duursma and Carlton will move heaven and earth to ensure they secure him.

He’s basically AFL ready now, finished high school and will have a year of development ahead of all the draftees who are juggling school next year.

 

[KrispyKreme]

Unfortunately for us, Walker will pan out much better than Duursma and Carlton will move heaven and earth to ensure they secure him.

He’s basically AFL ready now, finished high school and will have a year of development ahead of all the draftees who are juggling school next year.

So let’s be realistic, who is Richmond likely to pick?
1 - Walker/cochrane
2 - Walker/cochrane
3 - WCE: butler?
4 - ESS: ?
5 - Rich: ?

Just hypothetically saying we finish 3rd last which I would call a thumbs up

Mind you there is every chance we actually finish last..

 

[Punt Road Feral]

So let’s be realistic, who is Richmond likely to pick?
1 - Walker/cochrane
2 - Walker/cochrane
3 - WCE: butler?
4 - ESS: ?
5 - Rich: ?

Just hypothetically saying we finish 3rd last which I would call a thumbs up

Mind you there is every chance we actually finish last..

I’m not going to bother to speculate with the open pool because the board 12 months ago was very different to what eventuated this week.

However I agree we will definitely finish bottom 3.

We overachieved this year and had a fairly good run with injuries.
We need to pray that Nank, Lynch, Vlas, Broad, Taranto and Hopper can stay on the park or we could be in for a world of hurt.