List Mgmt. 2026 Draft and Trade Thread

[Dubai Quacker]

Shifter has complied early Top 75 players for this year's draft

Four Swans Academy players listed:

Will Jenkin - A wingman who has excellent game sense and awareness; stood out with his clean ball handling and classy ball use. [Will] started the 2026 season in good form, averaging 22.7 disposals at 77 per cent efficiency across his first three matches in the Talent League.

Guy Jenkin - A clever wingman, [Guy] reads the game exceptionally well, is a one-touch player at ground level and uses his vision, decision making and neat disposal skills to create for his team; has made a steady start to 2026. He averaged 16.3 disposals across his first three games in the Talent League this year, including finishing among the side’s best players in a round 6 win over Tasmania.

Mason McGroder - A powerful and athletic tall defender who is aggressive in the air, McGroder also possesses excellent closing speed and intent to compete with his chasing and tackling at ground level. A dual-sport athlete who is a world-ranked long jumper, he has had limited exposure to high levels of football. He has not featured in the early part of this year in the Talent League after competing in athletics championships in recent weeks as he keeps his options open on which sport to pursue. But he is expected to resume football commitments shortly.

Aidan McCartney - A developing tall forward, McCartney provides a safe set of hands overhead and on the lead and has nice speed off the mark to present himself as a target in attack. He also showed excellent goalkicking craft from long range and tight angles during the under-16 national championships in 2024


Early Top 15 (in no particular order):

Arki Butler (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons)

Tate Hodgson (Vic Metro/Northern Knights)

Harry Van Hattum (Vic Metro/Northern Knights)

Xavier Ladbrook (Vic Country/Gippsland Power)

Cody Walker (Vic Country/Bendigo Pioneers)

Noah Williams (Vic Country/Geelong Falcons)

Douglas Cochrane (South Australia/Central District)

Kodah Edwards (South Australia/South Adelaide)

Ethan Herbert (South Australia/North Adelaide)

Koby LeCras (Western Australia/West Perth)

Heath Mellody (Western Australia/Claremont)

Lucas Robinson (Western Australia/South Fremantle)

Benji Van Rooyen (Western Australia/Claremont)

Hugh McCallum (Tasmanian Devils/Clarence)

Caylen Murray (Queensland/Brisbane Lions Academy)

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Pleased to see Mellody and VanR there - both incredibly impressive in the Claremont colts (Mellody in particular tore it up last year as an under-ager).

i saw Koby LeCras in the colts game against Claremont weeks ago, but wasn’t paying much attention to the oppo players. I do note that he was selected for WAFL seniors last weekend, so must be doing a lot right!

As I’ve said before - I really believe this is a strong WA crop. Hope our scouts are having a look!

 

[Kiama Chris]

Correct me if I am misremembering but the previous system was paid for and run by the AFL and the states not clubs.

What I am suggesting is that not only will the AFL provide the funds to run the academies they will also pay the clubs a management fee to do so and use the already established academies. This fee and access to rookie list players passed over in the main draft are the incentives for the clubs to put actual effort into running the academies.

As Paul Keating said "In the race of life always bet on self interest" or something like that. There needs to be a substantial incentive for the northern clubs to run the academies, regardless of who pays for them. Think of the Foundation, donors, sponsors and other links as well as the kudos that comes with being enrolled in the Academy, whether drafted or not. There are lots of intangibles.
I doubt that we're bluffing about reducing our efforts if the incentives are sufficiently reduced. Not sure about the others.
From last year's draft about 6% came from the Swans Academy (3 national and 1 rookie).

 

[alex4445]

As Paul Keating said "In the race of life always bet on self interest" or something like that. There needs to be a substantial incentive for the northern clubs to run the academies, regardless of who pays for them. Think of the Foundation, donors, sponsors and other links as well as the kudos that comes with being enrolled in the Academy, whether drafted or not. There are lots of intangibles.
I doubt that we're bluffing about reducing our efforts if the incentives are sufficiently reduced. Not sure about the others.
From last year's draft about 6% came from the Swans Academy (3 national and 1 rookie).

I think if we are talking incentives then money has been a pretty effective incentive over the entire history of humanity.

None of the 4 clubs with academies are in a position to forego guaranteed recurring payments to continue to run the academies.

 

[bedford]

Hopefully if we retire Adams a good replacement would be Josh Tovey from Port Melb , this 20yo is killing it in the VFL
Goodbye

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think if we are talking incentives then money has been a pretty effective incentive over the entire history of humanity.

None of the 4 clubs with academies are in a position to forego guaranteed recurring payments to continue to run the academies.

But they could forgo them and NOT run the Academies. That's the whole point.

 

[liz]

I think if we are talking incentives then money has been a pretty effective incentive over the entire history of humanity.

None of the 4 clubs with academies are in a position to forego guaranteed recurring payments to continue to run the academies.

Are they going to get payments under your model that enable them to make a profit?

 

[liz]

It makes more sense if it's just the club that's done the bid.

Why does that make more sense?

 

[FreeAgent1]

Why does that make more sense?

Whole thing is crazy. Pre season it was the draft is too compromised. Let’s fix by making more compromised.

STOP free agency band 1 compo…. There we go solved it.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Sam Edmund said that every club in the top 5 gets compo pick

So if a bid comes in at pick 1, all of the 5 clubs get a compo pick at beginning on night 2 (essential 2nd rd picks)

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Sam Edmund said that every club in the top 5 gets compo pick

So if a bid comes in at pick 1, all of the 5 clubs get a compo pick at beginning on night 2 (essential 2nd rd picks)

Only eligible for one which sort of makes sense I’m fine with it. Less compromise than last years disaster

 

[catchem02]

I’m sick to death of this subject. The afl should come out and go first round is not compromised you want a higher pick go work it out in the trade period end of story .

 

[bedford]

Code report saying it favours Northern clubs

 

[FreeAgent1]

Code report saying it favours Northern clubs

You just watch some dodgy bidding going on now to get those extra picks!!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Code report saying it favours Northern clubs

You’ll still be able to get the talents- it’s just at market value.

Think everyone will calm down when the rules are officially rubber stamped

 

[LukeParkerno1]

You just watch some dodgy bidding going on now to get those extra picks!!

They only get one of them and you better be sure you want said player- the other club could easily pass

 

[alex4445]

Are they going to get payments under your model that enable them to make a profit?

Yes under my model (feels weird to say that) there would be the budget for the academy which wouldn't pass through the club and then there would be a management fee that would go to the club that essentially pays for the continued integration between the club and the academy. The fee would essentially be all profit.

 

[liz]

Yes under my model (feels weird to say that) there would be the budget for the academy which wouldn't pass through the club and then there would be a management fee that would go to the club that essentially pays for the continued integration between the club and the academy. The fee would essentially be all profit.

But that integration requires resources. So it’s not profit, or not all profit.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Yes under my model (feels weird to say that) there would be the budget for the academy which wouldn't pass through the club and then there would be a management fee that would go to the club that essentially pays for the continued integration between the club and the academy. The fee would essentially be all profit.

What’s your budget, and how much would the payment the AFL be paying us and the other 3 clubs out of the Victorian Talent League’s funding/resources to pay for it?

 

[Membling]

Sam Edmund said that every club in the top 5 gets compo pick

So if a bid comes in at pick 1, all of the 5 clubs get a compo pick at beginning on night 2 (essential 2nd rd picks)

Hoolllddd up.

So for every pick in top 5, there will be a compensation pick for those in the top five...

Does this then shuffle down? Ie now that we doing pick 2, do only the previous top 4 get one. Pick 3 top 3 get compo? And so on and so forth.

So, for instance if this years happened with the compo being applied with say... three players in top 5 getting bid ie:

1. Cochrane
2. Walker
3. Open pool
4. Tied player
5. Open pool

Then round two could feasibly be:

1. Tigers
2. Essendon
3. Blues
4. Eagles
5. Giants
6. Tigers
7.Essendon
8. Eagles
9. Giants
10. Essendon
11. Eagles
12. Giants

Actual round 2

13. Tigers
14. Essendon
15. Port - blues trade to port
16. WCE
17. Hawks - GWS traded to hawks 2025

Remaining clubs

Yeah... cannot see a problem with that at all...

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Hoolllddd up.

So for every pick in top 5, there will be a compensation pick for those in the top five...

Does this then shuffle down? Ie now that we doing pick 2, do only the previous top 4 get one. Pick 3 top 3 get compo? And so on and so forth.

So, for instance if this years happened with the compo being applied with say... three players in top 5 getting bid ie:

1. Cochrane
2. Walker
3. Open pool
4. Tied player
5. Open pool

Then round two could feasibly be:

1. Tigers
2. Essendon
3. Blues
4. Eagles
5. Giants
6. Tigers
7.Essendon
8. Eagles
9. Giants
10. Essendon
11. Eagles
12. Giants

Actual round 2

13. Tigers
14. Essendon
15. Port - blues trade to port
16. WCE
17. Hawks - GWS traded to hawks 2025

Remaining clubs

Yeah... cannot see a problem with that at all...

Apparently only one set of comp picks will be awarded so they won’t get it twice this year with Walker and Cochrane.

These will be awarded at the start of night 2 so cannot be used for matching bids on night 1.

 

[Membling]

Apparently only one set of comp picks will be awarded so they won’t get it twice this year with Walker and Cochrane.

These will be awarded at the start of night 2 so cannot be used for matching bids on night 1.

So only one set of picks and any further bids mean sfa?

 

[alex4445]

But that integration requires resources. So it’s not profit, or not all profit.

What costs are you thinking there may be?

What’s your budget, and how much would the payment the AFL be paying us and the other 3 clubs out of the Victorian Talent League’s funding/resources to pay for it?

Apologies but I don't think I want to crunch the numbers for something that the AFL will never adopt.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

So only one set of picks and any further bids mean sfa?

It’s just the first bid apparently. Let’s be real Walker/Cochrane will be bid at 1 (you are negligent if you don’t now). Take the extra selection at pick 19. I will wait till the official confirmation but that’s what is being reported. Just one lot of comp picks the others don’t trigger comp. Comp only triggered if YOUR selection moves so this means if Richmond don’t bid at 1, they would not receive a comp selection. Thats at least my understanding of it from what’s reported. I’d have rather just give the comp to the bidding team but whatever

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yes under my model (feels weird to say that) there would be the budget for the academy which wouldn't pass through the club and then there would be a management fee that would go to the club that essentially pays for the continued integration between the club and the academy. The fee would essentially be all profit.

Clubs are not going to do it for a few rubbish scrap rookies. That’s the issue with your model. You need access to put the funds, resources and time otherwise why bother

 

[alex4445]

Clubs are not going to do it for a few rubbish scrap rookies. That’s the issue with your model. You need access to put the funds, resources and time otherwise why bother

Because it costs money to run a club and more money is usually considered a positive thing. So if you are being paid money to do something that then increases how much money you have to run the club.

Remember money can be exchanged for goods and services.