Recruitment drive: Devils enter VFL venture
OFF-SEASONS can often be the catalyst for in-season success, and several state league clubs will hope that is the case in 2026. In a new series on Rookie Me Central, we highlight some of the most exciting recruitment drives from around the country. Next up is the newly formed Tasmania Devils VFL side. >> RECRUITMENT DRIVE: […]
Recruitment drive: Fresh Saints faces forge new path
ST KILDA will lay claim to its own reserves side for the first time since 1999 this year. After ceasing their alignment with Sandringham Zebras, who have also driven a strong recruiting campaign, the Saints have built their new VFL list with a focus on youth development and establishing culture. >> RECRUITMENT DRIVE: Sandringham | […]
AFL Draft | The two clubs set to shape 2026/27
ESSENDON and Port Adelaide will be linked over the next two drafts in more ways than one. While not traditional rivals, they face a fight for draft picks and prospects with some of their respective club-tied talents shaping up as quite high-end in 2026 and 2027. >> EVERY CLUB: The top club-tied prospects for 2026 […]
National Academy prospects hit the track with AFL clubs
THE 2026 National Academy members are set to be unleashed unto AFL clubs in the coming weeks, as preseason training ramps up. Some have already spent time at their designated clubs in the new year, with several prospects also being aligned via academies and father-son eligibility. >> PROFILED: 2026 AFL National Academy squad An early […]
Inaugural Tasmania Devils VFL squad revealed
TASMANIA Devils’ inaugural VFL squad has been announced, featuring 48 players keen to don the iconic bottle green guernsey next year. The headline signings include several former AFL-listed players, along with a host of young local talent from both local reaches and interstate. >> SCROLL to see the full squad Ex-Sydney trio Robbie Fox, Caleb […]
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 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: 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 […]
