Preview 2026 National Draft Thread

[LB2Snake]

Think that will be the tussle. 2026 vs 2027 picks and/or a player, but he's out of contract.
Is he worth pick 7 (even if it ends up 9 with bids)?
Flanders was contracted and was pick 8 (became 12 or something), so 7 seems a bit high.

I don’t think so, but if he continues his form this year he possibly is. Maybe with their 2nd coming back our way

 

[Harris 10]

Darcy Wilson will cost us our first round this year if he chooses us.

 

[Harris 10]

roos_fanatic08 what can you tell me about bottom age player Jake Miller from the Jets?

 

[chubbspeterson]

I don’t think so, but if he continues his form this year he possibly is. Maybe with their 2nd coming back our way

Problem is they don't have a R2 this year. Maybe something in 2028 if we've got a fair few NGA kids then.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Darcy Wilson will cost us our first round this year if he chooses us.

I'd hope there's something coming back given he's uncontracted.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

roos_fanatic08 what can you tell me about bottom age player Jake Miller from the Jets?

He is a gun mate. Reckon he’ll end up being number 1 next year. His forward craft, timing, leading patterns for a kid his age is off the charts.

Said this about him earlier this year after the Jets/Cannons game…

Going very very early on this one. But Western Jets CHF Jake Miller has all the hall marks of a future champion key forward. Kid is only 16 but he ended up with 21 disposals, kicked 3.2 and had 11 marks. Felt like he was involved in every goal scoring chain. Carey-like impact.

Genuinely think he is one of the best/most natural CHF’s I’ve seen come through juniors in a long long time. This far out and you can already see superstar traits. He has vice like hands, swagger, physicality and genuine forward craft.

 

[Harris 10]

He is a gun mate. Reckon he’ll end up being number 1 next year. His forward craft, timing, leading patterns for a kid his age is off the charts.

Said this about him earlier this year after the Jets/Cannons game…

Been told Tas have already been in discussions with him and have pretty much committed to him.

Unsure of the concessions, but can they list him as a 17 year old?

 

[Fart Cummings]

He is a gun mate. Reckon he’ll end up being number 1 next year. His forward craft, timing, leading patterns for a kid his age is off the charts.

Said this about him earlier this year after the Jets/Cannons game…

And I assume his tired to some team through a distant relative

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Been told Tas have already been in discussions with him and have pretty much committed to him.

Unsure of the concessions, but can they list him as a 17 year old?

And I assume his tired to some team through a distant relative

He’ll be pre-listed to Tassie I assume.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Harris 10]

roos_fanatic08 chubbspeterson Souup Are these the boys that are part of our NGA academy?

 

[chubbspeterson]

roos_fanatic08 chubbspeterson Souup Are these the boys that are part of our NGA academy?

View attachment 2620930

Well based on this article Luol is.

'I take the game on': the Academy prospect following in Majak Daw's footsteps

North Melbourne Academy prospect Lual Deng is starting to earn attention for his goalkicking, but he'd like to develop his game in a slightly different direction

www.nmfc.com.au

Looks like Diing is as well according to this.

https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/afl-next-generation-academy/2024/u15-boys-nga-games/4d6d86db/statistics

Tasimba Marsden as well listed on there.

 

[FlyHigh18]

so who's available for us at pick 18?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

roos_fanatic08 chubbspeterson Souup Are these the boys that are part of our NGA academy?

View attachment 2620930

Diing Mayen played in our North Academy under 15’s game last year so safe to assume he is in our academy. Previously played for Werribee Centrals which is also in our NGA zone.

Both boys are in the Western Jets Brad Johnson under 16’s squad.

Little write ups on them from the trial games from earlier in the year

Scouting Notes: 2026 Victorian Under 16 Trials

VIC METRO came up trumps in both games as the 2026 Victorian Under 16 trials were held at Preston City Oval on Friday. A few famous names featured across both Metro squads as intermittent rain hit PCO. It didn’t stop Metro from saluting by 34 and 10 points respectively. We took note of some of […]

central.rookieme.com

10 Lual Deng (Western Jets)
Defender | 184cm | 08/05/2010

Deng was among the coolest customers afield on Friday, showing a high level of composure in defence. While almost casual in his approach, he intercepted effortlessly with several clean overhead marks before looking to attack on the rebound. Deng’s spring in the air was matched by good speed to get to each contest, while proving he could change gears with ball in hand. Just about everything he did came with a touch of polish and class as a mainstay down back.

18 Diing Mayen (Western Jets)
Wing/Defender | 189cm | 04/08/2010

Having started out on the wing, Mayen well and truly came into his own with a second half switch to defence. There, he found more opportunities to showcase his speed in transition, hitting top gear more often and breaking the lines with confidence. Mayen’s power running helped Metro move from end-to-end, as he recovered the ball before driving it forward in eye-catching spurts.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Another player for the jets 16’s squad who is eligible for our NGA is Nedim Kulafovski who played in our under 15’s academy side early last year.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Another player for the jets 16’s squad who is eligible for our NGA is Nedim Kulafovski who played in our under 15’s academy side early last year.

So would they be 2028 or 2029 draft? Maybe we'll only take 3 picks this year with these future kids in mind.