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 […]
Scouting Notes: Edwards’ Panthers spoil state teammates’ debuts
KODAH Edwards got the last laugh in a clash against two state teammates on Saturday, as his South Adelaide side went one step closer to breaking into the top five. The Panthers beat Adelaide by 18 points in a close encounter at Magain Stadium, with Jake Eime and Anthony Long debuting for the Crows. >> […]
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 stars, club-tied talent climb the ranks
STATE captains, club-tied talent, and many other representative stars were among the promising juniors to turn out at state league level over the weekend. South Australian standout Kodah Edwards debuted for South Adelaide, as did Essendon-tied prospect Blake Justice and Fremantle Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Joshua Nathan in the WAFL. Catch up on how […]
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 – Vic Country vs. South Australia
SOUTH Australia has ended its Under 18 title defence on a positive note after beating Vic Country by a single point in Ballarat on Wednesday. The Croweaters overcame an inaccurate start and early Victorian onslaught to get over the line via a minor score off the boot of captain Kodah Edwards. After Vic Country’s run […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Vic Metro vs. South Australia
VIC METRO has one hand on the Under 18 National Championships title after defeating South Australia by 46 points at Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon. After being unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities in the first half, the Vics kicked away during a decisive five-goal to one third term. Tall forwards Sam Gayfer and […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – South Australia vs. Allies
SOUTH Australia has arrived at the 2026 AFL Under 18 National Championships after a thumping 66-point win over the Allies on Sunday. Having made a losing start to their title defence last week, it took a quarter time rev-up from coach Tony Bamford to kickstart the Croweaters in Alberton. Whatever he said seemed to work, […]
Top of the crop: State-by-state breakdown
WITH one round of National Championships action in the books, the picture of this year’s AFL Draft class is becoming clearer. What’s also relatively clear is which prospects are cementing themselves at the top of each state’s crop, and given AFL clubs aren’t strangers to picking local, we outline how the talent stacks up around […]
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 […]
