Phantom Draft Davo-27's 2026 Draft Thread

[#BallMagnet]

Steed.*




Has moved to Victoria and playing for the Knights.

Moir not even playing footy.

Playing NBL1 Basketball with Sth Adelaide

 

[Davo-27]

Moir not even playing footy.

Playing NBL1 Basketball with Sth Adelaide

thats a shame, he looked talented in the u16s champs

Lucas Robinson got 28 disposals for South Freo in the WAFL on debut, not a bad effort

 

[briztoon]

An early top 50 prospects i like for 2026 draft, not in order, but i have a top 5

1. Cody Walker - Bend (inj to Doug Cochrane puts him at 1)
2. Doug Cochrane - Cent D (clear best 2 players)
3. Arki Butler - Sand
4. Harry Van Hattum - North
5. Heath Mellody - Clare

VM
Lewis Houndsome
Max Downes
Lachlan Hicks
Jack Surkitt
Jack Poustie
Jordan Knapp
Hunter Ryan
Albert MacGowan
Blake Justice
Harrison Chapman
Seb Marsic
Khaled El Souki
Tate Hodgson

VC
Noah Williams
Marlon Neocleous
Xavier Ladbrook
Wil Malady
Jack Pickett
Darcy Szerszyn
Cody Templeton
Ethan Drever
Jackson Phillips
Marcus Prasad
Tanner Armstrong

SA
Archie Van Dyk
Ethan Herbert
Kodah Edwards
Cain Florance
Koby Moir
Jermaine Miller
Jack Gordon
Gabriel Patterson

WA
Garrison Kenh
Lucas Robinson
Koby LeCras
Leo Steed
Jai Debono
Kye Ormerod
Benji Van Rooyen

Allies
Guy Jenkin
Archie Hill
Matthew Owen
Caylen Murray
Aidan McCartney
Cooper Hodge

If Hodge's name was Smith, I doubt he would be on any draft watchers list. It's Owen and Murray, then daylight from our U18's. However Isaac Waller and Harrison Bridge have returned as over agers to our academy, and are a clear 3rd and 4th.

 

[Davo-27]

If Hodge's name was Smith, I doubt he would be on any draft watchers list. It's Owen and Murray, then daylight from our U18's. However Isaac Waller and Harrison Bridge have returned as over agers to our academy, and are a clear 3rd and 4th.

im not rating him off his name, im rating him off how he plays, he plays with aggression and has pace, 2 traits i like in a player...his kicking is OK, not terrible but not great like his fathers which is why he isnt higher, he is a competitor another good trait, he has potential, he is not a guarantee on traits to make it in the AFL so outside the top 30, he goes for marks bravely, he reminds me of the traits Jarman Impey plays with at the hawks who i like, so i like Cooper Hodge, im not a fan of Harrison Bridge never have been and Waller is OK but still a young ruck...

 

[Davo-27]

Harvie Cooke for Northern Knights has caught my attention playing good footy for one of the better teams in the Coates League this season, nuggety little mid, with a nice marking ability and nice kicking action.

 

[briztoon]

im not rating him off his name, im rating him off how he plays, he plays with aggression and has pace, 2 traits i like in a player...his kicking is OK, not terrible but not great like his fathers which is why he isnt higher, he is a competitor another good trait, he has potential, he is not a guarantee on traits to make it in the AFL so outside the top 30, he goes for marks bravely, he reminds me of the traits Jarman Impey plays with at the hawks who i like, so i like Cooper Hodge, im not a fan of Harrison Bridge never have been and Waller is OK but still a young ruck...

I respect that this is your opinion.

I wasn't high on Waller last year. But he really went to work on his body and game over the offseason, and was the starting ruck for the Lions B team during preseason, with most of our other rucks out injured. He was playing against Fort, and was giving him a bath at centre ball ups, leaping significantly over Fort, and showing an aggression I hadn't seen before. He's added a fair bit of lean muscle to his frame as well.

As for Hodge's kicking, it really is his big weakness, as the majority of time he just throws it on his boot and hoofs it as far as he can, even when he has time to assess and pick out a team mate.

 

[botts]

When does APS footy start? Or has it already started

 

[Jen2310]

When does APS footy start? Or has it already started

April 24

 

[Davo-27]

Jacob McNichol from Glenlg is getting big numbers, he moves well, left foot, doesnt seem to have a right peg, can sky a few kicks, but overall use is good, good lead in the forward half, goal kicker, one to watch for the season.

 

[Davo-27]

I will do an eatly top 40 prediction, its prior to the u18s champs, so its going to be a little speculative, but i really like these prospects, i might have missed a few, Jai Debono, Benji Van Rooyen and Cooper Hodge unlucky not to be included...

2026 Top 40 Early Prediction, prior to u18s champs.

1. Dougie Cochrane 195cm Cent Dist KPD
2. Cody Walker 184cm Bend Mid
...................................... Elite
3. Harry Van Hattum 205cm North Ruck
4. Arki Butler 182cm Sand Sml Forw/Mid
5. Kodah Edwards 183cm Sth Adel Mid
6. Jack Pickett 194cm Geel KPF
7. Ethan Herbert 200cm Nth Adel Ruck
8. Heath Mellody 184cm Clare Wing/Mid
9. Gabriel Patterson 184cm Glenlg Sml Forw
10. Jackson Phillips 182cm Dand Mid
11. Noah Williams 174cm Geel Mid/Forw
12. Marcus Prasad 167cm Dand Mid
13. Wil Malady 190cm Gipps Med Forw
14. Xavier Ladbrook 201cm Gipps KPD
15. Caylen Murray 183cm Bris Mid
16. Ethan Drever 188cm GWV Mid
17. Matthew Owen 179cm Bris Mid
18. Koby LeCras 192cm West Perth Med Forw
19. Marlon Neocleous 168cm Gipps Sml Forw/Mid
20. Seb Marsic 194cm Oak KPF
21. Albert MacGowan 187cm Sand Mid
22. Lachlan Hicks 183cm West Mid
23. Lucas Robinson 191cm Sth Frem Mid/hbf
24. Leo Steed 174cm Swan D Wing/Mid
25. Garrison Kenh 182cm Def/hbf East Perth
26. Guy Jenkin 177cm Syd A Wing
27. Darcy Szerszyn 188cm Dand Med Def
28. Jordan Knapp 179cm East Mid
29. Archie Van Dyk 185cm Sth Adel Mid
................................... 1st rounders
30. Lewis Houndsome 198cm North KPF/Ruck
31. Khaled El-Souki 175cm West Sml Forw
32. Max Downes 182cm North Mid
33. Cain Florance 176cm Sth Adel Mid
34. Archie Hill 182cm GCS A Flanker
35. Tanner Armstrong 177cm Murr Mid
36. Cody Templeton 180cm Gipps Mid
37. Harvie Cooke 176cm North Mid
38. Jermaine Miller 171cm North (SA) Sml Forw
39. Aidan McCartney 192cm Syd A KPF
40. Jacob McNichol 177cm Glenlg Mid

 

[RedmanWasHere]

15. Archie Simpson

Is for 2027.

 

[HAWKS2016]

Bit toufh on khaled elaouki kicked 6 goals 2 behinds against the knights

 

[Donflicted]

I will do an eatly top 40 prediction, its prior to the u18s champs, so its going to be a little speculative, but i really like these prospects, i might have missed a few, Jai Debono, Benji Van Rooyen and Cooper Hodge unlucky not to be included...

2026 Top 40 Early Prediction, prior to u18s champs.

1. Dougie Cochrane 195cm Cent Dist KPD
2. Cody Walker 184cm Bend Mid
...................................... Elite
3. Harry Van Hattum 205cm North Ruck
4. Arki Butler 182cm Sand Sml Forw/Mid
5. Kodah Edwards 183cm Sth Adel Mid
6. Jack Pickett 194cm Geel KPF
7. Ethan Herbert 200cm Nth Adel Ruck
8. Heath Mellody 184cm Clare Wing/Mid
9. Gabriel Patterson 184cm Glenlg Sml Forw
10. Jackson Phillips 182cm Dand Mid
11. Noah Williams 174cm Geel Mid/Forw
12. Marcus Prasad 167cm Dand Mid
13. Wil Malady 190cm Gipps Med Forw
14. Xavier Ladbrook 201cm Gipps KPD
15. Caylen Murray 183cm Bris Mid
16. Ethan Drever 188cm GWV Mid
17. Matthew Owen 179cm Bris Mid
18. Koby LeCras 192cm West Perth Med Forw
19. Marlon Neocleous 168cm Gipps Sml Forw/Mid
20. Seb Marsic 194cm Oak KPF
21. Albert MacGowan 187cm Sand Mid
22. Lachlan Hicks 183cm West Mid
23. Lucas Robinson 191cm Sth Frem Mid/hbf
24. Leo Steed 174cm Swan D Wing/Mid
25. Garrison Kenh 182cm Def/hbf East Perth
26. Guy Jenkin 177cm Syd A Wing
27. Darcy Szerszyn 188cm Dand Med Def
28. Jordan Knapp 179cm East Mid
29. Archie Van Dyk 185cm Sth Adel Mid
................................... 1st rounders
30. Lewis Houndsome 198cm North KPF/Ruck
31. Khaled El-Souki 175cm West Sml Forw
32. Max Downes 182cm North Mid
33. Cain Florance 176cm Sth Adel Mid
34. Archie Hill 182cm GCS A Flanker
35. Tanner Armstrong 177cm Murr Mid
36. Cody Templeton 180cm Gipps Mid
37. Harvie Cooke 176cm North Mid
38. Jermaine Miller 171cm North (SA) Sml Forw
39. Aidan McCartney 192cm Syd A KPF
40. Jacob McNichol 177cm Glenlg Mid

Thanks for the list Davo sorry to ask but with Pickett sadly being out for the year now do you think he will slide similar to Barker in 2025?

 

[Davo-27]

Thanks for the list Davo sorry to ask but with Pickett sadly being out for the year now do you think he will slide similar to Barker in 2025?

He could slide in the first round, but he is a strong prospect, i expect he goes in the top 20 at least as he has runs on the board, it more depends on teams with a key forward need.