List Mgmt. 2026 Young Talent Time

[GingerDocker]

Fair enough, just smelled a bit fishy to me.

 

[noobermensch]

Freo NGA Lucas Robinson has long been considered as one of the best of the WA crop for 2026, bolstered by his elite performances at the U16 champs. His performance as a bottom ager in the Colts grand final demonstrated what he brings. A huge and powerful frame for a mid, along with the ability to impact aerially around the ground. There are concerns around his athletic profile, which may see him start to slide down the draft rankings a little under the intense top age spotlight.

 

[Taylor]

There are concerns around his athletic profile, which may see him start to slide down the draft rankings a little under the intense top age spotlight.

This also impacts his ability to be accountable at stoppages, which is a massive issue. The age of big mids who win the ball but are right out of the game if they don't is closing. There was a lot of that in the Colts GF.

 

[noobermensch]

This also impacts his ability to be accountable at stoppages, which is a massive issue. The age of big mids who win the ball but are right out of the game if they don't is closing. There was a lot of that in the Colts GF.

Agreed. I was going to add this to my video spiel but it felt a little mean:

He was matched up a lot on Charlie Banfield at stoppage, and Banfield ran riot all game, running off Robinson consistently and causing major damage. Definitely something to keep an eye on in 2026. You can be forgiven for that in one or two games but it can't become a regular issue.

 

[King Huskii]

Agreed. I was going to add this to my video spiel but it felt a little mean:

He was matched up a lot on Charlie Banfield at stoppage, and Banfield ran riot all game, running off Robinson consistently and causing major damage. Definitely something to keep an eye on in 2026. You can be forgiven for that in one or two games but it can't become a regular issue.

So he won't be any good the then. Why does GC get all the elite nga players

 

[pK75]

So he won't be any good the then. Why does GC get all the elite nga players

Because they don’t have the same restrictions our nga has, it’s a northern academy with different rules

 

[King Huskii]

Because they don’t have the same restrictions our nga has, it’s a northern academy with different rules

Anyone who lives an the entire state

 

[rgauci]

So he won't be any good the then. Why does GC get all the elite nga players

They also employ parents of elite kids moving them into their zone. Their academy runs junior footy in their area, equivalent to our Aus-kick and WAFL pathways. So they have dozens of employees managing regions.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Anyone who lives an the entire state

They also get northern NSW. My 13yo nephew lives between Byron Bay and Ballina and he’s in their junior development academy.

 

[King Huskii]

They also get northern NSW. My 13yo nephew lives between Byron Bay and Ballina and he’s in their junior development academy.

They get gifted don't they

 

[CaseySibosadoHOF]

Fwiw, in preseason testing Finlay Yeo (1 of our non-Lucas Robinson notable NGAs along with Josh Nathan) set a new AFL agility test record, running it at 7.642 seconds.

TOP 5s | 2026 West Australian Boys Preseason Testing

A Fremantle NGA prospect broke new ground in the agility test as Western Australia's speedsters showed out at the recent preseason combine.

central.rookieme.com

 

[thistimeforsure]

Fwiw, in preseason testing Finlay Yeo (1 of our non-Lucas Robinson notable NGAs along with Josh Nathan) set a new AFL agility test record, running it at 7.642 seconds.

TOP 5s | 2026 West Australian Boys Preseason Testing

A Fremantle NGA prospect broke new ground in the agility test as Western Australia's speedsters showed out at the recent preseason combine.

central.rookieme.com

Any relation to Elliot ?

 

[Taylor]

Fortunately, at 172cm he won't attract a heap of attention short of being Nick Watson levels of magical in the forward fifty. 172cm has him roughly the equal middle point between Dudely and Bolton.

 

[Wizard]

Any word on how Robinson is tracking? I know he played league two weekends ago.

 

[Purple Suit]

Fortunately, at 172cm he won't attract a heap of attention short of being Nick Watson levels of magical in the forward fifty. 172cm has him roughly the equal middle point between Dudely and Bolton.

He might not have finished growing yet although obviously not going to be a monster.

 

[serial_thrilla]

 

[King Huskii]

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poor gold coast hey

 

[DocT]

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I like that system, a huge improvement on the current one.
But an end of first round pick is too generous for slipping out of the Top 5. On DVI your looking at slipping pick 4/5 to pick 6/7 as a loss of 100-300 points and being given a pick 20-23 c650-750 points compensation.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

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Only one I dont like is the stupid extra end of first round picks for clubs who slide, rest of it reads like most of the issues will finally be addressed

 

[Purple Suit]

Only one I dont like is the stupid extra end of first round picks for clubs who slide, rest of it reads like most of the issues will finally be addressed

Yep,
It will encourage tanking and I assume it won’t be long till a good team ends up with a F1 that’s 5th in the draft order and they get an extra 2nd rounder.

Another scenario is that a decent team implode for 1 year only like Melbourne or Pies did and get a bonus to finish off their build.

 

[Taylor]

Only one I dont like is the stupid extra end of first round picks for clubs who slide, rest of it reads like most of the issues will finally be addressed

I don't think that team should be winning an end of first round pick by bidding on an academy/FS player so it pushes back their own selection - but the rest around them getting one I'm content with.

I'd prefer that the second round picks are just frozen in their number though, becoming first round picks as the compensation selections slot in.

 

[mattis117]

You have to view the late first round pick for how it affects the psychology of club drafting. It is there to incentivise really early bids on academy and father son picks.

Said another way, it is a method for low clubs to screw over top clubs for their own benefit. If this system was in place this year, West Coast bids on Uwland at Pick 1, forcing Gold Coast to overpay, same for Brisbane on Annable. in this situation, you might see a club bid on a player that's rated Pick 3 with pick 1 for example.
Huge cost for the purchasing club, free pick for the bottom of the ladder club.

Currently, there is insufficient benefit for a club to bid early for academy picks, especially at Pick 1.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

You have to view the late first round pick for how it affects the psychology of club drafting. It is there to incentivise really early bids on academy and father son picks.

Said another way, it is a method for low clubs to screw over top clubs for their own benefit. If this system was in place this year, West Coast bids on Uwland at Pick 1, forcing Gold Coast to overpay, same for Brisbane on Annable. in this situation, you might see a club bid on a player that's rated Pick 3 with pick 1 for example.
Huge cost for the purchasing club, free pick for the bottom of the ladder club.

Currently, there is insufficient benefit for a club to bid early for academy picks, especially at Pick 1.

Clubs would want to be pretty damn careful doing those bids ahead of their rating with how expensive (ie fair) the matching will be now

 

[mattis117]

Clubs would want to be pretty damn careful doing those bids ahead of their rating with how expensive (ie fair) the matching will be now

Yes but that reinforces that a club should only bid if they would be happy to receive that player.

 

[Lach72]

Cochrane and Walker met be valued the same. Would you bid on either to get an extra first? **** yes