txbyhull 2026 Draft Thread

[txbyhull]

Way too early rankings. Have not had the chance to watch as much as I would like with uni starting up, so going off a lot of second hand reporting and write ups unfortunately.



Apologies if any of this information is wrong

I have been big on a few guys early this season:

- I like George Gale a lot out of Claremont, an outside operator that I hope gets to make some plays on the inside this year. Great IQ, want to see his athleticism improve through this season. Seems the type that will skyrocket in a professional environment.

- Jack Pickett out of the Falcons did his ACL early but kicked 31 in 8 as a bottom ager. Doesn't need to touch the ball a lot to tear a game apart and just a natural beat you on the lead, mark strong and convert guy. Not sure what his height looks like this year but if he can go up to that 196-198 bracket he'll be a monster with his aerial talents. I think he is a shoe in to be the first KPF taken even if he doens't play this year.

- Xavier Ladbrook and Clancy Snell duo for Country will be an absolute wall at champs. Both are great KPD prospects with Ladbrook a big skinnier and taller (200+ apparently?), I'd project him as being the higher upside. Far and away the 2 best KPD prospects, can't wait for one of them to be an Eagle lol.

- Lucas Robinson is in the Dyson Sharp role this season of being undeniable and succeeding even at League level but probably falling come draft time due to the current league-wide game style being fast, transition, running game. Think he is a chance to slip out of Freo's hands if a team wants to go early on a bid. Pies might?

- Archie Van Dyk sliding so far but I think he will come on strong once past his injury issues. Dangerous SA midfield between Edwards, Van Dyk, Herbert, McNicol, Gordon, and so on.

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Anywho will keep on top as best as possible while keeping up with assignments. I would like to dive more into AFL traits, projection and draft and gamestyle trends this year rather than just looking at the guys as u18 prospects.

Somehow this class is getting underrated a little bit, think there are some real players and early bolters already. Keen.

 

[EDFL follower]

As a Gippsland person I like the 5 power players in the top 24!

 

[txbyhull]

As a Gippsland person I like the 5 power players in the top 24!

Xav and Clancy are such a win for the Power this year, great duo and cover all kinds of tall forwards between the two of them. I think Dennis is probably more AFL ready but Ladbrook is really a top top KPD of the future if he keeps up the trajectory, that mix of traits both physical and mental is right up there its just he's still a kid you know. Would love either of them at the Eagles

 

[Donflicted]

Hoping we look at guys like Snell or Ladbrook if we can try and trade up for another first round pick

As much as i love Ridley and i have faith that Matt Inness can turn it around for him we are already a bit bleak in the KFD area on our list we only have Lewis Hayes and Kayle Gerryn whos a Ruck Forward turned into a backmen we have Kondo but his on the smaller side only 190cms and i see him more as a rebounder that can intercept.

I think its a good idea getting a guy like Snell to strengthen our list while also having someone to that can step in when we need him

 

[txbyhull]

Hoping we look at guys like Snell or Ladbrook if we can try and trade up for another first round pick

As much as i love Ridley and i have faith that Matt Inness can turn it around for him we are already a bit bleak in the KFD area on our list we only have Lewis Hayes and Kayle Gerryn whos a Ruck Forward turned into a backmen we have Kondo but his on the smaller side only 190cms and i see him more as a rebounder that can intercept.

I think its a good idea getting a guy like Snell to strengthen our list while also having someone to that can step in when we need him

Think both Gippy boys will be high demand. There’s a decent number of available backs the next few years, but it’s another instance of what feels like more and more forwards go back, rucks go back, etc. Not the positions that every kid dreams of playing in, so when you’ve got a a top age one it’s always a big tick for me

 

[THE_GUN]

Thoughts on Archie Daffy

 

[txbyhull]

Thoughts on Archie Daffy

can't say I have kept a close enough eye on him in particular when watching Geelong. I guess at the moment you would just want to see a little more polish by foot (both field kicking consistency and finishing on goal), but his big strength for me is the forward half pressure obviously. Just more and more important to have those forward of centre jack rabbits and he is one that I can see on the Tigers list. A bit of a lazy comparison but he reminds me a lot of Talor Byrne drafted to Carlton last year

 

[tiger_tough]

You've got Armstrong a fair bit higher than most. How come?

 

[txbyhull]

You've got Armstrong a fair bit higher than most. How come?

This early in the season, especially given how little time I’ve had to watch games, I’ve had to go off the run sheets and second hand reporting more than ever before. When they’ve played barely a handful of top age games it’s hard.

In my most recent notes I’ve got them in tiers and he has fallen down to your low 20s upon finally getting to sitting down for film. I don’t see him being able to crack an AFL midfield, and his ball use tells me he will struggle to play a front half role right now. He can evidently win clearance, and his pressure and tackling are there, so when it comes to the draft it may be looking at Armstrong and Daffy occupying similar positions, which you’d have to be taking Archie.

tldr: so early in season and haven’t had time to watch enough that production weighs heavily right now

 

[Schtinker]

Thoughts on Archie Daffy

 

[txbyhull]

Thatcher Simmons has had a really impressive handful of games lately coming back from barely playing footy in a long time. Don’t know if he’ll be able to play midfield at AFL level but I think he’ll get a call up for Champs and be more than draftable come November.

 

[Futbolista]

Thatcher Simmons has had a really impressive handful of games lately coming back from barely playing footy in a long time. Don’t know if he’ll be able to play midfield at AFL level but I think he’ll get a call up for Champs and be more than draftable come November.

Surely he will be added. 5 minutes in the midfield per quarter and the rest of the time up forward. Will be a massive asset to WA if included and has many AFL qualities. Just hope he can stay on the park.

 

[txbyhull]

Need to find the time to go through and differentiate the players individually to firm up a big board, and have probably missed a few, but the shortlist bands look like the above.

Walker, Cochrane, HVH are the top 3, I'd be utterly shocked at this point, even so early, if come November it is not either Walker, Cochrane, HVH or Cochrane, Walker, HVH.

Williams, Butler, Gus I see as the next ups, they are all quality players that I think would go in the top 10 in most recent years. Teixeira has come back with explosive physicality that makes him look a simple cut above in trials. Very keen to see his form come Champs time as he will start to come up against guys that have similar levels of physicality.

Kodah through Snell is not in order, and not necessarily reflective of how early I think they will be drafted, but it shows pretty decent diversity in the available prospects in this pool. I have said previously in the WCE threads that I want to take a more holistic view on the prospects that factors in current draft and gamestyle trends across the league; such that I can see guys like Neo and El Souki getting drafted very early even if their form drops off (doesn't look like it will). I would love the Eagles to get either of them but they seem like they'll fall in the late top 10 early teens area.

Drever through to Darcy is another band not in order clearly. There is a few taller players in here but for the most part you see the class having quite a few talented outside users.

I have said previously in the OP how much I love George Gale and it just goes to show with his recent form. Watching Sam Berry come in in Year 6 of his AFL career with immensely improved burst and explosiveness just goes to show that sometimes it does take time, even if it doesn't come immediately Gale is the type that will stay on a list a long time through his professionalism and work rate, sky is the limit with this kid.

Lucas Robinson had an awesome opening League game but we will have to see whether or not he can keep up that form throughout the season. Screams Dyson Sharp slide from being a top rated player, I think he will fall a bit further than Sharp did. Freo will be hoping that they can match him but it would not surprise me if a contender shoots early. Collingwood could do worse than to launch one in the mid first round.

See a LOT of random names in that latter section. Just some guys that have had good games recently: Gayfer, Van Rooyen, Yeo, Spawton-Guy, Simmons, Webb, Ketchup, and more.

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Overall I like this class a bit more than last years, there is a lot of good users as I said, a lot of highly talented smalls, a lot of tall utilities, more kpd options than usual. Think there will be quite a few guys in your McNicol, Armstrong, and even Noah Williams moulds that I could see being drafted as mids and beginning their careers in the forward line. If the Eagles are to draft Williams I would not be opposed to having him roll off a flank and up to stoppage, using his great kicking and relentless tackling and pressure to help out both phases of the game.

 

[Futbolista]

View attachment 2602916View attachment 2602918

Need to find the time to go through and differentiate the players individually to firm up a big board, and have probably missed a few, but the shortlist bands look like the above.

Walker, Cochrane, HVH are the top 3, I'd be utterly shocked at this point, even so early, if come November it is not either Walker, Cochrane, HVH or Cochrane, Walker, HVH.

Williams, Butler, Gus I see as the next ups, they are all quality players that I think would go in the top 10 in most recent years. Teixeira has come back with explosive physicality that makes him look a simple cut above in trials. Very keen to see his form come Champs time as he will start to come up against guys that have similar levels of physicality.

Kodah through Snell is not in order, and not necessarily reflective of how early I think they will be drafted, but it shows pretty decent diversity in the available prospects in this pool. I have said previously in the WCE threads that I want to take a more holistic view on the prospects that factors in current draft and gamestyle trends across the league; such that I can see guys like Neo and El Souki getting drafted very early even if their form drops off (doesn't look like it will). I would love the Eagles to get either of them but they seem like they'll fall in the late top 10 early teens area.

Drever through to Darcy is another band not in order clearly. There is a few taller players in here but for the most part you see the class having quite a few talented outside users.

I have said previously in the OP how much I love George Gale and it just goes to show with his recent form. Watching Sam Berry come in in Year 6 of his AFL career with immensely improved burst and explosiveness just goes to show that sometimes it does take time, even if it doesn't come immediately Gale is the type that will stay on a list a long time through his professionalism and work rate, sky is the limit with this kid.

Lucas Robinson had an awesome opening League game but we will have to see whether or not he can keep up that form throughout the season. Screams Dyson Sharp slide from being a top rated player, I think he will fall a bit further than Sharp did. Freo will be hoping that they can match him but it would not surprise me if a contender shoots early. Collingwood could do worse than to launch one in the mid first round.

See a LOT of random names in that latter section. Just some guys that have had good games recently: Gayfer, Van Rooyen, Yeo, Spawton-Guy, Simmons, Webb, Ketchup, and more.

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Overall I like this class a bit more than last years, there is a lot of good users as I said, a lot of highly talented smalls, a lot of tall utilities, more kpd options than usual. Think there will be quite a few guys in your McNicol, Armstrong, and even Noah Williams moulds that I could see being drafted as mids and beginning their careers in the forward line. If the Eagles are to draft Williams I would not be opposed to having him roll off a flank and up to stoppage, using his great kicking and relentless tackling and pressure to help out both phases of the game.

Nice mate. Well rounded.

 

[txbyhull]

I would not suggest he is immediately draftable, possible that we can stash him away and pick him up after some physical development, but Noah Braun had a goliath 52 disposal game with a more salient role this weekend. ****ing immense numbers, you don't do that at any level if you aren't talented.

Absolute twig though, like father like son. Much taller than pops