Preview 2026 National Draft Thread

[King Corey]

He did sky a few kicks

 

[chubbspeterson]

I’m only just getting around to having a look at this year’s crop. Looking very strong to me overall, both with individual talent and the level of the early games.

There could be some really interesting shenanigans come the second half of the season with the combination of the wildcard top 10, upcoming Tassie drafts, potentially extra end of round 1 picks, and two of the teams with high end f/s needing as much draft capital as possible (and likely to be near the bottom).

A good mix of everything. Perhaps not the superstars apart from HVH and Butler, but it's early days.
A lot more key position talent deeper in the draft. There should be some real gems in the 30's & 40's.

Teams finishing bottom five and getting an end of R1 PP vs finishing 13th-11th in the nothing zone will be fascinating.
That might stimulate some trades into 2027 as well by * (Bewick) and Port (Salopek and Pilot) for 2027 R1 picks with the end or R1 PP or potential Butters/Merrett trades.
For us if we are prepared to split our R1 if no HVH or Butler in the mix, then I guess it doesn't matter

Then matching bids with only two picks should bring in selections closer by one.

Blues should have enough capital with two R1's to match Walker. They may even trade another big name.

Port should have a bottom 5 pick and picks from the Butters trade to match Cochrane.
What they do to get picks in 2027 for their top 10 F/S and NGA will be interesting.
Which team puts their 2027 R1 on the table to get * (Hawks) late 2026 R1 or Port (Dogs) R1 or end of R1 PP?
They may push for more picks in 2027 with Butters/Merrett trades and hold onto any 2026 picks as well.
Will be curious to see how they get enough picks for 2027. I guess Georgiades or Bergman could be traded.

 

[noobermensch]

Kodah Edwards was back after missing a week, with a carbon copy of his first game. Once again influential at stoppage and round the ground when deployed as a midfielder and looking extremely dangerous as a forward. His ability to win 1v1s with clever body work is a real highlight, as is his powerful first step to create separation. Similar to week one, he wasn’t always as composed with the ball as you’d like to see.

 

[SWMD]

2026 matching (full points, no discount, two picks max, no top-4 loading):

Pick 1 bid (3000 pts):
Hold 3 + lowest 12 (2178 + 1140 = 3318).
Hold 5 + lowest 10 (1795 + 1276 = 3071).
Hold 8 + lowest 6 (1443 + 1659 = 3102).


Pick 2 bid (2481 pts):
Hold 3 + lowest 15 or lower (easily clears with mid picks).
Hold 5 + lowest 13 (1795 + 1080 ≈ 2875).
Hold 8 + lowest 9 (1443 + 1355 = 2798).


Pick 3 bid (2178 pts):
Hold 5 + lowest 18 or lower.
Hold 8 + lowest 12 (1443 + 1140 = 2583).


Mid to late first rounders are likely to be efit most by moving up the order not down.

How can North best benefit on the port and carlton bids?

May be opportunity to move the order adding something to 2026 R1

 

[Shinboner Supremacy]

Calder Colleague Sam Harris, son of former North Melbourne hard nut Daniel, picked up 23 possessions and could have capped a great game only to finish with 0.3. Harris spent time with the Elite Roos program last year.

 

[noobermensch]

Neocleous is building into his season nicely, putting together his best game so far in round 3 in helping Gippsland to a solid win. He started forward for most of the game but used his running power to roam up the ground and provide a marking outlet for his teammates in transition. He used the ball well, applied strong defensive pressure and mostly important hit the scoreboard with 4 goals.

 

[Shermanator]

Kodah Edwards was back after missing a week, with a carbon copy of his first game. Once again influential at stoppage and round the ground when deployed as a midfielder and looking extremely dangerous as a forward. His ability to win 1v1s with clever body work is a real highlight, as is his powerful first step to create separation. Similar to week one, he wasn’t always as composed with the ball as you’d like to see.

This kid is unreal. Wardlaw tenacity with Daicos reflexes.

I can see why you like him Noobs. Looks like a ripper.

 

[noobermensch]

Drever must be moving up draft boards after a seriously impressive first two games of the new season. His numbers in this one pop off the page, but his influence on the game was just as immense, winning contests all over the ground with power and physicality. With the game close in the closing minutes Drever made the difference with a goal from a clearance in forward 50 and then a tackle to win possession at the center bounce and driving the ball forward for another important score.

 

[shinboner magic]

2026 matching (full points, no discount, two picks max, no top-4 loading):

Pick 1 bid (3000 pts):
Hold 3 + lowest 12 (2178 + 1140 = 3318).
Hold 5 + lowest 10 (1795 + 1276 = 3071).
Hold 8 + lowest 6 (1443 + 1659 = 3102).


Pick 2 bid (2481 pts):
Hold 3 + lowest 15 or lower (easily clears with mid picks).
Hold 5 + lowest 13 (1795 + 1080 ≈ 2875).
Hold 8 + lowest 9 (1443 + 1355 = 2798).


Pick 3 bid (2178 pts):
Hold 5 + lowest 18 or lower.
Hold 8 + lowest 12 (1443 + 1140 = 2583).


Mid to late first rounders are likely to be efit most by moving up the order not down.

How can North best benefit on the port and carlton bids?

May be opportunity to move the order adding something to 2026 R1

This mooted idea of getting another pick if f/s+ nga pushes picks down will be taken advantage of.
Clubs will just bid to get the extra picks