List Mgmt. 2026 Draftee/NGA/FS Discussion

[kane249]

Wonder how he’d complement condiment the other mids

Ketchup would work well with Jack Mayo

 

[noobermensch]

Patterson is another talented prospect in what looks to be another strong crop from SA. A small forward who can do a bit of everything and kicked bags of goals as a bottom ager. A quick first step and change of direction helps him slip tacklers or get out on the lead. He's dangerous at ground level and capable of leaping for marks.

 

[WCE777]

After WC have added the most likely final piece of our premiership midfield through the draft with our 1st pick, we need to add 2 x KPD's this 2026 draft to start developing and replacing players.

NGA/FS's will fill a few roles/areas most likely and most being SF types and another role playing mid in H Banfield.

There looks to be a decent group in the 2026 draft, Kale Mathews-Hampton SA, Mitch Stirling WA, Tate Hodgson VM, Xavier Ladbrook VC.
That's without others improving and hoping D Shanahan WC NGA improves enough to be considered a genuine talent?

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

After WC have added the most likely final piece of our premiership midfield through the draft with our 1st pick, we need to add 2 x KPD's this 2026 draft to start developing and replacing players.

NGA/FS's will fill a few roles/areas most likely and most being SF types and another role playing mid in H Banfield.

There looks to be a decent group in the 2026 draft, Kale Mathews-Hampton SA, Mitch Stirling WA, Tate Hodgson VM, Xavier Ladbrook VC.
That's without others improving and hoping D Shanahan WC NGA improves enough to be considered a genuine talent?

I think we need another top end mid. Options are to draft another next year or trade one in (preferably FA). Agree we need another KPD

 

[WCE777]

I think we need another top end mid. Options are to draft another next year or trade one in (preferably FA). Agree we need another KPD

I should have worded that better.
After we draft another elite mid with our first pick in 2026, then we need 2 KPD's to establish themselves over the next few years to replace Young, Edwards and co. in maybe 3 years.

 

[Barrybran]

I should have worded that better.
After we draft another elite mid with our first pick in 2026, then we need 2 KPD's to establish themselves over the next few years to replace Young, Edwards and co. in maybe 3 years.

One KPD is plenty. Doing the best 23 exercise highlighted that we will likely be in the market for a KPF next year.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

One KPD is plenty. Doing the best 23 exercise highlighted that we will likely be in the market for a KPF next year.

What are you talking about? We have Waterman (27) and Shanahan (19) as our two key forwards for the foreseeable future.

These are supported by options such as Archer (20), CDT (18), J Will (22). Also have B Will as a break in case of emergency forward.

Not sure we need another KPF at all, unless Archer is really going to be a full time ruck, or we move J Will on.

 

[Barrybran]

What are you talking about? We have Waterman (27) and Shanahan (19) as our two key forwards for the foreseeable future.

These are supported by options such as Archer (20), CDT (18), J Will (22). Also have B Will as a break in case of emergency forward.

Not sure we need another KPF at all, unless Archer is really going to be a full time ruck, or we move J Will on.

On paper, yes, we have plenty. However, if we develop Archer and CDT as rucks, that leaves Jack, who isn't going to wait in the wings forever. Bailey is also not a long term option. As soon as one of Archer/CDT is ready to take over his role, Bailey is gone.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

On paper, yes, we have plenty. However, if we develop Archer and CDT as rucks, that leaves Jack, who isn't going to wait in the wings forever. Bailey is also not a long term option. As soon as one of Archer/CDT is ready to take over his role, Bailey is gone.

I'm saying we have our first choice two key forwards in Waterman and Shanahan.

You can develop Archer and CDT into rucks, and play them both as rucks, but does mean one can be your third tall forward when not rucking.

J Will is a suitable back up for an injury to any of those.

Otherwise sure, draft a potential tall forward, but don't sell the farm for them. Would rather just draft Benji or Axel with a high pick and have them as the no. 1 ruck, meaning you now have Archer and CDT playing forward more further strengthening your forwards.

 

[Barrybran]

I'm saying we have our first choice two key forwards in Waterman and Shanahan.

You can develop Archer and CDT into rucks, and play them both as rucks, but does mean one can be your third tall forward when not rucking.

J Will is a suitable back up for an injury to any of those.

Otherwise sure, draft a potential tall forward, but don't sell the farm for them. Would rather just draft Benji or Axel with a high pick and have them as the no. 1 ruck, meaning you now have Archer and CDT playing forward more further strengthening your forwards.

Who said anything about selling the farm?

 

[mattyc75]

Who said anything about selling the farm?

I wish I had a farm to sell

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Who said anything about selling the farm?

Ok. Wires crossed, thought you meant paying up (Draft or otherwise) for one.

Yes, a mid/late pick on a key forward to develop isn't the end of the world if B Will, J Will, Flynn are on the chopping block.

 

[Barrybran]

Ok. Wires crossed, thought you meant paying up (Draft or otherwise) for one.

Yes, a mid/late pick on a key forward to develop isn't the end of the world if B Will, J Will, Flynn are on the chopping block.

We should have 4-5 picks next year. Early thoughts are we pick up another mid along with Shanahan and Kenh. All I'm saying is that I think one of the remaining 1-2 is a KPF for the reasons above. Could even be a rookie.

 

[WCE777]

One KPD is plenty. Doing the best 23 exercise highlighted that we will likely be in the market for a KPF next year.

Disagree.
We need to draft 2 very soon as Bazzo will be gone in 2026 and T Young has 3-4 years of footy left in him.

Edwards is a solid B grade who is too slow for the more mobile KPF's but will be around for 5 years.

Brock is also a solid B grade and will develop more with time.

Leaves our KPD stocks as very vulnerable to injury and no A grade talent just role players by the end of 2026.

We should be drafting at last 1 A grade in 2026, preferably 2 but the Tassie draft will make it more difficult to get A grade talent for a couple of years.

 

[Barrybran]

Disagree.
We need to draft 2 very soon as Bazzo will be gone in 2026 and T Young has 3-4 years of footy left in him.

Edwards is a solid B grade who is too slow for the more mobile KPF's but will be around for 5 years.

Brock is also a solid B grade and will develop more with time.

Leaves our KPD stocks as very vulnerable to injury and no A grade talent just role players by the end of 2026.

We should be drafting at last 1 A grade in 2026, preferably 2 but the Tassie draft will make it more difficult to get A grade talent for a couple of years.

No doubt we need two, and it may even happen next year, I just don't think we need to draft BOTH next year.

Young and Edward are both going to be around for a while yet. Short of Bazzo/Brock finding opportunities elsewhere, we can afford to stagger these.

 

[nameless]

Disagree.
We need to draft 2 very soon as Bazzo will be gone in 2026 and T Young has 3-4 years of footy left in him.

Edwards is a solid B grade who is too slow for the more mobile KPF's but will be around for 5 years.

Brock is also a solid B grade and will develop more with time.

Leaves our KPD stocks as very vulnerable to injury and no A grade talent just role players by the end of 2026.

We should be drafting at last 1 A grade in 2026, preferably 2 but the Tassie draft will make it more difficult to get A grade talent for a couple of years.

You left out Gibney.

I know his best position in the team isn't concrete and he's not the traditional KPD profile, but he was our best defender last year in extreme conditions.

I think we eventually trade in a mature KPD once we start to improve rather than using too much draft capital on a tall def.

I still think our drafting should focus mids, medium fwds and ruck before KPD.

 

[WCE777]

You left out Gibney.

I know his best position in the team isn't concrete and he's not the traditional KPD profile, but he was our best defender last year in extreme conditions.

I think we eventually trade in a mature KPD once we start to improve rather than using too much draft capital on a tall def.

I still think our drafting should focus mids, medium fwds and ruck before KPD.

Ginbey was thrown into the role because of lack of options and excelled.
He isnt a KPD full time and is better served as a HB option.

The reason he had to be used in the KPD role shows we are desperately short of talent in that role.

We probably need 1 more elite mid with our first pick in 2026 to round out our midfield.
We also have H Banfield next year as another role player, we will get a couple of decent NGA's with Kenh/McGlade etc. who fill these roles.

We just drafted a ruck with CDT.
We don't need to draft another ruck for a while as along with CDT we have A Reid and those 2 will anchor our ruck stocks for 10 years.

What we need to do is upgrade our existing rucks as they are barely B grade players.

While we develop our young rucks we should be trading in the best available ruck for 3 years to be the number 1 ruck and A Reid and CDT can develop their games and be ready for number 1 roles in 3-4 years.

Sweet should be our priority trade target, 28 and a very good ruck.
Make that play and delist Barnett, trade BW and keep Flynn as cover in 2026 and have 10 years of high quality rucks in the bank and draft anotther in 5 years time when Flynn is at the end.

 

[noobermensch]

A prospect in the extended first round mix for 2026, Gus Teixeira is a hard working wing or half forward with running power on the outside and creativity with his disposal. The Dragons always seem to have a handful of kids emerge in their top age season to dominate the Talent League and Teixeira looks to be a strong candidate to do just that.

 

[nameless]

Ginbey was thrown into the role because of lack of options and excelled.
He isnt a KPD full time and is better served as a HB option.

The reason he had to be used in the KPD role shows we are desperately short of talent in that role.

We probably need 1 more elite mid with our first pick in 2026 to round out our midfield.
We also have H Banfield next year as another role player, we will get a couple of decent NGA's with Kenh/McGlade etc. who fill these roles.

We just drafted a ruck with CDT.
We don't need to draft another ruck for a while as along with CDT we have A Reid and those 2 will anchor our ruck stocks for 10 years.

What we need to do is upgrade our existing rucks as they are barely B grade players.

While we develop our young rucks we should be trading in the best available ruck for 3 years to be the number 1 ruck and A Reid and CDT can develop their games and be ready for number 1 roles in 3-4 years.

Sweet should be our priority trade target, 28 and a very good ruck.
Make that play and delist Barnett, trade BW and keep Flynn as cover in 2026 and have 10 years of high quality rucks in the bank and draft anotther in 5 years time when Flynn is at the end.

Good call, agree I wouldn't want Gibney long term, but as a 3rd tall I think he could be insanely good and can step up to take the #1 tall if needed.

Yeah CDT and Archer I view as part time rucks moreso and I expect Flynn and BWilliams to not be around much longer, but agree a mature ager is probably the better call.

 

[WCE777]

Good call, agree I wouldn't want Gibney long term, but as a 3rd tall I think he could be insanely good and can step up to take the #1 tall if needed.

Yeah CDT and Archer I view as part time rucks moreso and I expect Flynn and BWilliams to not be around much longer, but agree a mature ager is probably the better call.

Ginbey is so underated and I feel you can take away the best attributes of a player by expecting them to do another.
Case in point Hough, he is an absolute weapon on locking down the elite SF/HF's of the comp, leave him there and let him do his best work.

We just traded in Starcevich to do the same job as Ginbey and Hough, he is a marriage between the 2 type player and leaves another player the option to play further up the ground.
I can see Baker as a HF, pressure forward, wherever we need him.

McCarthy may end up on a wing or midfield using his kick to set up inside 50, I like him outside wing role better than inside the midfield where his elite kicking is diminished.
Use other players for that.

 

[Elite Pete]

Will be interesting to see if we go down this route with Kenh ect.

Didn’t really work for the Crows and Welsh at this stage.

 

[noobermensch]

Heath Mellody, not to be confused with Will Malady, looks to be one of the top prospects from WA in next years draft pool. In the Futures game on grand final day he played mostly on a wing, holding his width well and showing elite running power (both endurance and pace) to burn off his man and continually find space, allowing him to be used regularly as an outlet by his teammates and finding a significant amount of the ball. While his disposal was a little off here, typically Mellody is a penetrating and accurate kick of the footy.

 

[eaglevision]

Heath Mellody, not to be confused with Will Malady, looks to be one of the top prospects from WA in next years draft pool. In the Futures game on grand final day he played mostly on a wing, holding his width well and showing elite running power (both endurance and pace) to burn off his man and continually find space, allowing him to be used regularly as an outlet by his teammates and finding a significant amount of the ball. While his disposal was a little off here, typically Mellody is a penetrating and accurate kick of the footy.

Thanks noobermensch. WCE will love his speed/endurance mix, definitely one to watch for our board.