FATHER-SON GUN

There is not much more Walker could possibly do to prove his top-end credentials. Even before pledging his allegiance to Carlton via father-son eligibility last year, the explosive midfielder has been a well known quantity. Like Cochrane, he set himself apart in the under-age bracket and continues to impress at all levels. This year, Walker has excelled with his performances for the Bendigo Pioneers, AFL Academy, Carlton VFL, and even back at local level with Echuca. Having undertaken a senior preseason with the Blues, he hasn’t missed a beat and presents as a strong leader among his peers. On the field, he glides across the turf akin to his famous father, Andrew, and possesses a ravenous work rate. His ability to cover the ground and impact the scoreboard compliments a strong stoppage game, where Walker is always on his toes and able to bring the ball to the outside cleanly. He hardly plays a bad game. The scary thing is that he can still improve, particularly in the way of his ball use under pressure. Walker co-captained Vic Country at the champs and was named in the All-Australian side despite missing a game through injury. His run in Carlton’s VFL side ended in Wildcard Round, having averaged 22 disposals across seven state league matches.

THE DYNAMO

There has to be a fitting ‘Butler’ pun out there, but the footy this one dishes up is no joke. A flashy and mercurial forward half threat, Butler has the raw talent to put himself in the conversation to be the top open pool player. He’s capable of winning games off his own boot with bunches of goals, and has more readily featured in midfield this year. At 182cm, he can explode out of stoppages and is a nightmare matchup one-on-one, capable of either beating his opponent aerially or sending them to the floor with a shimmy. Though, for all the highlights in his extensive reel, Butler can also be frustrating at times as he battles to find four-quarter consistency. Opposition players seem to target him too, and why not when he continues to excel at school, club, and representative level. He was clearly Metro’s best at Under 16 level and showed glimpses of his dynamic best before a collarbone injury ended his Under 18 carnival this year. More recently, he captained Brighton Grammar to the APS title and may have a hand to play in Sandringham’s finals run.

THE POWERHOUSE

One of this year’s early bolters, Teixeira has long been bubbling away as a hot prospect and is among the top open pool options. After a foot injury delayed his start to the season, he took little time to make an impact with explosive performances through midfield. He was a standout in the Vic Metro trials and went on to show flashes of brilliance at APS level with St Kevin’s, while performing each time he got the chance for Sandringham. Teixeira also showed his game-breaking attributes at representative level and was duly named in the All-Australian team. He possesses that eye-catching power out of a contest, able to burst away untouched and deliver the ball destructively heading inside 50. He can also do damage as a forward and has habitually hit the scoreboard this year. It’s hard to see him moving out of the top handful, and Essendon may well view the childhood Bomber as their best option.

SKILLS ON SONG

There is no sweeter melody than the sound of the ball thumping off this prospect’s boot, especially for his teammates. An elite ball user and decision maker on either side of his body, Mellody has set himself apart as Western Australia’s top talent in 2026. What’s more, he has proven himself amongst the wider crop as this year’s Larke Medallist. The 17-year-old cut his teeth across the wing and half-back in 2025, breaking into the Sandgropers’ Under 18 side and helping Claremont take out a third-straight Colts flag. He carried on that outstanding representative form and even earned some midfield exposure. Also a member of the National Academy, Mellody sets himself apart with his ability to chain together possessions and cover enormous ground with ball in hand. Few prospects suit transition football like he does. He continues to add jewels to his crown in Claremont’s League side, where he has shone as a fleet of foot midfield gem. Perhaps he’ll be in the conversation to be the first open pool player selected.

GIANT STANDOUT

There wasn’t much fanfare for Matthews until he exploded onto the representative stage in Allies colours. The standout NSW/ACT talent tore it up at Talent League level, averaging 35.3 disposals, 6.3 marks, 5.3 tackles, nine inside 50s and nearly three goals per game. It’s not just a case of him filling his boots, either. Matthews is a terrific runner capable of combining with teammates and connecting the lines with repeat possessions in single passages. He has a handy burst of speed and is wickedly efficient by hand and foot. What has brought Matthews’ game to another level is his ability to regularly hit the scoreboard, transitioning from an outside-leaning wing or half-back to a genuinely damaging midfielder. He shapes as a long-term project for the Giants, but has already played six VFL games and seems to be in a hurry. Alongside Queenslander Caylen Murray, he was one of just two bottom-agers to earn an Allies debut last year. A stress reaction in his foot cut Matthews’ national carnival short and he hasn’t returned since, but remains a top 10 fancy.

MR CONSISTENT

There is simply no denying Drever, who has won plenty of fans in 2026. Some may remember him as a late addition to last year’s National Futures match, but he has since established himself as a nailed-on inside midfielder for Greater Western Victoria. An ultra-consistent ball winner who thrives at the contest, Drever has averaged 29 disposals, 6.3 tackles and a goal per game for the Rebels this year, leading from the front as captain. Though, what has recruiters even more excited is his explosive athleticism, highlighted by a sub-three second 20m sprint time in preseason. So, not only does he have the size and clean hands to dominate at stoppage, but can also hurt the opposition with his turn of speed on the exit. Drever can continue to work on his foot skills under pressure, although has made a habit of slamming home long-range goals this year – at crucial times, no less. He has added strings to his bow with more prolific coverage of the ground and that scoreboard impact. He hardly plays a bad game.

TALL TALENT TIME

With the consensus top two prospects both being club-tied, Van Hattum is among the leading open pool candidates. A hulking and physically imposing ruckman, he is beginning to bear the fruits of continual exposure to the elite talent pathway. At 205cm, he holds his ground and stands tall in packs, but also possesses a remarkable leap and ridiculous speed for a player his size. Van Hattum’s blend of aggression and athleticism makes him the ideal modern day ruck/forward, capable of dominating at the centre ball-ups and contributing to the scoreboard. Some have him labelled as this year’s Cooper Duff-Tytler, though with a few extra centimetres of height and arguably more developed craft, he shapes as a player who could genuinely be that nailed-on ruckman at the top level. After a relatively subdued national carnival, Van Hattum has begun to string together dominant games at Talent League level, playing with intent and physicality.

THE AERIALIST

Snell has come with a rocket into top 10 calculations after an outstanding start to the year. He showed signs as a bottom-ager, being an athletic but very raw key position utility who could chime in at either end of the ground. Now, he is arguably the best and most well-rounded key defender in the crop. Snell’s aerial prowess and unflappable intercept marking bears resemblance to Carlton draftee Harry Dean, whom he effectively replaced in the Vic Country side. The 196cm talent reads the play beautifully and simply doesn’t fumble, whether that be in the air or at ground level. His athleticism allows him to peel off and join the attack too, showcasing neat fundamental skills and a level of composure. He hails from strong sporting pedigree as the nephew of former Australian Opal Belinda Snell, and cousin of the Duursma clan.

NEED FOR STEED

Steed has pressed his case with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder since missing out on last year’s state winter squad. The combative midfielder-forward has established himself in Swan Districts’ League side this year, playing 12 games for six goals and an average of 14.3 disposals. While he has mostly thrived as a high forward at that level, Steed was outstanding as co-captain in Western Australia’s midfield, earning All-Australian honours. He fights for possession, tackles hard, and has a wicked turn of foot to escape congestion. Clubs will love his competitiveness and ability to take the moment on. If he was a little taller, we could be talking about a top five contender.

GOALS IN BUNCHES

Malady is another extraordinarily talented player who is in the process of putting the pieces together more consistently. He has already proven to be a match-winner at representative level, winning Vic Country the Under 16 title with a golden point in 2024 and starring with five goals in last year’s National Futures match. He’s a marking phenom at 190cm, possessing eye-catching athleticism to jump on opponents’ backs or beat them on the lead. Importantly, he fulfils his ability to play tall by taking the ball at the top of his reach. Malady is also a prolific goalkicker, capable of scoring in bunches and not needing many opportunities to make an impact. He has shown improvement in the way of defensive pressure and all-round competitiveness this year, which will help him remain involved in games across four-quarters. At the moment it’s low-volume, high-damage, but his upside is considerable.

RUN AND GUN

Murray excelled throughout the National Championships this year to stamp himself as a first round contender. Having spent plenty of time operating off half-back and the wing, a shift on-ball has brought new life to his game pre-carnival. He translated his ability to carve up the opposition in all thirds of the ground, linking up with dangerous combination play and consistently putting speed on the ball. In Allies colours, he reverted back to that role as a playmaking defender with aplomb. Murray is strong overhead and quick across the ground, but also possesses incisive foot skills and can slam home long-range goals. He was one of just two bottom-agers to feature for the Allies last year and went into his top-age champs with plenty of momentum, averaging 22 disposals, 4.4 marks, and 5.1 inside 50s per his handful of Talent League games. He has also gained considerable exposure in the VFL.

MARKING MACHINE

There may not be a single player more effective at performing his role than Harris. The hulking key defender is a prolific intercept marker, but just as readily shuts down opponents and does so with minimal fuss. He’s as brave as they come when flying for marks and is capable of plucking the ball at full stretch overhead, seldom fumbling. Much of that, and his ability to split contests at a minimum, is down to his competitiveness. Harris also reads the play well and is doing a wealth of work on his ball use, looking to refine his kicking out of defence. Improvement in that area will take his game to the next level. As it stands, he’s comfortably among the top three key backs in this year’s crop. The South Australian acquitted himself well on the representative stage, named at full back in the All-Australian team. He went on to earn a berth in Woodville-West Torrens’ League side, playing three games for averages of just under 10 disposals and four marks.

ALL THE TOOLS

Gayfer has made a name for himself this year, grabbing headlines with a huge speccy to compliment his several bags of goals in the Talent League, and an outstanding national carnival. At 194cm, he’s an aggressive and physical key forward who remains involved once the ball hits the deck, capable of applying tackle pressure or forging additional shots on goal. As a more conventional lead-up type, he can continue to work on sticking his overhead marks, but has proven his ability to fly high. In 12 games for the Knights this year, Gayfer has booted 28 goals including a haul of six in Round 7. He went on to kick seven goals in Vic Metro colours but was overlooked for an All-Australian nod. Gayfer has launched himself into first round calculations nonetheless and some recruiters believe he may be best suited down back. He is the nephew of 142-game former Magpie, Michael.

THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT

Bradley has joined the upper echelon of key defenders in this year’s crop after an All-Australian national carnival which saw him crowned MVP of the title-winning Vic Metro side. He’s an unflappable type in the Jacob Weitering or Tom Barrass mould; terrific at positioning to intercept, strong overhead, unbeatable one-on-one, and calm when distributing. While not blessed with a great deal of speed, his pure defensive craft and leadership qualities are clear to see. He can even play the selfless lockdown roles when required. The Sandringham Dragons product continues to solidify his spot among the top 20 prospects and he’s the type of pick you can’t really go wrong with.

SMOOTH MOVER

Phillips stood out immediately as one of this year’s big improvers and has been exceptional in Dandenong’s midfield. A Vic Country representative at Under 16 level, he was relatively steady in terms of output as a bottom-ager last year but has made massive strides since. Phillips is as stylish as they come, possessing great running power with his blend of speed and combination work from end-to-end. He can clear a stoppage or link up on the outside, meaning he sometimes has his magnet switched between the centre ball-ups and wing. Rounding 0ut his game, Phillips kicks effectively off both feet and has made a habit of hitting the scoreboard, averaging 19.7 disposals, 4.1 inside 50s and just under a goal per game for Dandenong. He also impressed in his VFL debut for Casey, and is back in Stingrays colours to finish the year.

KARVE ‘EM UP

The Northern Knights were high on Krasna from the outset this year, highlighting his elite running patterns on the wing. He played himself into the Vic Metro squad, averaging 21.3 disposals and 4.4 inside 50s across 11 Talent League game while gaining on-ball exposure along the way. The crafty, agile midfielder can carve you up on the outside and while lightly-framed, is tough enough to hold his own at the contest. He proved as much across three games during the national carnival before a hamstring injury sidelined him. Krasna’s slick ball use on both feet is a highlight and he has the traits which point towards a potential first round rise. Carlton will rue letting his indigenous heritage go unnoticed until now, given he is in the Blues’ NGA catchment.

POCKET ROCKET

Having kicked bags of goals against all comers at Talent League level, El Souki’s great litmus test awaited at the National Championships. Unfortunately, an ankle injury saw the Western Bulldogs NGA prospect restricted to one Vic Metro appearance, which ironically may be welcome news for the Bulldogs given just how well he’s tracking. The 175cm dynamo certainly knows how to find the goals, capable of converting from every which angle and method. He led the Talent League goalkicking with 40 in 12 games for Western, including two bags of six, while also averaging an impressive 17.9 disposals with spurts in the midfield. When he’s not scoring, El Souki is creatively setting up teammates with his punchy foot skills and loves to get stuck in with tackle pressure. He shapes as one of the draft’s most dangerous and well-rounded small forwards.

DIMER IN THE ROUGH

A fresh face in our August rankings, Dimer has emerged as one of the premier smalls in this year’s crop. The hard-working forward creates moments of magic through his clean hands, craft and smarts, whether that be high up the ground or close to goal. He’s as slick as anyone at ground level and adds an extra threat at stoppages, while also having the evasive technique to manufacture exits out of congestion. What’s more, his kicking inside 50 is outstanding and compounds the impact he can have beyond scoring himself. While certainly on the smaller side, Dimer has all the traits to make it in a specialist role in the AFL.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

A star and embedded leader of the South Australian pathway for several years, Edwards captained the Croweaters once again at Under 18 level. He’s a genuine competitor who puts everything into the midfield battle, but can just as easily break games open when rotating deep forward. The South Adelaide product desperately extracts the ball from stoppages and has the power to explode out of congestion. It’s those kind of hallmarks which make him a difficult player to contain inside 50, where he consistently finds the goals and pops up with strong aerial efforts. Edwards can be scrappy with his ball use at times, but isn’t afraid to kick off both feet and has lifted his output around the ground. Few can claim to beat him in terms of potential hurt factor, nor leadership qualities. He most recently impressed in a SANFL League stint for the Panthers, averaging 15.2 disposals and 4.6 marks in five games as a high forward.

TOUGH AS NAILS

Williams is the kind of player every teammate and coach would love to have in their side. Not only is he a terrific character and leader, but he is also a highly skilled and effective talent. The diminutive utility defies his size with extraordinary tenacity, cracking in at the contest and refusing to be beaten. What’s more, he tackles hard and is a high-level prospect willing to defend. He is still working on becoming a nailed-on midfielder, but can impact games off a wing or half-back flank. There, Williams’ speed and precise foot skills shine. Having notched a best on ground medal in one of the two National Academy fixtures, as well as in last year’s Under 17 Futures match, he certainly enjoys the big stage. He was considered a genuine top 10 chance early in the year and has the character traits recruiters look for.

THE UNKNOWN

We were only given a brief glimpse of what Pickett is capable of this year before a major knee injury cut his campaign short. Still, he booted a pair of goals in his single Talent League appearance and has enormous potential as a premium goalkicker. The strong-marking tall debuted for Vic Country last year and established himself as one of the crop’s most dangerous key forwards, slotting a sensational 31 goals in just eight games for the Falcons. He draws comparisons to Sydney star Charlie Curnow with his ability to excel in the air and kick goals in bunches, capable of winning games off his own boot. He only needs a few opportunities to do so. Pickett was part of the National Academy and spent time training with the Geelong Cats in preseason. One to keep in mind.

DASH AND DARE

Eime was identified by his state teammates coming into the season as one to watch, and the Central District speedster has delivered. Graduating from a wing role to dominate across half-back, he averaged 22.5 disposals in 11 AAMI Talent League games and even managed a two-game stint in Adelaide’s SANFL side. His raw pace is a weapon on the rebound, with Eime able to either take ground from the kick-ins or weave around opponents while linking up with teammates. His daring approach and attacking instincts make him one of the most watchable players on this list – he consistently takes the game on. Eime tends to play at one very high gear and invites pressure, but has shown a good level of competitiveness on the defensive end. His best traits suit the way football is trending.

BURROWS IN HARD

Another product of the prolific Sandringham Dragons region, Burrows has come with a bolt in 2026. The tough and competitive utility certainly packs a punch, boasting a blend of athleticism and grit which catch the eye when combined. He initially impressed as a dogged midfielder-forward this year but a switch to defence on the eve of the National Championships helped further elevate his game. Having played his role at representative level, Burrows is back in the front half with Sandringham and could be a player who breaks into the top 20. Recruiters love his versatility and willingness to compete.

GALE FORCE RISE

Another West Australian making his way up the rankings, Gale has come on strongly in 2026. While not blessed with natural leg speed, he possesses terrific running power which has served him well in roles across half-back and the wing. At 190cm, he also has scope to become a strong ball winner on the inside who distributes confidently by foot and knows how to get into all the right spots. Part of Claremont’s premiership Colts side last year, Gale dominated WA’s state trials and went on to earn All-Australian honours for the Black Swans. He does damage on the way forward and had plenty of opportunity to carry the ball on the outside during the national champs. Since, he made his way into Claremont’s League time alongside Mellody, averaging 19 disposals in three games.