Preview 2026 National Draft Thread

[chubbspeterson]

I think I'm mostly excited to see how Heath Mellody, Gabe Patterson, Lewis Houndsome, Tate Hodgson, Kale Matthews-Hampton, Xavier Ladbrook, Jack Gordon and Harrison Chapman go in this game.
I reckon they are all a bit underrated, so keen to see who impresses.

 

[Passmore]

Man there are some kids who were stiff to not make that squad.

I'd argue that outside of Walker, Archie Van Dyk is the purest midfielder in this draft class.

Lucas Robinson very stiff as well considering he just had a BOG in his first WAFL senior game.

Marlon Neoculeous probably deserves to be in there too.

Marlon Neoculeous sounds like he should be in some Norwegian black metal band.

 

[#BallMagnet]

Man there are some kids who were stiff to not make that squad.

I'd argue that outside of Walker, Archie Van Dyk is the purest midfielder in this draft class.

Lucas Robinson very stiff as well considering he just had a BOG in his first WAFL senior game.

Marlon Neoculeous probably deserves to be in there too.

Van Dyk currently injured but definitely could have been in the initial squad.
Yet to suit up this season.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Man there are some kids who were stiff to not make that squad.

I'd argue that outside of Walker, Archie Van Dyk is the purest midfielder in this draft class.

Lucas Robinson very stiff as well considering he just had a BOG in his first WAFL senior game.

Marlon Neoculeous probably deserves to be in there too.

Spawton-Guy another going under the radar.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Tipping they will line up like this:

B: Garrison Kenh, Xavier Ladbrook, Archie Hill
HB: Jack Gordon, Kale Matthews-Hampton, Tate Hodgson
C: Heath Mellody, Tanner Armstrong, Harrison Chapman
HF: Arki Butler, Lewis Houndsome, Gabriel Patterson
F: Will Malady, Harry Van Hattam, Koby LeCras
Foll: Benji Van Rooyen, Cody Walker, Kodah Edwards
Int: Noah Williams, Caylen Murray, Sonny Smiler, Ethan Matthews, Ethan Herbert.

Unavailable: Dougie Cochrane, Aidan McCartney, Jack Pickett, Darcy Szersyn.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I think I'm mostly excited to see how Heath Mellody, Gabe Patterson, Lewis Houndsome, Tate Hodgson, Kale Matthews-Hampton, Xavier Ladbrook, Jack Gordon and Harrison Chapman go in this game.
I reckon they are all a bit underrated, so keen to see who impresses.

Ladbrook, Chapman and Hodgson big watches for mine. All three would suit our list build perfectly.

Ladbrook as raw as they come, but a 200+cm with good skills would be ideal for us.

Hodgson a 3rd tall intercepting type.

Chapman a freakish tall outside runner in that Weddle type mould.

I'm really curious to see how this draft class comes along, at this stage it doesn't seem like there are any out and out gun midfielders (outside of Walker), but it looks really solid for role playing types.

 

[Harris 10]

Tipping they will line up like this:

B: Garrison Kenh, Xavier Ladbrook, Archie Hill
HB: Jack Gordon, Kale Matthews-Hampton, Tate Hodgson
C: Heath Mellody, Tanner Armstrong, Harrison Chapman
HF: Arki Butler, Lewis Houndsome, Gabriel Patterson
F: Will Malady, Harry Van Hattam, Koby LeCras
Foll: Benji Van Rooyen, Cody Walker, Kodah Edwards
Int: Noah Williams, Caylen Murray, Sonny Smiler, Ethan Matthews, Ethan Herbert.

Unavailable: Dougie Cochrane, Aidan McCartney, Jack Pickett, Darcy Szersyn.

Is Hicks stiff?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Is Hicks stiff?

He would've been close mate.

 

[Harris 10]

Not sure if this has been posted:

#2 Sam Harris (North Melbourne F/S)
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 17/01/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 9 marks, 4 inside 50s

One of a host of father-son prospects in action across both sides in the clash, Harris started on-ball each quarter and then rested forward at times. He had a few near misses – including a poster – on goal to finish with three behinds, but it was his work rate across the ground that stood out. Often winning the ball in contested situations, Harris showed strength through the core to still get the handball away, while also working into space to take nine marks throughout the course of the day.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Ladbrook, Chapman and Hodgson big watches for mine. All three would suit our list build perfectly.

Ladbrook as raw as they come, but a 200+cm with good skills would be ideal for us.

Hodgson a 3rd tall intercepting type.

Chapman a freakish tall outside runner in that Weddle type mould.

I'm really curious to see how this draft class comes along, at this stage it doesn't seem like there are any out and out gun midfielders (outside of Walker), but it looks really solid for role playing types.

Agree. If we could walk away with a kpp either end, medium defender and a wing, then that would be unreal.
I think Harris and Devine give enough midfield depth. Devine can play half back too.
I didn't think about Herbert as a key back which Twomey raised. Looks like he could play anywhere.
I guess it depends what types, if any, we add during trade week. But some young depth in those positions wouldn't hurt.
But based on last trade period defenders and running power seemed high on our list of priorities.

 

[zoomba23]

Marlon Neoculeous sounds like he should be in some Norwegian black metal band.

I was thinking the Nobel Prize for chemistry

 

[Passmore]

I was thinking the Nobel Prize for chemistry

Why not both?

 

[JGreezy]

Who are good play style comparisons for Aidan McCartney and Sam Harris?

Not necessarily that they'll be as good, but who they play a similar brand/style as.

 

[r00boy96]

Kodah Edwards would be a good fit to replace the half forward/mid role Tom Powell is trying to do.

 

[giantroo]

Young draft talent shines in Academy loss to VFL Roos - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1496784

 

[giantroo]

Harris vs Sandy

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Like Kodah Edwards, his attack on the player and ball is manic, Wardlaw-lite.

Thought Hodgson had some good moments behind the ball too. Don’t think he ends up being a genuine key defender though more a 3rd tall type in that Jordan Ridley

14

Jordan Ridley

Age

27

Ht

195cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

4.5

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.7

4star

MG

244.8

4star

D

17.0

4star

K

11.9

5star

HB

5.1

3star

M

6.7

5star

T

1.7

3star

MG

265.4

4star

D

13.8

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

4.2

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.4

4star

MG

208.2

4star

mould.

Some big questions marks on Arki Butler for mine. Not as classy with his ball use as I thought he was. His best work forward of centre is DeGoey like but he could also end up as Jack Billing’s type. Bit of a void between his best and worst.

Don’t think this draft is going to be stacked with top tier talent, but there will be plenty of role players drafted imo.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Harris vs Sandy

View attachment 2580385

He has been in the bests every game so far for the Cannons.

Doubt that side will be much chop this year though. Likely bottom 4 considering how many underagers (7/8) they’ve been playing each week

 

[Friday Night Lights]

Harry Van Hattum = The Some Mothers Do

 

[Lomas]

Harry Van Hattum = The Some Mothers Do

= Mad as a

 

[SWMD]

roos_fanatic08

who's the closest thing to Lachie Ash we can take with our first?

 

[Shermanator]

roos_fanatic08

who's the closest thing to Lachie Ash we can take with our first?

Lachie Ash.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

roos_fanatic08

who's the closest thing to Lachie Ash we can take with our first?

To be honest I haven’t really noticed any real stand out half backs with genuine line breaking speed in this draft class.

Harrison Chapman is probably one that could go back there and have an impact. He is quick and really glides across the field in that Lachie Whitfield sort of style, but he has more been playing as a wingman.

Kai Parker is another who likes to provide run and carry, but again he is on the taller/leaner side. Been a bit inconsistent to start the year off too.

Billy Wigmore from the jets played that distributor role last year but for whatever reason the jets have thrown him more forward this year. He is impacted the scoreboard but I think hens be better served in the backline.

Ethan Drever from Ballarat/Rebels has some real drive and power in his game, would be suited to half back, but he is currently one of the most consistent mids in the talent league so I’m tipping he’ll stay in the midfield.

Don’t know enough about the SA or WA pool for the time being, but I’m hoping to watch some games from those leagues in the next few weeks

 

[noobermensch]

Gus Teixeira was back for his first game of the season and looks to have shifted into a mid/fwd role this year, part of a deep and talented Dragons team that looks to be shaping as a strong contender yet again. He was very good here in tricky conditions, his clean hands and skills especially impressive after the rain started belting down in the second quarter. Teixeira shapes as a well rounded prospect, strong overhead, works hard defensively, solid skills with the ball and capable of hitting the scoreboard.

 

[giantroo]