AFL Draft | State in Focus: Western Australia
WESTERN Australia has invested in the long-term when it comes to its Under 18 program, and while the state endured a 1-3 National Championships campaign last year, it also produced 10 draftees. Six bottom-agers were blooded in 2025 and they are among the 15 players from last year’s winter squad to feature in the 2026 […]
Emerging crop: Vic Metro’s 2027 midfielders
AS IS often the case, Vic Metro is set to boast a wealth of high-class midfield options in 2027. Evidenced by the Under 16 squad of 2025, the embarrassment of riches will likely run deep for years to come. For all the crop’s individual talent, a great quality of the group is the willingness of […]
2026 AFL Draft spotlight: South’s star midfielders
SOUTH Adelaide has long produced some of South Australia’s finest footballers. Recently, the Panthers have had their talent program headed up by Mark Clayton, who has been appointed Port Adelaide’s academies coach. Before him, current South Australian Under 18 mentor Tony Bamford was in charge. It’s no wonder, then, that the club boasts three of […]
AFL DRAFT | The clubs stockpiling future picks
THE future picks market is becoming increasingly prevalent at each AFL Draft, and with tighter rules around matching bids, preparation is proving key. Gold Coast has become the pick swap king and frantically did so throughout trade and draft period to secure five academy graduates this year. >> EVERY CLUB: 2026-2028 future picks>> AFL DRAFT: […]
EVERY CLUB: 2026-2028 future picks
WHILE some clubs have left their haul of future picks untouched, many others have already mobilised to bolster their position heading into 2026 and beyond. The likes of Carlton and Port Adelaide are preparing for early bids on club-tied talent, while Gold Coast’s collection is left bare after a bumper academy crop. See where your […]
AFL Draft | Top club-tied prospects for 2026
AFTER what was pegged as the most compromised draft in history, the consensus top two prospects for next year are both already tied to AFL clubs. There is plenty of value for all clubs, though, with a range of father-son, Next Generation Academy (NGA), and Northern Academy prospects showing their wares. >> 26 for 2026: […]
AFL Draft trends: The balancing act
WHILE this year’s National Draft produced record low numbers, several clubs still took the opportunity to cash in on major hauls of new players. With that often comes a balancing act, configuring a draft haul around the ability to add depth in multiple areas of the ground and with diverse traits. Perhaps the most pertinent […]
2026 AFL Draft spotlight: Rucks to run rampant
THE BUDDING draft crop of 2026 shapes as one with a bit of everything and the ruck department is certainly not short on talent. A standout group of 200cm-plus prospects has already emerged, with the National Academy set to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to key position options. After West Coast selected […]
2026 AFL Draft spotlight: Claremont’s killer Colts
WEST Australian powerhouse Claremont has proven to be a juggernaut at Colts level in recent history, claiming three consecutive premierships and producing a raft of eventual draftees. The trend is set to continue into 2026, with the Tigers contributing an equal-high nine players to WA’s state summer squad. >> SPOTLIGHT: Northern Knights’ tall trio With […]
AFL Draft trends: Mature-age list balance
IN THE wake of the latest AFL Draft, the time to reflect allows for insights around how each club approaches their intakes. Trends appear and shift all the time, and looking at the post-Covid era (2022 onwards), a few recruiting teams have opted to dip into the mature-age talent pool. It continued in 2025 with […]
