Up the Grades: Cochrane, Walker stand tall in defeats
LEADING draft prospects Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker showed their class in stat-stuffing state league performances over the weekend. Considered by some as the top two talents in this year’s crop, the pair proved their readiness for higher levels with strong performances in heavy defeats. Meanwhile, the debuts kept on coming across the country. There […]
Up the Grades: Top prospect makes long-awaited return
JUNIOR talent continues to filter up the grades in the back-end of season 2026, with the latest batch headlined by top draft prospect Dougie Cochrane. The Port Adelaide aligned utility made his long-awaited first appearance for the season having been sidelined by knee tendinitis. While he made his club debut for the Port Magpies, several […]
Up the Grades: State teammates turn rivals in WAFL
WEST Coast father-son prospect Harper Banfield and state teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy were among the next wave of state league debutants over the weekend. Banfield claimed bragging rights in that WAFL matchup, while Jake Medved helped the Swans claim bragging rights over their local rivals. Elsewhere, Allies MVP Caylen Murray was back in action for Brisbane […]
Champions Vic Metro dominate Under 18 All-Australian team
CHAMPIONS Vic Metro have contributed a high of 10 players to the 2026 AFL Under 18 All-Australian team, with prospects scattered across each line. West Australian star Heath Mellody was awarded the prestigious Larke Medal and named captain of the 23-player side. Named at half-back, Mellody proved to be a rampant playmaker throughout the carnival, […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Allies vs. Western Australia
THE ALLIES have ended their National Championships campaign on a high after defeating Western Australia by six points in a thrilling encounter at Mars Stadium on Wednesday. The Sandgropers led by as many as 28 points during term three, but were quickly reined in and made to settle for a 2-2 record. A run of […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Vic Country vs. Western Australia
WESTERN Australia has produced a remarkable turnaround to defeat Vic Country by 16 points at Marvel Stadium on Friday evening. The Sandgropers were restricted to just one goal in the first half and trailed by 33 points early in term three, before piling on nine of the next 11 majors to bag their second win […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Western Australia vs. Vic Metro
VIC METRO brought Western Australia back down to earth with a runaway 36-point win in Cockburn on Saturday. The visitors started their campaign in style with three unanswered goals in the opening term before being reigned back in heading into half time. Riding the momentum of a two-to-three goal scoring end, Metro snuck back ahead […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Western Australia vs. South Australia
WESTERN Australia has caused a major boilover to kick off the Under 18 National Championships, defeating South Australia by 12 points at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday. The hosts burst out of the blocks with five unanswered goals in the opening term and led all day, but had their buffer cut down to less than […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL Academy vs. Richmond VFL
RICHMOND-TIED prospect Tanner Armstrong was among the standouts as the AFL Academy suffered another loss in its second and final showcase game for 2026. The Under 18 outfit pushed Richmond’s VFL side through three quarters, but ultimately went down by 49 points at IKON Park on Saturday. Armstrong’s audition against potential future teammates saw him […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL Academy vs. North Melbourne VFL
GEELONG Falcons midfielder Noah Williams was named best on ground as the AFL Academy was soundly beaten in the first of its two showcase games for 2026. The Under 18 outfit went down by 71 points to a clinical North Melbourne VFL side at Arden Street Oval on Sunday. The Roos stormed out of the […]
