Preview 2026 National Draft Thread

[Makeshift Park]

Every club's new NGA zone confirmed after AFL review

Tasmania's impending entry into the AFL has forced a re-jig of NGA zones

www.afl.com.au

 

[giantroo]

Tasmania, however, will have access to Tasmanian talents from 2027, with North Melbourne retaining access to players in the state through to the end of 2026

 

[giantroo]

 

[chubbspeterson]

Tasmania, however, will have access to Tasmanian talents from 2027, with North Melbourne retaining access to players in the state through to the end of 2026

So we'd have access to Archie Devine as an NGA then?

 

[iloveireland]

Can’t quite wrap my head around Sam Harris not being included on that list. He was one of the most consistent under agers in the Coates League this year.

Ssshhhh we can do a Trembath. No one talk about him.

 

[The Talent Scout]

Nic Newman. Ryhse Shaw had convinced north to take him but that fell through when we got pittard

Heaps of fun was correct, Mr Shaw was also correct, good player who got better in the latter stages of his footy career, consistency I guess was the key and then injuries came calling. I didn't rate Jasper, he had one good year with port and Jarod, well he at least had some really good games when he wasn't injured and then of course came

"The confrontation with the coach" factor towards the end of his career, that still hurt in 2018 giving pick 11 and a future fourth rounder while getting those two and pick 48 which was important in getting Tarryn Thomas. I know its not important anymore but with pick 11 we could have got;

Here are some players and what pick they actually went.
1/ Zac Butters pick 12
2/ Jordan Clark pick 15
3/ Xavier Duursma pick 18
4/ Bobby Hill pick 24

I'm aware tho we did that trade because of getting a call on Tarryn in the first 10 picks of the draft but I'm sure something could have been worked out, a future first pick in 2019, around that pick range was;
1/ Kozzy Pickett pick 12
2/ Will Day pick 13
3/ Mitch Georgiades pick 18
4/ Sam De Koning pick 19

 

[chubbspeterson]

Finally got around to watching the Futures game. Some impressive and interesting types next year.
I would say rebounding half back, key forward, speed/endurance through the middle/wing/hbf and medium defender depth would be the most urgent things we'd be looking to add.
I think it would be a no-brainer for us to bid on the half backs tied to other clubs like Archie Hill (Suns), Caylen Murray (Lions) and Garrison Kneh (WCE NGA). Similarly, you'd think we bid on McCartney if he chooses Swans.
I believe defender Tate Hodgson didn't play. I put in bold players not tied to other clubs I liked the look of.

Defenders

Kale Matthews-Hampton - 187cm or 198cm def?, athletic, rebound D50, good disposal
Darcy Szerszyn - 188cm defender, lockdown, intercept and rebound, good skills
Ethan Matthews (GWS Academy) - 185cm defender/wing, got some class, efficient ball user
Caylen Murray (Lions Academy) - 183cm def/hbf, good athlete, intercept, rebound, class
Archie Hill (Suns Academy) - 182cm defender/mid, Rebounding defender, Speed, Good ball user (85% DE)
Garrison Kenh (WCE NGA) - Speed and power as a rebounding half back
Heath Mellody - 181cm wing/def, agile, intercept, rebound off half back, dual-sided, used it well
Jack Gordon - 184cm def/mid, agile, accumulates, runs hard, clean hands, used it well
Xavier Ladbrook - 200cm def/fwd/ruck, athletic, covers ground well, potential unicorn but little impact
Dougie Cochrane (Port NGA) - 194cm def/fwd/mid, raw talent with athleticism, speed & power, limited touches

 

[chubbspeterson]

Some interesting key forwards in next years bunch. It would be nice if we could get one of the 190-193cm forwards like Aidan/Wil/Jack and 199cm plus Lewis/Harry/Harvey. Aidan/Wil/Jack look the more promising so far.
I like the look of Houndsome as he's a really solid size and got a bit of speed when chasing.

Key Forwards/Rucks

Wil Malady - 190cm fwd. Looks athletic. Good overhead. Kicked 5 goals, one from boundary.
Aidan McCartney - 191cm kpf, athletic, marking, speed on the chase, kicked a few goals
Jack Pickett - 193cm deep lead up forward, low possession, big goal kicker, athleticism?
Harry Van Hattum - 204cm ruck/fwd. Athletic, mobile, good overhead, went forward and kicked a goal
Lewis Houndsome - 199cm fwd/ruck, quick, big frame, defensive pressure, nice leap and mark
Harvey Spawton-Guy - 194cm fwd/ruck, nice mark and goal, looks mobile, showed some glimpses
Benji Van Rooyen - Traditional ruck, mobile, marking, thin frame, impressive year for WA as a 17 yo
Ethan Herbert - 200cm traditional ruck, ruck craft, agile/mobile, clean hands, marking

Medium/Small Forwards

Koby Lecras - 191cm lead up fwd workhorse, Good overhead, bit of a lumbering type, not overly athletic
Arki Butler - 180cm fwd/mid, low disposal, speed and run, clean, bit of class, goal kicker
Marlon Neocleous - 168cm fwd/mid, Watson traits with speed, crumbing, good ball use
Gabriel Patterson - 182cm forward, explosive speed, good vision, pounces on ground balls, eye for goal
Cody Templeton - 179cm fwd/mid, raw, x-factor, speed, good overhead, cracks in, good 2nd half
Kodah Edwards - 183cm fwd/mid, x-factor, good overhead, goal kicker, tackles hard, groundballs

 

[chubbspeterson]

Midfielders/Wings (Some showed they could play across half back as well)

Cody Walker (Blues F/S, Tigers NGA) - Classy, smooth mover, good overhead, definitely no. 1 pick contention.
Noah Williams - 176cm wing, speed, running power, class, good ball user, tenacious
Archie Van Dyk - 188cm mid, clearances, good size and frame, penetrating kick
Blake Justice (* NGA) - 190cm mid, agile, good decision maker. Mitch Owens doppelganger. Low touches.
Matthew Owen (Lions) - 179cm inside-out mid, accumulator, clean hands, good ball user
Cooper Hodge (Hawks/Lions) - 182cm mid, strong body, good runner, goaled up forward
Harrison Chapman - 189cm wing/def, running power, clean hands, efficient user (100% DE)
Jordan Knapp - 178cm mid, strong workrate and runner, solid ball user but sprayed a set shot badly
Angus White - 185cm mid/fwd, strong, workrate, speed?, dual-footed, good decisions, goal kicker

 

[LB2Snake]

Cal on Aidan McCartney

View attachment 2485858

Swans will ramp up the privileges this year and polish him up like they did with Blakey. Won’t choose us. Stays home with mum and dad too.

 

[The Talent Scout]

Swans will ramp up the privileges this year and polish him up like they did with Blakey. Won’t choose us. Stays home with mum and dad too.

They can treat him like a prince, but there's a little problem, as well as an old saying, "The heart never lies"

 

[The Nostradamus]

Midfielders/Wings (Some showed they could play across half back as well)

We have Archie Devine lined up for this exact position

Him, Harris and a KPF (McCartney or houndsome/van hattum) need to be what we come away with this draft

 

[ToxicMegaPunts]

Archie Devine = The Intervention

Marlon Neocleous = The Mono

 

[kool kangas]

View attachment 2485942

Bradys going to love this. We have axcess to players between 176cm to 180cm tall..

 

[LB2Snake]

Finally got around to watching the Futures game. Some impressive and interesting types next year.
I would say rebounding half back, key forward, speed/endurance through the middle/wing/hbf and medium defender depth would be the most urgent things we'd be looking to add.
I think it would be a no-brainer for us to bid on the half backs tied to other clubs like Archie Hill (Suns), Caylen Murray (Lions) and Garrison Kneh (WCE NGA). Similarly, you'd think we bid on McCartney if he chooses Swans.
I believe defender Tate Hodgson didn't play. I put in bold players not tied to other clubs I liked the look of.

Defenders

Kale Matthews-Hampton - 187cm or 198cm def?, athletic, rebound D50, good disposal
Darcy Szerszyn - 188cm defender, lockdown, intercept and rebound, good skills
Ethan Matthews (GWS Academy) - 185cm defender/wing, got some class, efficient ball user
Caylen Murray (Lions Academy) - 183cm def/hbf, good athlete, intercept, rebound, class
Archie Hill (Suns Academy) - 182cm defender/mid, Rebounding defender, Speed, Good ball user (85% DE)
Garrison Kenh (WCE NGA) - Speed and power as a rebounding half back
Heath Mellody - 181cm wing/def, agile, intercept, rebound off half back, dual-sided, used it well
Jack Gordon - 184cm def/mid, agile, accumulates, runs hard, clean hands, used it well
Xavier Ladbrook - 200cm def/fwd/ruck, athletic, covers ground well, potential unicorn but little impact
Dougie Cochrane (Port NGA) - 194cm def/fwd/mid, raw talent with athleticism, speed & power, limited touches

Cochrane is 194cm???

 

[LB2Snake]

They can treat him like a prince, but there's a little problem, as well as an old saying, "The heart never lies"

Mate I hope you are right, but the absolute joke that a former AFL player, who has played more than 100 games for that club, can have a son somehow tied to an academy of another club that is based interstate is absolutely farcical. That is benefitting one club and one club only. Ridiculous.

 

[chubbspeterson]

We have Archie Devine lined up for this exact position

Him, Harris and a KPF (McCartney or houndsome/van hattum) need to be what we come away with this draft

Sure that's great if Archie can play that role for us, but it may be a Tassie loan situation for a few years.
Neither Devine or Harris played in the futures game, so at this stage you'd think more later round pick territory.
I haven't seen enough of Archie to form an opinion on him, but read he uses the ball well and has played wing/hbf.
I don't know how athletic Harris (doesn't look quick) and Devine are at this stage either.
The recruiters and NGA coaches would have a better idea of how they stack up against those in the open pool.
A lot of the key forwards have shown promise. I'd say we're keen on McCartney first and foremost, but Pickett and Malady also very talented at a similar height.
Adding a 199cm kpf/ruck like Houndsome or Van Hattum wouldn't be a bad longer term replacement for CCJ to add as well, but might depend on how many picks we have. I suspect we want some more speed and/or elite runners.
Trade week will also play a bit of a part on what we target at the draft.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Cochrane is 194cm???

Seen him recently referred to as 196cm on AFL site, so key position height really with that athleticism.
Could play anywhere across the ground except ruck by the looks of it.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Swans will ramp up the privileges this year and polish him up like they did with Blakey. Won’t choose us. Stays home with mum and dad too.

It would suck from a talent and romance point of view, but if he doesn't want to play for us, can't do much about it.
Nobody wants to see Cooper Hodge play for the Lions either, but it's a real possibility I reckon.
There's a bunch of key forwards we can look at and we'd have flexibility to split our R1 potentially for a couple of kids inside 20 if we don't have to match a bid on Aidan. But wait and see what happens I guess.

 

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Ah yes the kid who has played AFL since he was 8 years old and who’s Dad has been involved in the AFL for the past 20 years in some capacity, would’ve been lost to another code if it wasn’t for Port Academy really nurturing his talent…

 

[XU1-ROO]

Ah yes the kid who has played AFL since he was 8 years old and who’s Dad has been involved in the AFL for the past 20 years in some capacity, would’ve been lost to another code if it wasn’t for Port Academy really nurturing his talent…

Not sure why they call it a draft anymore. Way too over compromised

 

[The Dingrel]

Can’t quite wrap my head around Sam Harris not being included on that list. He was one of the most consistent under agers in the Coates League this year.


Laughable. He has been playing footy every year since 8 years old. He was never going to be lost to the system.

not only that it was his old man that was actively petitioning the AFL to allow his 3 sons to be admitted to the Port academy.