List Mgmt. 2026 AFL Draft

[KrispyKreme]

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.

Mmm
I wonder what the free agency list is like in 26

 

[NZ_Tiger]

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

Dude gets his hands to a lot of marks, very annoying.

 

[tunksy]

Looks to be yet another draft that is compromised at the top end where we will likely pick from.

 

[KrispyKreme]

Dude gets his hands to a lot of marks, very annoying.

That he does, but doesn’t ever hold on to them unfortunately

 

[NZ_Tiger]

That he does, but doesn’t ever hold on to them unfortunately

He’d be good at volleyball.

 

[Oldmanuncle]

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

In the open pool I'd have Noah Williams at the pointy end, I'm a bit surprised he wasn't on that list.

 

[tigs2010]

In the open pool I'd have Noah Williams at the pointy end, I'm a bit surprised he wasn't on that list.

Only really seen him in that futures game. Hes pretty tiny and outside at the moment isnt he?

 

[_RT_]

RMC Top 26 for 2026 from their 2025 Draft Guide




Plenty of young ruck talent to keep an eye on as 2026 unfolds which is certainly going to make for plenty of discussion among those who are against taking a ruck early.

 

[Calcium Man]

In the open pool I'd have Noah Williams at the pointy end, I'm a bit surprised he wasn't on that list.

He averaged 13 touches and is 174-6cm?

Certainly one to watch but don’t think he’s at the pointy end of this draft right now.

 

[Oldmanuncle]

Only really seen him in that futures game. Hes pretty tiny and outside at the moment isnt he?

Looks to be listed at 176cm & yeah he played a fair bit on the wing for Falcons with stints in the middle.
Doesn't look your typical under 180cm mid though.
Plenty to like, quick an evasive type with good vision.
Always on the move at stoppages & tackles hard for his size.

Last year I was keen to see Grlj take the next with more inside work which he did, this kid gives me the exact
same feeling but quicker.

 

[tigs2010]

Looks to be listed at 176cm & yeah he played a fair bit on the wing for Falcons with stints in the middle.
Doesn't look your typical under 180cm mid though.
Plenty to like, quick an evasive type with good vision.
Always on the move at stoppages & tackles hard for his size.

Last year I was keen to see Grlj take the next with more inside work which he did, this kid gives me the exact
same feeling but quicker.

Fair call. Grlj was very similar in that futures game.

Williams made Academy I believe which he has over Grlj

 

[tigs2010]

Going to put this kid up as one to watch for us assuming we aren't completely dogshit and Carlton & Port can match Cody & Dougie.

 

[Joey longshadow]

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

Yep...some just stop progressing or have already hit there ceiling...Tom McGuane as a case in point

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Yep...some just stop progressing or have already hit there ceiling...Tom McGuane as a case in point

Doesn’t Sheehan run the academy? Listening to him on draft night is doubt his ability to pick talent.

 

[Joey longshadow]

Doesn’t Sheehan run the academy? Listening to him on draft night is doubt his ability to pick talent.

WTF has Sheehan got to do with my post

 

[Tiger1974]

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.

Yep, U only need to look at Brisbane to see that.

 

[Oldmanuncle]

Going to put this kid up as one to watch for us assuming we aren't completely dogshit and Carlton & Port can match Cody & Dougie.

Only got 5 on the watch list atm & he's one of them.

 

[tigs2010]

Only got 5 on the watch list atm & he's one of them.

Butler, Edwards, Van Dyk, Williams & HvH would be my best guess (however I feel a ruck might be a controversial choice lol)

 

[Le RickyBobby]

Let's be real here. We're heading back to SA and taking their best player.

I really like the look of Noah Williams.

 

[hammer180]

If we are in a position to bid on walker and carlton aren't, is there a world where we would trade the pick and if so what sounds like a reasonable offer to trade that pick? Something like 2 firsts and 2 seconds?

 

[Delediodelight]

If we are in a position to bid on walker and carlton aren't, is there a world where we would trade the pick and if so what sounds like a reasonable offer to trade that pick? Something like 2 firsts and 2 seconds?

I would ask for Jagga Smith and the Sydney first rounder (roughly 12). As they wouldn’t be in a position to trade too much draft capital if they need for example picks 3 and 10 to match bids in 2026.

We get a gun midfielder, pick 12 we aim for best available and then get Armstrong with our second rounder

 

[Oldmanuncle]

Butler, Edwards, Van Dyk, Williams & HvH would be my best guess (however I feel a ruck might be a controversial choice lol)

Jordan Knapp (ER)
Kodah Edwards (SA)
Noah Williams (GF)
Garrison Kenh (WC.NGA)
Jake Miller * (WJ)


*Miller is a 2027 watch but the one I"m most interested in.

 

[tigs2010]

Jordan Knapp (ER)
Kodah Edwards (SA)
Noah Williams (GF)
Garrison Kenh (WC.NGA)
Jake Miller * (WJ)


*Miller is a 2027 watch but the one I"m most interested in.

I like that you have a WC NGA in case Clarke forgets to make a list spot for him

 

[spky1234]

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.

Lalor, Smillie, Robey, McAullife - a lot of the same type, heavy, big bodied mids.

We've got a perfect balance now - very happy to take a guy rated 2 or 3 spots behind consensus to achieve that.

 

[spky1234]

I would ask for Jagga Smith and the Sydney first rounder (roughly 12). As they wouldn’t be in a position to trade too much draft capital if they need for example picks 3 and 10 to match bids in 2026.

We get a gun midfielder, pick 12 we aim for best available and then get Armstrong with our second rounder

They aren't going to have a problem matching Walker with theirs and Sydneys First round picks, + Norths and another 2nd rounder, + 2 3rd rounders.

And they certainly wouldn't trade a top 3 draft pick, and another first rounder for him lmao.