2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Alana Evans
CENTRAL District Under 18s skipper Alana Evans is a very different player to older sister Jasmine, but is forging her own path by making the State Academy in her top-age season. The young Bulldogs leader is captaining her side in the inaugural season of the AAMI Talent League and looking to build on her game […]
NTFL MPL: Green Machine rolls on into decider
ST MARY’S has punched its ticked to the 2026 NTFL Men’s Premier League Grand Final after a comprehensive 53-point win over Southern Districts in Saturday night’s preliminary final. The Saints will move on to face Nightcliff in the decider on Saturday in a replay of the 2024 edition. After claiming this season’s minor premiership, the […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Lily Milner
GIPPSLAND Power prospect Lily Milner has spent time across different roles and looms as one to watch in 2026. The Vic Country Under 16s representative found her place in the Power lineup last season, and alongside Grace Dillow loom as the two key rotating midfielder/forwards from the Gippsland region. We spoke to Milner at the […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Emily Mableson
TALENTED defender-midfielder Emily Mableson has caught the eye over the last few seasons, rated incredibly highly internally at the Bloods for her work ethic and willingness to improve, while also getting it done out of the field for club and state. An MVP at Under 16s level, Mableson remains one to watch in 2026 as […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Evie Bowie
A RELATIVE latecomer to the Australian rules football code, Evie Bowie has certainly made up for lost time, drawing plenty of pundits over the last couple of seasons. Capable of rolling inside or outside the contest, the talented athlete is a name to remember out of the Sydney Swans Academy and New South Wales for […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bridie Neale
A HARD running winger out of Eastern Ranges, Bridie Neale had a memorable bottom-age season where she played a key role on the outside to help the Ranges build towards a maiden girls’ flag. Neale anticipates a role change to greater versatility in 2026, but loves to run and will round out her game throughout […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Milly Shortal
GREATER Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels midfielder Milly Shortal earned a late call-up to Vic Country last year, playing in the final game before earning a spot with the side in the summer hub. Also a talented basketballer, Shortal thrives on the football culture and is ready to make every post a winner in 2026. We […]
2026 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Wildcards
THE EARLY consensus surrounding this year’s race to pick one suggests a pair of frontrunners have emerged in Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker. While the likes of Harley Reid and Willem Duursma have followed through on that promise in recent times, the run isn’t always linear and new contenders stake their claims. We pitch another […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series – Academy sides
ROUND 1 of the 2026 NSW/ACT Women’s Under 22 Summer Series is in the books with both Academy sides recording impressive wins over AFL Canberra and AFL Sydney. The Swans Academy crushed the former by 138 points – restricting them to just one behind – while the Giants Academy overcame a third term fight back […]
Talent League Boys: Must-watch fixtures in 2026
A BRIMMING Talent League fixture has been revealed, with the number of landmark events continuing to expand in 2026. Northern Academies will enjoy an extended stay, while the Bachar Houli Foundation makes for an 18th team in the competition, as a grand tour of regional venues rages on. We outline the marquee matches that shape […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series – Academy sides
ROUND 1 of the 2026 NSW/ACT Women’s Under 22 Summer Series is in the books with both Academy sides recording impressive wins over AFL Canberra and AFL Sydney. The Swans Academy crushed the former by 138 points – restricting them to just one behind – while the Giants Academy overcame a third term fight back […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Swans Academy vs. AFL Canberra U22
THE SWANS Academy was victorious in its opening Summer Series clash on Saturday, defeating the AFL Canberra Under 22 outfit by 31 points at Henson Park. Three unanswered first quarter goals set the platform for the more junior side, as they withstood each challenge to salute 8.11 (59) to 4.4 (28). It only took the […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Giants Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22
THE GIANTS Academy has run out of gas in its opening Summer Series clash, going down to AFL Sydney Under 22 by 26 points at Henson Park on Saturday. After leading at the first break, the Giants were made to rue lapses in concentration, but showed good fight in the 6.5 (41) to 9.13 (67) […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 NTFL U18 Futures Girls
TEAM Spears came up trumps in Saturday’s NTFL Under 18 Futures Girls showcase game at TIO Stadium. Kicking off All-Star weekend with a high-paced contest, the Spears led at every break and turned a four-point advantage into their 21-point victory during the fourth quarter. We took note of some of the top performers from either […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 NTFL U18 Futures Boys
TEAM SPEARS saluted in Saturday’s Under 18 Futures match, as part of the NTFL’s All-Star weekend. Wanderers prospect Sonny Smiler shone with a bag of five goals in the romping win, which showcased the best emerging talent the Northern Territory has to offer. We took note of some of the standout performances from either side. […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 National Under 17 Futures
THE ANNUAL Under 17 Futures showcase saw Team Boak score a 13-point win over Team Docherty in Saturday’s curtain-raiser to the AFL Grand Final. A pair of Vic Country prospects took out best on ground honours as 45 of the nation’s best prospects for next year strutted their stuff on the MCG. We took note […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 SANFL U17 Futures Match
TEAM Blue took the chocolates in Sunday’s annual SANFL Under 17 Futures match, played as a curtain-raiser to the Reserves Grand Final at Adelaide Oval. The exhibition game showcased some of South Australia’s best 2008 and 2009-born prospects, primed for the next two AFL drafts. An entertaining opening quarter yielded the most scoring, with Team […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 WAFL Colts Grand Final
CLAREMONT has claimed its third consecutive WAFL Colts premiership after defeating minor premier South Fremantle in Sunday’s decider. The Tigers took out the flag from third and succeeded in their sixth Grand Final appearance in seven years, proving a powerhouse of the junior competition. An electric start to proceedings saw both teams pile on four […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 Coates Talent League Grand Final
EASTERN Ranges clinched their first Coates Talent League premiership since 2013 on Saturday, defeating three-time reigning premier Sandringham by 15 points at IKON Park. In a high-quality and high-octane contest, the Ranges surged home with four unanswered goals in the final quarter. We took note of the top prospects and performers from either side, including […]
Scouting Notes: 2025 CTL Girls Grand Final – Eastern vs Dandenong
EASTERN Ranges broke through for their first Coates Talent League Girls premiership on the weekend with a well-balanced contribution from across the 23 players. We take a look at some of the standouts from both the Ranges and Dandenong Stingrays from the grand final.