Resource Noob's 2026 Draft Prospect Video Thread

[noobermensch]

The progeny of Drew continues to emerge through the WAFL Colts, this time its Harper's chance to shine and impress Eagles supporters and recruiters in the hope of being picked up as a father-son. Harper's game was scrappy in the first half, impressing more with his attack at the contest and defensive pressure than with ball in hand but as the game progressed, he started to find more space and had a few impressive moments of power, pace and damaging delivery.

 

[noobermensch]

El Souki played a larger split in his deeper forward role this week and responded with a big bag of goals that kept his team in the contest. Unfortunately, the broadcast was a bit of a mess, and we lost the first quarter and a half including 2 of his 6 goals.

 

[noobermensch]

Snell has made a strong early move up the draft ranks with consistently excellent form for Gippsland. He was a wall across the defensive line here, shutting down his opponent, coming off to help break up attacking moves, and setting up his teammates with precise long kicks. His marking was the real highlight, including a fantastic mark running back with the flight of the ball in the fourth quarter. Teams in the hunt for a key defender will be tracking him closely.

 

[Yoda_]

hope is ok, "The Footy Hub" on YouTube is putting up similar content to your good self but focusing on the WAFL guys it seems for those interested

 

[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.

 

[noobermensch]

Another prolific game from Knapp, finding a significant amount of the footy and playing a critical role in a dramatic late win for his team. Knapp's gut running and movement in congestion allowed him to find space all over the ground, both inside and outside, and he was regularly the connecting piece for Eastern's attacking moves. The strong wind effected his kicking like many on the day but nailed a number of important inside 50 kicks including a dart onto his teammates chest that led to the winning goal.

 

[noobermensch]

Another stat stuffing performance from Jackson Phillips who's been a real mover early this season. He was a big contributor here to a comprehensive win by his Stingrays, winning contests all over the ground, and breaking lines with his running power on the outside. The windy conditions made precision kicking difficult, but he still managed to setup his teammates and hit the scoreboard himself.

 

[noobermensch]

Albert MacGowan continues to be one of the most prolific ball winners through the opening rounds of the Talent League season. Here he particularly impressed with his clean hands at ground level and tidy skills in slippery conditions effected by heavy rain. He's not express pace, but his balance, size and strength allow him to change directions quickly or absorb contact while staying in control and poised with the ball.

 

[noobermensch]

A strong start through the first two Colts games for Thatcher Simmons who's struggled with injury issues his last two seasons but might be ready to remind people of his talents. Broad shouldered and a powerful frame that Simmons uses to effect in laying strong tackles, winning the ball or wrestling in marking contests. In this game he showed he possesses a touch of magic with the lead up to his second goal.

 

[noobermensch]

Not officially named BOG for the Academy but gets my nod for his impact at the contest and around the ground. Where other Academy mids struggled with the physicality and conditions on the day, Walker was typically powerful and clean, part of many of the best passages for his team on the day. His kicking was again a bit variable but given the heavy track and slippery conditions he gets a pass here.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Not officially named BOG for the Academy but gets my nod for his impact at the contest and around the ground. Where other Academy mids struggled with the physicality and conditions on the day, Walker was typically powerful and clean, part of many of the best passages for his team on the day. His kicking was again a bit variable but given the heavy track and slippery conditions he gets a pass here.

Been waiting all week for this Only thing keeping us Blues fans going with this start to the season!

 

[noobermensch]

Been waiting all week for this Only thing keeping us Blues fans going with this start to the season!

I understand that feeling

 

[noobermensch]

Williams is making a habit of picking up these BOG medals on the biggest of junior footy stages and picks up another one here. It was a difficult day for his team, but Noah was one of the few who stood out. Difficult to showcase his dash on such a heavy deck, Noah instead attacked the contest, winning plenty of footy but shining the most with his defensive actions, tackling hard and making them stick against mature bodies, and coming up with a number of other disruptive defensive actions.

 

[noobermensch]

A hot name in this year's pool and considered by many (including yours truly) as the next name up after Cochrane and Walker. Harry Van Hattum might have come in here a tad underdone after missing some time with an injury but still competed hard in the ruck up against a mature VFL opponent. It's no coincidence that Harry was at his best and controlling the middle during the periods of the game when the Academy had the run of the play, some of his tap work to his mids sublime. He followed up well at ground level and clunked a couple of nice marks to remind everyone of his all round talent.

 

[noobermensch]

Kodah Edwards continued his strong start to the season by being among the best for the Academy in game one. He played through the midfield in the first three quarters finding plenty of the footy, his clean hands at ground level and slick handball in tight spaces both highlights. He was moved into the forward line in the fourth quarter and showed that he can be dangerous down there, presenting well on the lead and scrapping to create scoring opportunities.

 

[Davo-27]

A hot name in this year's pool and considered by many (including yours truly) as the next name up after Cochrane and Walker. Harry Van Hattum might have come in here a tad underdone after missing some time with an injury but still competed hard in the ruck up against a mature VFL opponent. It's no coincidence that Harry was at his best and controlling the middle during the periods of the game when the Academy had the run of the play, some of his tap work to his mids sublime. He followed up well at ground level and clunked a couple of nice marks to remind everyone of his all round talent.

Goad is unlucky not to be getting more opportunity at North, really good opponent to test himself against for HVH

 

[noobermensch]

Goad is unlucky not to be getting more opportunity at North, really good opponent to test himself against for HVH

I havent seen Goad since his top age season, strange that he's not playing with Xerri suspended. He looked good here, definitely didn't let Harry have it all his own way.

 

[noobermensch]

Arki Butler put in a hard working display for the Academy in game one but definitely didn't have it all his own way. He showed some toughness and physicality through the midfield and hunted the ball strongly. As a forward he led well and found the space to be used in transition. His disposal was uncharacteristically wayward, perhaps effected by the faster pace and strong wind.

 

[noobermensch]

Not the biggest stat haul but a typically industrious and skillful display from Neocleous who was a late call up to represent the Academy and proved why he should have been part of the squad all along. He pushed up high off a forward flank, ran hard to get involved in the play, chased and tackled, and damaged with the ball using his elite evasive skills and excellent field kicking.

 

[noobermensch]

Armstrong was the high possession winner for the Academy and one of their best in game 2. He still has his issues with kicking penetration, but his workrate is elite. He seems to get to every contest and is combative in 1v1s, proving himself capable of winning the ball against mature bodies or wrapping them up in a tough tackle. He has the tank to continually provide overlapping run to help link the play and when he's not trying to bite off too much by foot his disposal is tidy.

 

[noobermensch]

While Koby wasn't awarded the medal, he was the clear BOG in the humble opinion of this observer. Koby shapes as a prospect that's very well suited to the modern game, playing as a wing or half forward with the tank and running power to get up and down the ground, the size and overhead marking strength to impact aerially, a classy and penetrating left foot kick, and the knack of impacting the scoreboard by slotting majors himself or setting up his teammates.

 

[noobermensch]

Cody Walker is always productive no matter the level of competition and he again found plenty of the footy here. He didn't win as many contests as we typically see from him, leaning more outside and using his pace and running power to overlap and find space and his attacking mindset to help up the tempo in a game that at times bogged down into chip/mark. Unfortunately, the old disposal efficiency issue for Walker was again a problem here.

 

[noobermensch]

I thought Tigers supporters might be keen to see their top pick from the last draft Sam Cumming starring for the Tigers VFL team against this year's iteration of the AFL Academy. Cumming has been slowed by injury early in his Tigers career, but this performance is a reminder of his elite talent and it's only a matter of time before he's starring on the big stage. He played mostly midfield here, and like we saw as a junior Cumming tends to be more of the second or third possession receiver rather than the pure first hands clearance player, using his pace and power to convert scrappy plays into damaging ball movement chains.

 

[noobermensch]

A much better performance in game 2 from Xavier Ladbrook who was a wall across the defensive line for most of the game and was named BOG by the Academy coaches. He played tighter to his man than last week but showed the ability to read the play and run off proactively to intercept or overlap for rebounding moves. Like most of the Academy defenders Ladbrook struggled in the fourth quarter when their midfield was overrun and ball was flowing regularly into D50 but saved his best moment for last with a brilliant run down tackle to save what looked like a certain goal. At 201cm Ladbrook is genuine key position size and has a frame that should fill out over time.

 

[noobermensch]

Another solid game from Neocleous who's confirmed himself as a first round prospect across this two game Academy series. His ball use was a little less tidy than usual but his work rate to present as a link man pushing up off a forward flank was as elite as always. Considering his diminutive size he took some solid marks, highlighted by his effort early in the first quarter where he leaped over his opponent to mark on the goal line before snapping truly.