Preview 2026 National Draft Thread

[ferball]

That is a ****ing awful idea… let’s fix the compromised draft by, uhhh, compromising it further.
The boffins in charge of this joint are actually ******ed.
Doubt it gets up but if it does yeah I’ll be shitted off that it comes in after our 5 years of misery… though to be fair we’ve probably got another 5 coming up

Its like they're Donald Trump trying to fight a war.

 

[chubbspeterson]

To add to that, the kids who can jump good are (generally) the longer leaner types.

Van Hattum is doing it while being well advanced physically.

No mean feat, and bodes well for his future development having such a strong athletic base.

From memory Sam Darcy had a high 87-89cm vertical, which would give Van Hattam a huge reach advantage over someone like him and we already know how unstoppable Darcy is on the lead.

That's good. That reach will be hard to stop, but those talls really need to clunk those marks to have an impact as we've seen with Darcy to start the year. Hopefully HVH is a bit more than just a Tim English type and can play fwd.
But I've only watched two full games of him so you'd have seen much more than me.

 

[chubbspeterson]

That is a ****ing awful idea… let’s fix the compromised draft by, uhhh, compromising it further.
The boffins in charge of this joint are actually ******ed.
Doubt it gets up but if it does yeah I’ll be shitted off that it comes in after our 5 years of misery… though to be fair we’ve probably got another 5 coming up

Would it make more sense to give teams a pick equivalent to the points difference of the slide?
So if you had pick 4 to start and it's now pick 7 after bids, you get the difference in pick 32 in exchange.
The only benefit to us this year would be we get a R2 pick to help us match a bid if Aidan picks us or get another kid in.
But generally I think that change would also disadvantage the middle tier teams as well. Where do you draw the line?

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

From our point of view, if we say have a pick in the 5-10 range, it’s probably the year to try and split for some 10-20 picks if cards fall our way.

There’s going to be some truly elite support players in the 10-20 range this year.

HBF & KPP please…

 

[ToxicMegaPunts]

Just imagine that we would’ve had this at our disposal during our rebuild.

2020 - extra first round pick for JUH bid
2021 - we likely bid on Daicos or Darcy and net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.
2022 - extra pick for Will Ashcroft bid
2023 - extra pick for Jed Walter bid
2024 - we likely bid on Levi Ashcroft and we net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.

Just our luck again that something like this comes in when we have been shafted time and time again by academy selections and F/S.

**** me.

Creates another reason for bottom teams to tank nearing the end of the season. Difference between finishing 14th as opposed to 13th is an extra end of 1st rounder. Just face-palming stupidity.

 

[Themanbun]

Just imagine that we would’ve had this at our disposal during our rebuild.

2020 - extra first round pick for JUH bid
2021 - we likely bid on Daicos or Darcy and net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.
2022 - extra pick for Will Ashcroft bid
2023 - extra pick for Jed Walter bid
2024 - we likely bid on Levi Ashcroft and we net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.

Just our luck again that something like this comes in when we have been shafted time and time again by academy selections and F/S.

**** me.

Can't wait to trade said pick for the next Zac Fisher

 

[chubbspeterson]

Twomey's Early Top 10


Ethan Herbert probably the biggest surprise but pretty mobile and neat skills for a 199cm ruck.

 

[King Corey]

Wil Malady = The Come, You're My Butterfly

 

[Themanbun]

Wil Malady = The Come, You're My Butterfly

Sugar. Baby

 

[Themanbun]

Twomey's Early Top 10

View attachment 2561954
Ethan Herbert probably the biggest surprise but pretty mobile and neat skills for a 199cm ruck.

Van Hattum will be the best of them IMO

 

[Sphynx]

Van Hattum will be the best of them IMO

Agreed.

Luke Jackson 2.0, but maybe even more agressive and a better forward target.

Somehow even more athletic, especially vertically.

 

[ToxicMegaPunts]

Twomey's Early Top 10

View attachment 2561954
Ethan Herbert probably the biggest surprise but pretty mobile and neat skills for a 199cm ruck.

Heath Mellody = The Unchained

 

[King Corey]

In an alternate universe our picks flipped between 2021 and 2023 and we got Callaghan and Reid.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

None of it matters, there gonna get norfed anyways

i mean look at sheezel

 

[noobermensch]

Not Jack Pickett's strongest performance, but worth covering given he's a top 10 contender in this pool. He started the game playing deep forward, starved for opportunities with the Stingrays dominating territory in the opening term, and increasingly roamed up the field as the game progressed in an attempt to get more involved in the play. The Falcons midfield was under pressure all game, leading to the quality of ball entering their F50 being poor, but even then Pickett was caught out of position on a couple of occasions. In spite of his struggles Pickett still managed to slot a couple of majors and take two strong contested grabs which showed the qualities that we'll no doubt see more of as the season progresses.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Van Hattum will be the best of them IMO

He's likely to be the non club-tied no. 1 (#3) at this stage. Pretty exciting athlete for his size.
If McCartney commits to us, then perhaps the run and ball use of Butler, Mellody, Williams or Edwards is better suited.
But there's always some bolters that come into calculations.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2026/03/25/scouting-notes-2026-talent-league-round-1/

Two key defenders I'm keeping a close eye on.

Sandringham's
#16 Tyson Bradley
Key Defender | 195cm | 16/09/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles

Arguably the centrepiece of Sandringham’s rock solid defence, Bradley provided a cool head and sheer reliability across the last line. He was often the deepest-lying backman and acted as a general, but acted swiftly when his number was called. Bradley used his big frame to attack the loose ball and escape pressure, proving deceptively nimble when repelling danger. He otherwise took a no-nonsense approach to his defensive craft and was strong aerially.

Think he is taller than 195cm now heard he is closer to the 198cm mark. Has a defence first attitude is really good in the one on one's. Very natural defensive craft.

Gippsland's

#40 Xavier Ladbrook
Key Defender | 201cm | 16/10/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 10 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Any player over 200cm who can use the ball effectively is a talent, and Ladbrook – who could slot into any third on the ground – certainly showed that. He doesn’t panic under pressure or throw the ball on the boot as you would often see with some key defenders, and instead takes the extra split second to weigh up his options. To run at 100 per cent disposal efficiency while clunking 10 marks and still having a defensive role – not just a loose interceptor – is a credit, and while the likes of Malady and Templeton will receive plenty of deserved plaudits, Ladbrook was sensational in the back half.

Haven't seen a 200+cm prospect have such neat skills. On the skinny side at the moment, but he has those rangy, but quick closing speed defensive attributes that Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

29

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

and Josh Worrell have.

 

[Passmore]

He's likely to be the non club-tied no. 1 (#3) at this stage. Pretty exciting athlete for his size.
If McCartney commits to us, then perhaps the run and ball use of Butler, Mellody, Williams or Edwards is better suited.
But there's always some bolters that come into calculations.

Our form over the first 2 rounds suggests we may be a chance for this bloke.

 

[noobermensch]

Jackson Phillips impressed in round 1, displaying a number of traits that could well put him in the draft frame come the end of the year. Unlike some midfielders that rotate forward, Phillips looked dangerous inside the forward 50, connecting on a couple of nice hit up leads. In the midfield his stoppage craft looks solid, always on the move and able to time his run to hit the drop zone. He has the pace to burn off opponents, and his kicking skills look to be penetrating and accurate.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Our form over the first 2 rounds suggests we may be a chance for this bloke.

Yep. Especially if we lose to *.

 

[chubbspeterson]

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2026/03/25/scouting-notes-2026-talent-league-round-1/

Two key defenders I'm keeping a close eye on.

Sandringham's
#16 Tyson Bradley
Key Defender | 195cm | 16/09/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles

Arguably the centrepiece of Sandringham’s rock solid defence, Bradley provided a cool head and sheer reliability across the last line. He was often the deepest-lying backman and acted as a general, but acted swiftly when his number was called. Bradley used his big frame to attack the loose ball and escape pressure, proving deceptively nimble when repelling danger. He otherwise took a no-nonsense approach to his defensive craft and was strong aerially.

Think he is taller than 195cm now heard he is closer to the 198cm mark. Has a defence first attitude is really good in the one on one's. Very natural defensive craft.

Gippsland's

#40 Xavier Ladbrook
Key Defender | 201cm | 16/10/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 10 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Any player over 200cm who can use the ball effectively is a talent, and Ladbrook – who could slot into any third on the ground – certainly showed that. He doesn’t panic under pressure or throw the ball on the boot as you would often see with some key defenders, and instead takes the extra split second to weigh up his options. To run at 100 per cent disposal efficiency while clunking 10 marks and still having a defensive role – not just a loose interceptor – is a credit, and while the likes of Malady and Templeton will receive plenty of deserved plaudits, Ladbrook was sensational in the back half.

Haven't seen a 200+cm prospect have such neat skills. On the skinny side at the moment, but he has those rangy, but quick closing speed defensive attributes that Harris Andrews and Josh Worrell have.

I'll have to watch more of Bradley, but he's one to track.
Ladbrook has very neat skills, very skinny, not sure how aggressive he is in the contest.

 

[King Hansen]

Just imagine that we would’ve had this at our disposal during our rebuild.

2020 - extra first round pick for JUH bid
2021 - we likely bid on Daicos or Darcy and net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.
2022 - extra pick for Will Ashcroft bid
2023 - extra pick for Jed Walter bid
2024 - we likely bid on Levi Ashcroft and we net ourselves an extra end of first round pick.

Just our luck again that something like this comes in when we have been shafted time and time again by academy selections and F/S.

**** me.

We wouldn't have got the 3 end of first round priority picks if this was the case. Plus the other minor concessions. So we only really lost say 1 pick in the 20s.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I'll have to watch more of Bradley, but he's one to track.
Ladbrook has very neat skills, very skinny, not sure how aggressive he is in the contest.

definitely not the most physical at this early stage, but I haven't seen anything to suggest he is soft.

Very raw physically, but from what I've been told both he and Bradley tested really well in pre -season testing so the two of them have a good athletic base to build from.

 

[giantroo]

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Bloody hell that sucks.

Feel like it’s much more of a risk to take a tall who has done an ACL compared to smaller player.