Resource Noob's 2026 Draft Prospect Video Thread

[noobermensch]

Neocleous is building into his season nicely, putting together his best game so far in round 3 in helping Gippsland to a solid win. He started forward for most of the game but used his running power to roam up the ground and provide a marking outlet for his teammates in transition. He used the ball well, applied strong defensive pressure and mostly important hit the scoreboard with 4 goals.

 

[noobermensch]

Drever must be moving up draft boards after a seriously impressive first two games of the new season. His numbers in this one pop off the page, but his influence on the game was just as immense, winning contests all over the ground with power and physicality. With the game close in the closing minutes Drever made the difference with a goal from a clearance in forward 50 and then a tackle to win possession at the center bounce and driving the ball forward for another important score.

 

[noobermensch]

Another relatively quiet game from Arki Butler. He started quite well in the opening term, showing the pace and kicking skills that allow him to create incisive attacking moments for his team. He drifted out of the game as it progressed and barely touched the footy in the second half. There were clear signs of frustration from him, including starting a melee at one point.

 

[noobermensch]

An Essendon NGA for the 2027 draft Mostafa Darwish gave Bomber fans an early look at what they can expect from his game with a strong performance. He played mostly wing and motored up and down with excellent run and endurance, impacting in the air and setting up play with poised disposal. His ability to get back into D50 and taking intercept marks was a real highlight, regularly stifling the Pioneers attacking moves.

 

[noobermensch]

An extremely impressive performance from Finlay Yeo to open his top age campaign, about as damaging as you're likely to see from an outside midfielder. He largely played off a wing with a couple of rotations on ball, but the pattern of his play remained consistent, finding dangerous space ahead of the ball and attacking with elite pace and agility before finishing with slick skills by hand and foot. He only has a slight frame but showed an admirable willingness to take on physical contact in order to open up space for a teammate and laid a few strong tackles of his own.

 

[noobermensch]

A first look on the channel at Kale Matthews-Hampton who entered the season as a hot draft fancy playing as a tall defender. Here he's had an interesting switch up into the midfield, playing as the defensive side sweeper at stoppage preventing opposition exits through the attacking side of the square, a critical role given the ruck dominance of Herbert for North Adelaide and a role KMH played well on the day. The structural importance of his role aside, his overall game was solid without being spectacular, although he did manage to get forward on a couple of occasions and hit the scoreboard. It'll be interesting to see if this midfield experiment continues and whether he becomes more comfortable and confident through there.

 

[noobermensch]

It turns out Marcus Prasad is not actually club tied to Melbourne after all, so this might be a good opportunity for fans of other clubs to remind themselves of his exciting talent. He's been super consistent through the first three weeks of the talent league season, finding the footy up the ground and getting dangerous inside forward 50. When he's around the ball he's always involved, throwing himself into contested situations with a bravery that belies his slight frame, and when he finds space he can damage with his pace, evasiveness and skills.

 

[noobermensch]

A very nice game from Watkins who maximised the impact of his 16 disposals with most of them leading to scores for his team. He split his time between midfield and half forward with his elite poise and ball use being the clear highlight in both roles. Inside the contest he has time and the vision to hit runners on the outside with handball, and on the spread he regularly picked great options and executed by foot, hitting up leading forwards and even kicking a couple of goals of his own.

 

[noobermensch]

Prolific output in the first game of the season for Leo Steed. Somewhat undersized for a primary midfielder, he didn't let that deter him from cracking in hard in contested situations, winning plenty of his own footy and applying strong tackling pressure. Steed demonstrated his running power with a top 5 yo-yo test in the preseason, and that strength was on display in this game, regularly burning off opponents on the spread. His ball use was typically tidy without being super damaging, although he did manage to hit the scoreboard.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.