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

 

[WCEswift]

Our next premiership ruck might be in this group.

Axel Walsh and mccarthy from swan districts too

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Axel Walsh and mccarthy from swan districts too

Aren’t they the the year after?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Aren’t they the the year after?

But should play champs. Although Axel could play anywhere.

 

[WCEswift]

Aren’t they the the year after?

if they are the swan districcts kid will be terrifying by then

 

[WCE777]

This will open a can of worms!!

I just did an anylisis of our current list and where and where not our talent is.
We will all disagree on who are A & B grade players and with such a young list a lot of the younger crew are on potential.
Here is my best team of 2026 R1.

Here is my grading:
B: Starcevich, Edwards, Hough
HB: Ginbey, Young, McCarthy
C: Davis, Yeo, Duursma
HF: Hewett, Shanahan, Baker
FF: Kelly, Waterman, Cripps
FOL: Flynn, H Reid, Graham
INT: Dev, Brockman, A Reid, Duggan, Allan

I have intentially left out players that wont be playing R1 IMO.
They are graded here:
A Grade: Lindsay, CDT obvious as they are elite at their role and project A grade.

B Grade: Brock/Hall/Gross/Maric/S Allen/Rodriguez/Newton/T Williams.

Depth grade: Grego/Cole/Bazzo/Johnston/Long/Hutch/Dewar/JW/Owies/Champion/BW/Barnett/McRae/Schoenburg.

Depth grade is full of players who are not going to make it and are depth and role players going foward.

These are solely my opinion but it shows a lack of A grade talent in certian areas.

Midfield, KPD are the glaring areas where we need A grade talent from 2026 draft and trade period on, high pressure SF's are also a concern but NGA's should fill this and players not making A grade in other midfield roles may fill another couple.

I will put Gross/S Allan in this catergory as they look to be the players who may fall out of full time midfielders for another A grade mid.

We can't take a team to 2027 and beyond with the Tassie draft and not have most of the list puzzles in place.
When I look at this team it still looks 2 elite mids and 2 elite KPD's short.

 

[KevinTaylor]

Salutes to all the boys flogging their guts out at the moment trying to impress the coaches.

My boy is a 2008 kid so Ive seen heaps of this years boys.
My roughie punt is on Cody Lee from Perth(No hes not mine). Always been a very solid junior player up forward with a sweet left foot and strong hands.
He has had massive improvement. Grown plenty, gotten a bit of angry in his game and looked super solid down back for Wesley.
He got a call up for the u18s summer squad and touch wood will have a gun draft year.
Any ideas if I cant put a punt on this?

I dont understand how he's NGA eligible but he is

 

[KevinTaylor]

Also, I thought it was interesting that Garrison was the only NGA boy this year to get a gig at preseason.
Keeping their options open, hiding them. I have no idea, but Im sure its a stronger group than previous years.

 

[Jaygee1976]

Also, I thought it was interesting that Garrison was the only NGA boy this year to get a gig at preseason.
Keeping their options open, hiding them. I have no idea, but Im sure its a stronger group than previous years.

2008 group is there strongest group so far from what I was told by someone within the NGA leadership group, very surprised that only he got a call up with the depth they have in that year group.

 

[Elite Pete]

2008 group is there strongest group so far from what I was told by someone within the NGA leadership group, very surprised that only he got a call up with the depth they have in that year group.

You would know better the most on here maybe but has Kenh just been invited out due to being part of the AFL academy? The WA boys normally get divided up between West Coast and Freo.

I noticed Hawks have a couple of father sons training with them (Crawford/Silks boys).

 

[Eastern Rangers]

2008 group is there strongest group so far from what I was told by someone within the NGA leadership group, very surprised that only he got a call up with the depth they have in that year group.

Kehn is part of the AFL Academy, which is why he's training with the senior squad. 2026 has depth, but 2025 had multiple players in the AFL Academy.

 

[Jaygee1976]

Kehn is part of the AFL Academy, which is why he's training with the senior squad. 2026 has depth, but 2025 had multiple players in the AFL Academy.

would pick the 2026 group everyday over the 2025 group. even with my son taken out of the group

 

[Eastern Rangers]

would pick the 2026 group everyday over the 2025 group. even with my son taken out of the group

Most of the 2026 group are coming from further back in their underage year.

Bit of an odd format but In your opinion who was BOG in the WAFL all stars vs the NGA academies?

 

[SaintLoopy]

Most of the 2026 group are coming from further back in their underage year.

Bit of an odd format but In your opinion who was BOG in the WAFL all stars vs the NGA academies?

When was that played?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

When was that played?

Late October. The All-Stars team won both games and the Eagles NGA narrowly lost to Fremantle. This is U16's group not this 2026 draftees.

 

[noobermensch]

There's been plenty of buzz around Lewis Houndsome this year, a big lump of a lad near 200cm tall who moves really well, plays with a physical edge, and can take a grab at a point that few defenders can reach. Lewis hasn't managed to truly dominate a game this year or kick a big bag of goals. Draft watchers and recruiters will be looking to see him impose himself on games more consistently in 2026.

The ruck/forward combo of Houndsome and Van Hattum shapes as an exciting watch next year for the Northern Knights.

 

[noobermensch]

An interesting watch for Arki Butler fans, one of the few this year where he played the majority of the game through the midfield rather than as a small forward. Here we see strong hints of what I expect will be his main role in 2026 as a goal kicking and game breaking midfielder with excellent pace, skills and x-factor.

 

[Elite Pete]

NHH likely playing for Subi. Nice and easy for our scouts, MSD option maybe if he starts the year well.

 

[Elite Pete]

West reporting both Freo and WC had some interest during the draft. Might be a very smart play by the young man.

 

[squashface]

If Champion is indeed out long term and we put him on the LTI, NHH would be an excellent MSD option

 

[Elite Pete]

If Champion is indeed out long term and we put him on the LTI, NHH would be an excellent MSD option

Can you sign anyone if the player going on the LTI is a cat b player?

 

[Eastcoasteagle]

An interesting watch for Arki Butler fans, one of the few this year where he played the majority of the game through the midfield rather than as a small forward. Here we see strong hints of what I expect will be his main role in 2026 as a goal kicking and game breaking midfielder with excellent pace, skills and x-factor.

Arki is one I heard about a few years ago, someone I know who is quite connected in this local area footy wise - had huge wraps on him.

Has huge X-factor and natural ability - love to see him go from half forward to midfield for Sandy this year.

Brother was on dogs list for a year or two.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

If Champion is indeed out long term and we put him on the LTI, NHH would be an excellent MSD option

I think we can say with certainty we will have at least one LTI by midseason.

 

[squashface]

Can you sign anyone if the player going on the LTI is a cat b player?

That's a good point, I hadn't considered that. Probably not.

 

[squashface]

So NHH looks like playing WAFL with an eye on the mid season draft.

Is a WA club interested? Interesting he decided to relocate to WA.

Should a spot become available does the club bother with an SSP train on player or just wait until mid season?

I doubt it would specifically be about WCE or Freo - my suspicion is he has moved across the country to WA with no guarantees as a statement to show how committed he is. The question marks that left him undrafted were off-field, no?

 

[Obeanie1]

If Champion is indeed out long term and we put him on the LTI, NHH would be an excellent MSD option

Just posted rhe same thing and scrolled up and read yours.

Yes, what does it mean if a Cat B player is out with a LTI?

NHH relocating to WA aiming to get a shot at AFL level is interesting. Which WA club is having a look?