Resource Noob's 2026 Draft Prospect Video Thread

[noobermensch]

This one will be difficult to top for performance of the season. Khaled El Souki was incredible from beginning to end, racking up stacks of the footy and damaging like few are capable of. He booted six goals of his own in a variety of ways, from clever snaps to tackle busting running goals, and directly set up his teammates for a number of other scoring opportunities. He was clean at ground level, applied strong tackling pressure, and nearly untacklable with his powerful frame and ability to weave and dodge in congested space. The most impressive part of this performance might have been the audacity to take the game on and try things that most wouldn't dare.

 

[noobermensch]

A big game from an emerging key forward in this years draft pool. Sam Gayfer started a bit slowly, looking dangerous but not quite clunking his marks cleanly. He burst into life in the second half, with his leading patterns and ability to create separation on his opponent a real standout but his follow up work at ground level also excellent. He kicked goals in a variety of ways as his team surged away to a comfortable win.

 

[noobermensch]

A strong performance from Gus Teixeira, showing the strengths of his game that have him starting to appear inside the top 10 of some early ranking lists. His pace and slick kicking skills on the outside are eye catching, and he's powerful and tough enough inside to win his own ball. He had a stint in the forward line early in the fourth quarter where he kicked two quick goals, both from lead/mark and lovely set shot kicks, underpinning his dual threat as a mid/fwd.

 

[noobermensch]

More than three years ago one of my first ever buymeacoffee requests was from a Hawks fan keen to get a look at Cooper Hodge, a request I wasn't able to fulfill given Cooper was only 14 at the time. Well, today I finally make good.

Hodge found a stack of the footy, strong on the inside, able to dispose of the ball under pressure or drive through the contest to find space on the outside. His endurance and gut running allow him to get from contest to contest around the ground and his disposal is tidy. The drive he provided the Lions from stoppage was a big part of a comfortable win against the Dragons.

 

[noobermensch]

Going a bit wider this week to cover some prospects that haven't had a look in yet on the channel. A top 20 contender, Harrison Leeder is a slightly undersized but athletic marking forward who competes hard in the air and loves to fly for big, contested grabs. In this game he was the Knights main avenue to goal, drawing the footy almost every time they went forward, and while he didn't always clunk the mark he was never beaten by his opponent, bringing the ball to ground for his smalls to feast and occasionally follow up himself. He ended up kicking three majors of his own to round off a solid display.

 

[noobermensch]

Continuing to cover some prospects that haven't been featured on the channel yet. We saw a massive stat stuffing performance from Lachie Hicks back in round 2 of Talent League play, racking up 39 disposals with his work inside the contest and on the spread. His size and strength make him difficult to handle at stoppage and allow him to present as a marking target around the ground. His disposal under pressure wasn't always as clean as you'd like to see here, especially on his weaker side, but he proved that he could hit targets with time and space.

 

[noobermensch]

Another look at Thatcher Simmons who's been one of the best performed in the WAFL Colts competition so far this season and must be playing himself into contention for a late call up to the WA state squad for the upcoming Champs given recent injury issues. Thatcher isn't the quickest, but reads the play fantastically well and is as good as anyone at using his powerful frame to maneuver his opponent out of the way and clear space for him to operate in. In this game he was especially productive forward of the ball, booting 4 of his team's 7 majors.

 

[noobermensch]

A request from a Crows fan to have a look at their bottom age NGA Tony Marrone who had a big game on the weekend, finding plenty of the footy in a solid Central Districts victory over Norwood. Marrone looks to be a balanced inside/outside midfielder, clean at ground level and clever in traffic while also willing to run hard in both directions to help out defensively and damage with attacking moves. The biggest highlight of the game came in the fourth quarter when he excited the crowd and himself by breaking a couple of tackles before slotting home on the run then celebrating Papley style.

 

[noobermensch]

Following up an impressive debut VFL performance last week, Cody Walker was again fantastic here, helping his Blues to deliver an old school shellacking. He started slowly with kicking accuracy issues again looming but grew into the game and put the slow start behind him, finding plenty of the footy inside and outside. The real highlight for me today was his ability to recognize when the opposition provides a gap in their defensive line and his ability to change direction and burst through decisively with pace.

 

[noobermensch]

Jordan Knapp was the standout performer for an Eastern team that took a bit of a beating against the Swans Academy. Knapp is the gold standard in this draft class for movement in congested space, his dancing feet allow him to change direction on a dime, and his quick first step to burst quickly into clear space outside the contest. Those traits were on full display here, as well as his anticipation and quick, attacking decision making to release teammates and set up damaging moves.

 

[noobermensch]

Ethan Drever continues to be one of the most consistent performers in this year's Talent League and is starting to be mentioned in top 10 discussions. This was another 30 disposal game for Ethan, his dominance at stoppage leading to 10 clearances and he again showed his ability to break forward with a burst of speed to kick long running goals which is becoming a bit of a signature move.

 

[noobermensch]

An incredible, dominant performance from Noah Braun who just kept on finding the footy all over the ground and was by far the major factor in a strong win for Claremont. Its not often that we get a 50 disposal game at the junior level, especially given the shorter length of quarters. Noah was pretty strong in the contest, but found most of his footy on the outside, his opponents unable to keep up with his running power as he continually popped up in space all over the field. Like any 50 disposal game not all of his touches turned to gold, but he was creative in the forward half for Claremont, setting up a number of scoring opportunities and slotting home a couple of goals himself.

 

[noobermensch]

Big numbers again from Lachie Hicks who can find a stack of it when he's in the mood to dominate. He had some longer stints in the forward line as the game progressed and looked dangerous down there, flying for his marks and kicking four goals for the game. Hicks can cough the ball up under pressure and his disposal early wasn't great but overall, this was a strong performance in a big win for his team.

 

[noobermensch]

Another strong performance in a consistently excellent season so far for El Souki. Playing much less through the midfield this week, El Souki showed how dangerous he can be at ground level in the forward 50, regularly swooping on the loose footy with pace, power and clean hands. He booted two running goals from near the boundary line that were as good as you'll see from a small forward.

 

[noobermensch]

A first look on the channel at one of the top key defender prospects in this year's pool. Tate Hodgson has had a solid start to the year without having a real standout performance. He's big, athletic and competitive, willing to crash in to contests in the air and at ground level, capable of reading the play to intercept, and with the skill level to hit targets on the rebound.

 

[noobermensch]

The stats may not jump off the page, but this was one of the most dominant aerial displays you'll see from a defender at this level. 7 of his 10 marks were direct intercepts from opposition inside 50s, and most of those were contested. The Lions controlled territory for most of the second half, and if it wasn't for Snell this could have been a smashing.

 

[noobermensch]

My early favourite to be pick 1 in 2027, Baxter Sruk is a powerful inside/outside midfielder with running power, classy skills, and the knack of slotting home running goals from outside 50 on his raking left boot.

This was Sruk's Talent League debut, his start to the season significantly delayed due to injury, and you could see that he was shaking off some rust as well as lacking match fitness. He had some wow moments but will be better for the run.

 

[noobermensch]

Kodah Edwards continues to be one of the most consistent performers among this year's draft pool. While he hasn't had the dominant performances that others have, every game is an 8/10 and sprinkled with a handful of wow moments that reinforce his AFL level skill set. In this game he pulled down some big marks, crashed through bodies and kicked a long running goal from beyond 60 meters.

 

[noobermensch]

This was the game that had AFL clubs sit up and take notice as Noah McMenamin took a stack of intercept marks and put himself on the radar for the mid season draft for teams that need to bolster their tall defender stocks. McMenamin will reportedly line up for Collingwood's VFL team this weekend to give the Pies and others a look at how he goes stepping up to a higher level.

 

[noobermensch]

This was very nearly a big day for Leeder. He flew courageously for his marks as he always does, plucking a few of them, also getting off his man and finding space inside F50 on a number of occasions. He had a significant number of shots on goal, slotting three of them, but it could have been a massive bag if he'd been a little more accurate.

 

[noobermensch]

A huge performance at the perfect time for NHH who reminded recruiters why he absolutely should have been selected in last season's national draft. He played the first half on a back flank, flying out of the blocks with a 12 disposal first term, looking composed with the ball and working hard with rebounding run and folding back to cover defensively. In the second half he moved to a wing, playing 100% of game time, showing his elite endurance and running power, continuing to rack up stacks of the footy and use it well. He was a bit more conservative with the ball than usual, but must have gone at nearly 100% disposal efficiency and hit the scoreboard as he often does with a couple of majors.

 

[noobermensch]

Three strong VFL performances in a row for Cody Walker to underline his readiness for the step up to AFL footy and cement his spot at the pointy end of the draft pool. He again found plenty of the ball and did not look out of place crashing in to contests against the mature bodies. It's the decisive moments of pace and power that really impress, as seen with his goal in the fourth quarter where he reacted quicker than anyone else to gather a loose ball, dashing into space and kicking truly.

 

[noobermensch]

This was another typically strong Kodah Edwards game. Powerful in the contest winning plenty of his own footy, productive going forward setting up his teammates inside 50 on a number of occasions and chipping in with a goal of his own. He was particularly good with his tackling pressure in this one and overall looks more than ready for a big Champs campaign.

 

[noobermensch]

Another round another excellent Ethan Drever performance. His ability to drive hard through the contest with pace and power was a real standout this week, recognizing opportunities to take ground and burst into space, brushing aside opponents on the way. If you're going to try and use a weak arm tackle to stop Ethan Drever then he's going to make you look foolish. His own tackling was a standout this week, crashing in hard with an edge of brutality.

 

[noobermensch]

Chapman continues to perform consistently at this level each week. He found heaps of the footy in this game, his running power and willingness to take on the game proving important in helping the Ranges move the ball against a Lions team applying heavy pressure around the ground. His disposal was a bit hot and cold, and he would have loved to nail the couple of running shots on goal he missed, but overall, this was a strong showing and Chapman continues to shape as a likely top 20 prospect.