List Mgmt. 2026 Draftee/NGA/FS Discussion

[Keys]

https://archive.md/QL0xc

Article provides a brief description of the most likely draft hopefuls from the WA Colts system - including the following West Coast Father/Sons and NGA tied players listed below:

Spoiler: Harper Banfield (181cm, midfielder/forward)

The son of two-time premiership Eagle Drew and younger brother of St Kilda draftee Charlie, Harper is hoping to become the Banfield’s latest AFL star. He’s smaller than his brother, but he’s a competitor with elite endurance. His sprinting and agility have also improved significantly in the last six months, suiting a half-forward, midfield role.

Spoiler: Robert Farmer (179cm, forward)

Farmer is out for revenge in 2026 after missing Claremont’s premiership. The West Coast NGA prospect kicked nine goals from seven games as a bottom-age player and he was also a train-on with the State 18s quad.

Spoiler: Noah Braun (183cm, midfielder)

The son of 2006 West Coast premiership player Michael, Noah is a goalkicking midfielder-forward who has had some big games for Claremont last year. Is pushing to make WA’s 18s squad after missing out on the summer training block.

Spoiler: Garrison Kenh (181cm, defender)

An attacking halfback who is part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, Kenh announced himself as one to watch a couple of years ago after winning WA’s MVP award at the Under-16 national championships. Originally from Liberia in West Africa, Kenh takes the game on with his speed and agility. He’s also trained with West Coast as part of national academy commitments.

Spoiler: Lachlan McGlade (177cm, forward)

Exciting, agile and crafty, McGlade is everything you want in a small forward. The Eagles NGA prospect likes to take the game on with his run and carry, making him one of the Royals’ most exciting players to watch. Kicked five in one game last year and will be hoping another good start to the year will cement his spot in the state squad.

Spoiler: Cody Lee (193cm, forward)

Is linked to West Coast as an NGA prospect and the Eagles would be pleased with Lee’s development. The developing tall has grown a few centimetres of late and grown into his body. His athleticism has been on show at summer squad training, finishing third in the running vertical leap at pre-season testing.

Spoiler: Jamayson Ketchup (178cm, forward)

Another Eagles NGA prospect, Ketchup isn’t just another condiment. The electric forward has an unbelievable work rate, clean skills and he always knows where the goals are. Ketchup plays his best footy at half-forward, but he can also push into the midfield when needed.

Spoiler: Kyle Perera (170cm, forward)

The West Coast NGA prospect missed most of last year with a stress fracture in his back but made an impact in the last four games of the season. Perera has been training with the State summer squad and his smarts and speed make him one to watch.

Spoiler: Lorenze Cole

The West Coast NGA prospect is known for his speed, power and X-factor. The Karratha product played in the State trial game recently and will be one to watch this year.

Spoiler: David Shanahan

Not mentioned in the article, but is a potential KPD from Swan Districts in our NGA who was on the radar of some posters last year

 

[EagleEgo]

Google AI ranked these 4 top WAFL defenders

Player [1]	Club	WAFL Top 40 Rank	Notable Attribute
Charlie Dean	Perth	10	Intercepting, AFL experience (Collingwood)
Jacob Blight	Subiaco	14	Powerful lockdown, returning from AFL (Richmond)
Harrison Macreadie	East Perth	31	Elite spoiler, difficult to out-mark
Max Minear	Claremont	36	Exceptional closing speed

 

[noobermensch]

A hot name in this year's pool and considered by many (including yours truly) as the next name up after Cochrane and Walker. Harry Van Hattum might have come in here a tad underdone after missing some time with an injury but still competed hard in the ruck up against a mature VFL opponent. It's no coincidence that Harry was at his best and controlling the middle during the periods of the game when the Academy had the run of the play, some of his tap work to his mids sublime. He followed up well at ground level and clunked a couple of nice marks to remind everyone of his all round talent.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

List you among the clubs interested in our reserves player. Should be on a list IMO.

https://archive.md/vcLFO

For those who'd like to read the article.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Not sure if this is the right place to be asking but whatever. I've been thinking about the proposal to give an end of round pick to top 5 teams that get pushed back by bid matching. Now something that we've all spoken about is that the absolute top picks is where you get the real cream of the crop, but sometimes splitting is worth it anyway to get two bites at the cherry. Do any of you think that this new proposal might be the afl's way of discouraging splitting? After all, why split if keeping the pick has you end up with two first rounders anyway?

 

[noobermensch]

Kodah Edwards continued his strong start to the season by being among the best for the Academy in game one. He played through the midfield in the first three quarters finding plenty of the footy, his clean hands at ground level and slick handball in tight spaces both highlights. He was moved into the forward line in the fourth quarter and showed that he can be dangerous down there, presenting well on the lead and scrapping to create scoring opportunities.

 

[eaglevision]

April Power Rankings: Cochrane, Walker, Van Hattum - the names you need to know for 2026

It's ESPN's first AFL Draft Power Rankings for 2026! We've all heard of Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker, but who else should you be keeping an eye on this year? Here's Jasper Chellappah's top 20 for April.

www.espn.com.au

 

[Happy Mastenator]

April Power Rankings: Cochrane, Walker, Van Hattum - the names you need to know for 2026

It's ESPN's first AFL Draft Power Rankings for 2026! We've all heard of Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker, but who else should you be keeping an eye on this year? Here's Jasper Chellappah's top 20 for April.

www.espn.com.au

It's hard to see two rucks going in the first round. So one might slide (Herbet) and BVR not even listed. Real chance one of them might be available at our comp pick (for f/s academy taken in top 5 picks) or second rounder.

Do we take one of them then? Gives us backup to CDT and long term they could play together. Allows us to cull Barnett and one, if not two, of Flynn/Williams

 

[WCE777]

It's hard to see two rucks going in the first round. So one might slide (Herbet) and BVR not even listed. Real chance one of them might be available at our comp pick (for f/s academy taken in top 5 picks) or second rounder.

Do we take one of them then? Gives us backup to CDT and long term they could play together. Allows us to cull Barnett and one, if not t.wo, of Flynn/Williams

The ruck is less of an issue this year in the draft.

We have A Reid & CDT as longer term prospects and most likely BW stays and Flynn is backup.
Barnett gets delisted. But we do need another longer term option but if we keep Flynn then we push it down the road, if not Flynn gets pushed to WAFL and we pick up someone like BVR to develop who is probably a late 2nd round pick.

All really relies on if we get J Walter IMO which sounds like is WC preference. if that happens then JW is traded for probably a 3rd round pick.

We need KP players but they are all KPD's IMO.
2 ideally would be the go at the draft, C Snell & T Hodgson would be the leading candidates. D Shanahan NGA KPD is very raw and most likely a late selection or Cat B rookie as a longer term option.

If we manage to snag J Butts as a UFA/RFA from ADE this year that pushes the need for drafting 2 this year and we select 1 and him.

 

[TwoStriders]

April Power Rankings: Cochrane, Walker, Van Hattum - the names you need to know for 2026

It's ESPN's first AFL Draft Power Rankings for 2026! We've all heard of Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker, but who else should you be keeping an eye on this year? Here's Jasper Chellappah's top 20 for April.

www.espn.com.au

With our first, any one of Williams, Edwards or Butler sound like they’d compliment our group well.

Would love Ladbrook with our second… but might be wishful thinking.

Jasper seems higher on Kenh than the consensus. I remember he had Wes Walley as a first round pick around this time last year. Hopefully Kenh doesn’t go the way of Wes, but also hope he goes after our second round pick.

 

[TerryFilk]

I think we should be trading our F1 into this years draft, Sydney will just demand it for Warner otherwise if he does end up wanting to come here.

So many perfect profiles for us, if the end of 1st compo rule thing comes through that helps us immensely too.

Noah Williams, Drever, Edwards, Neocleous or Butler and Snell or Ladbrook would be a brilliant haul

 

[squashface]

I think we should be trading our F1 into this years draft, Sydney will just demand it for Warner otherwise if he does end up wanting to come here.

So many perfect profiles for us, if the end of 1st compo rule thing comes through that helps us immensely too.

Noah Williams, Drever, Edwards, Neocleous or Butler and Snell or Ladbrook would be a brilliant haul

I don't think Sydney will be able to match what we will be offering Warner so they won't force the trade and we will just sign him as FA

 

[TerryFilk]

I don't think Sydney will be able to match what we will be offering Warner so they won't force the trade and we will just sign him as FA

They definitely will be able to, I think they’ll lose a couple role guys this off season and they are already paying Chad 1.4M, there’s no way they wouldn’t be able to find 2-400K extra to match a bid to force a trade.

 

[juice568]

I think we should be trading our F1 into this years draft, Sydney will just demand it for Warner otherwise if he does end up wanting to come here.

So many perfect profiles for us, if the end of 1st compo rule thing comes through that helps us immensely too.

Noah Williams, Drever, Edwards, Neocleous or Butler and Snell or Ladbrook would be a brilliant haul

I think we should be looking to trade our future 1st for walter

 

[eaglevision]

It's hard to see two rucks going in the first round. So one might slide (Herbet) and BVR not even listed. Real chance one of them might be available at our comp pick (for f/s academy taken in top 5 picks) or second rounder.

Do we take one of them then? Gives us backup to CDT and long term they could play together. Allows us to cull Barnett and one, if not two, of Flynn/Williams

The question for me is taking another ruck similar age to CDT assuming we see that as his long term position.

If Herbert or BVR slide to our 3R sure, but I’d be looking at best mid and best KPD available with an end 1R and our 2R.

Big 2 year contract for Witts is my best ruck solution at this stage until CDT/Archer duo ready.

Then there’s Axel next year.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

The question for me is taking another ruck similar age to CDT assuming we see that as his long term position.

If Herbert or BVR slide to our 3R sure, but I’d be looking at best mid and best KPD available with an end 1R and our 2R.

Big 2 year contract for Witts is my best ruck solution at this stage until CDT/Archer duo ready.

Then there’s Axel next year.

Agreed. I just think there's room for two rucks in a team (especially if both can play elsewhere). If Archer Reid can be that then fine, no need to go one, but i think BVR is a better ruck prospect than anyone not named CDT on our list. Not saying we go early, just if slides.

Axel is the dream. Not sure how we get there though.

 

[WCE777]

The question for me is taking another ruck similar age to CDT assuming we see that as his long term position.

If Herbert or BVR slide to our 3R sure, but I’d be looking at best mid and best KPD available with an end 1R and our 2R.

Big 2 year contract for Witts is my best ruck solution at this stage until CDT/Archer duo ready.

Then there’s Axel next year.

Agree with the Witts big 2 year contract as the best solution UFA and still at very good levels and has been very durable over his history.
That's where I would leave it, keep BW as back up, CDT/Archer 2-3 years away.
Flynn to WAFL.
Kick the can down the road for a ruck through the draft, don't need in this scenario.

 

[noobermensch]

Arki Butler put in a hard working display for the Academy in game one but definitely didn't have it all his own way. He showed some toughness and physicality through the midfield and hunted the ball strongly. As a forward he led well and found the space to be used in transition. His disposal was uncharacteristically wayward, perhaps effected by the faster pace and strong wind.

 

[stallon]

It's hard to see two rucks going in the first round. So one might slide (Herbet) and BVR not even listed. Real chance one of them might be available at our comp pick (for f/s academy taken in top 5 picks) or second rounder.

Do we take one of them then? Gives us backup to CDT and long term they could play together. Allows us to cull Barnett and one, if not two, of Flynn/Williams

There are multiple clubs near the bottom that need a new ruckman, Richmond probably HVH and one of Bombers/Dees/Port/GWS are probably in the range of Herbert based off this ranking, and they all need a new ruckman imo

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

List you among the clubs interested in our reserves player. Should be on a list IMO.

https://archive.md/vcLFO

For those who'd like to read the article.

hello.

 

[TerryFilk]

I think we should be looking to trade our future 1st for walter

I’d only be interested in a Walter trade for 2nds I think, unless Jake Rodgers is also involved.

Wouldn’t be mad at the end of 1st compo pick for Walter if Snell and Ladbrook weren’t available in that range though.

 

[RanaNaved]

Is Jake Rogers the new Busslinger, Clancy Dennis, Alex Davies etc? Seems to get mentioned a lot despite there being no noise about a move to WC

 

[Keys]

I’d only be interested in a Walter trade for 2nds I think, unless Jake Rodgers is also involved.

Wouldn’t be mad at the end of 1st compo pick for Walter if Snell and Ladbrook weren’t available in that range though.

If the AFL do introduce that end of R1 compo pick rule, it only comes into existence if/when a bid is made on draft night

So it won’t be available to use in any trade for Walter. Or any other player for that matter

 

[Avalor]

A hot name in this year's pool and considered by many (including yours truly) as the next name up after Cochrane and Walker. Harry Van Hattum might have come in here a tad underdone after missing some time with an injury but still competed hard in the ruck up against a mature VFL opponent. It's no coincidence that Harry was at his best and controlling the middle during the periods of the game when the Academy had the run of the play, some of his tap work to his mids sublime. He followed up well at ground level and clunked a couple of nice marks to remind everyone of his all round talent.

This is who I want with our 1st pick.

 

[TerryFilk]

If the AFL do introduce that end of R1 compo pick rule, it only comes into existence if/when a bid is made on draft night

So it won’t be available to use in any trade for Walter. Or any other player for that matter

Of course, not sure what I was thinking haha

 

[juice568]

This is who I want with our 1st pick.

We already have reid and duff tytler