TWIST IN RACE FOR NO.1 OPEN POOL PROSPECTBen Waterworth
Foxsports
2 July 2026It was joked in the lead-up to the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash that Essendon and Richmond were playing for the ‘Van Hattum Cup’, as the loser would put itself in Seat 1A for the wooden spoon and Pick 1 in the national draft.
But halfway through this year’s Under 18 national championships, it’s no longer a clear-cut call.
As was the case heading into this season, the two most highly-touted draft prospects are club-tied players: Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker. The Power-tied Cochrane, who remains sidelined with a knee issue, is widely viewed as the No. 1 prospect. And there’s every chance Walker – who won’t play for Vic Country on Friday due to a shoulder injury – gets selected with the same pick his dad Andrew was taken with (Pick 2, 2003) in Nov ember … 23 years later.
The view among many for months was that Northern Knights star
Harry Van Hattum was part of a ‘Big Three’ at the top of the draft class with Cochrane and Walker.
But others are coming – especially a couple of Van Hattum’s Vic Metro teammates.
Harry Van Hattum of Victoria Metro and Jonah Harris of the Allies. Picture: Jordan Sacchetta/AFL Photos
Source: AFL PhotosAn athletic, hard-working and skilful 204cm prospect with a great vertical leap and ruck craft, Van Hattum has made a solid start to his national championships campaign. He opened with 11 disposals, two clearances and 15 hit-outs against WA then nine disposals, six score involvements, 24 hit-outs and a goal in Metro’s massive win over the Allies on Sunday. His work at ruck contests was impressive, but he has a big opportunity over the next two games to show off his around-the-ground athleticism and forward craft capabilities.
But two Metro teammates from the Sandringham Dragons have made their own top-end draft statements over the past fortnight.
AFL club wanted to see
Arki Butler – a highly-skilled and classy 182cm prospect with freakish talent around goal – perform strongly at national champs level. And he’s done that in Metro’s first two games.
Butler was one of his state’s best against WA, booting 2.2 from 14 touches, six score involvements and five inside 50s. A week later, he kicked another 2.2 from 15 disposals against the Allies. After starting inside 50, Butler pushed up the ground in the second half to add 10 marks and eight score involvements to his statline.
But out of Butler and
Gus Teixeira, the latter produced arguably the more effective performance on Sunday.
A 181cm forward-midfielder renowned for his speed, kicking skills and goal sense, Teixeira was the most influential four-quarter performer of the game. He kicked 4.3 from 21 disposals, nine score involvements and seven marks, playing with great energy both close to goal and between the arcs. The week before against WA, Teixeira kicked 1.2 from 15 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances.
Gus Teixeira of Victoria Metro. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesA knock on Teixeira heading into the champs was his game-to-game consistency. But he’s made a high-quality start to his carnival and played with great presence across the ground.
And there’s a Vic Country prospect that can’t be discounted from the top-end conversation, for GWV Rebels midfielder Ethan Drever has lots of fans at AFL club level.
Drever is arguably the most well-rounded open-pool prospect, for he’s consistent, versatile, strong in the contest, clean and a great runner. The 188cm on-baller carried his strong Talent League form into Vic Country’s first champs game, finishing with 0.4 – he could’ve had a massive day out – from 21 touches, eight score involvements, seven inside 50s and 512m gained against the Allies.
One scout told foxfooty.com.au Drever was “coming with a bullet” into top-end draft calculations.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2026-prospects-order-news-battle-for-top-open-pool-prospect-heats-up-as-gus-teixeira-stars-anthony-long-adelaide-under-18-national-championships-fixture-details/news-story/933299a43880a79847468487eee1cd49
