2026 AFL Draft

[wayne]

Pick 1 is ours again.

[ajGreen]

Van Hattum had a good game today

Wonder who they like most of hvh.  Gus Teixeira and Arki butler.

Unlikely it'll be someone outside that group

[TigerLand]

Significant.

Great result. Want maximum access to the pool. I

[wayne]

Port will be pleased if Butters picks us and they match. Pick 1, then Cochrane.

[one-eyed]

Harry Van Hattum - National Championships - Vic Country vs Vic Metro


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2xVYN8cRfc

------------------------------------

Dons and Tigers, take note! Top draft star’s stunning blitz — Draft Watch

Ben Waterworth
Fox Sports
July 19th, 2026

An imposing early statement from Harry Van Hattum set the tone for Vic Metro’s most dominant national championships win as the emerging ruck strengthened his case as the best open-pool prospect in this year’s AFL draft.

Van Hattum on Sunday saved his best carnival game until last, exploding out of the blocks against Vic Country and showing off his impressive mobility, as well as his spearing field kick at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

The 204cm Northern Knights star’s strong opening laid the platform for Metro’s 92-point win over Country, 20.11 (131) to 5.9 (39), to cap off a championship-winning 4-0 campaign.

Van Hattum ended with game-high clearances (6) and contested possessions (12), to go with 17 disposals, five inside 50s and 23 hit-outs, in a game where Country’s rucks had few answers, both at stoppage and around the ground.

With Dougie Cochrane (Port Adelaide NGA) and Cody Walker (Carlton father-son) widely regarded as the top two prospects in this year’s draft class, Van Hattum cemented his standing as one of the best – if not the best – non-club-tied player. Either Essendon (18th on the ladder) or Richmond (17th) are set to have the first call at the national draft.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-news-2026-harry-van-hattum-stars-as-vic-metro-claim-40-under-18-national-championships-victory-khaled-el-souki-western-bulldogs-nga-ethan-drever-vic-country-mvp/news-story/e869741aadf804ef78b45b6b9df98735

[ajGreen]

Port will be pleased if Butters picks us and they match. Pick 1, then Cochrane.

I doubt they can match.

[Darth Tiger]

Can now walk Butters thru to PSD (not that the AFL would allow that).

[the claw]

Van Hattum had a good game today

Wonder who they like most of hvh.  Gus Teixeira and Arki butler.

Unlikely it'll be someone outside that group

Id be surprised if either Teixeira or Butler are on our radar.

Gunna say im gun shy taking a ruckman so early as well. Is HVH the next Gawn or Jackson. Prefer a Max Gawn every day of the week by the way..
The point im making i can find just 5  ruckmen on all team lists taken from 20 down. It was a quick look i may have missed the odd one.
Obviously imo the odds of finding a good ruckman outside of the top 20 is good. Fmd Gawn was pick 34. The highest taken ruckman on all lists is Jackson at 3 hence i ask is there a luke Jackson available. CDT at 4 last year is the next highest. eagles obviously have to find out what they have with him. Grundy at 18 the next.

Yep happy to go second or third round but im not overly keen on top picks on ruckmen because the history tells us most are taken well after. Our own Nankervis was a pick 35 originally.

[Tiger Khosh]

I was in the same boat last year when we were being linked to CDT however HVH just looks a tonne more promising with his physical traits and skillset.

I know all talls take time to develop but he’s already such a unit that I think he can come straight in and make a decent impact.

All goes to plan (and there’s so much water to go under the bridge it’s not funny), having HVH as our number ruck who can rest forward and actually do some damage with Sims giving him a chop out will hopefully solve that position for 10-15 years.

In saying that, I am one of the few who hope we can jag another win and avoid a 2nd spoon in 3 years. Call me old fashioned but I just don’t like it 1 bit.

[Andyy]

Stars aligning.

Offer Butters more money than he can refuse.

Bid P1 on Walker so we get a compo pick.

Hit the draft with (pre-slide) P1, P19 + P20.

Take Daffy, Leys and Armstrong.

And I'm confident we can find 7 guys to cut or retire to make space. Lynch, Prestia, Broad, HRS, MRJ just to get us started.

[ajGreen]

Van Hattum had a good game today

Wonder who they like most of hvh.  Gus Teixeira and Arki butler.

Unlikely it'll be someone outside that group

Id be surprised if either Teixeira or Butler are on our radar.

Gunna say im gun shy taking a ruckman so early as well. Is HVH the next Gawn or Jackson. Prefer a Max Gawn every day of the week by the way..
The point im making i can find just 5  ruckmen on all team lists taken from 20 down. It was a quick look i may have missed the odd one.
.

To be surprised Richmond have interest in two of the top three. Open pool.  collective consensus rankings players.

Is again. A very silly position to take.

[one-eyed]

Tigers #18th I’m a lot more confident with their build that they’ll take Harry Van Hattum with their first pick #AFL #AFLDraft

Who was the better prospect, Van Hattum or CDT?

They’re very different, CDT more of a athletic utility where HVH a genuine physical key or ruck. A pure ruck that you can kick to down the line and actually uses the ball well by foot, I’d take Harry.

https://x.com/Dylfollowsdraft/status/2078811638753611857

[ajGreen]

Tigers #18th I’m a lot more confident with their build that they’ll take Harry Van Hattum with their first pick #AFL #AFLDraft

Who was the better prospect, Van Hattum or CDT?

They’re very different, CDT more of a athletic utility where HVH a genuine physical key or ruck. A pure ruck that you can kick to down the line and actually uses the ball well by foot, I’d take Harry.

https://x.com/Dylfollowsdraft/status/2078811638753611857

Also said one of the three discussed above will be at Richmond.

[ajGreen]

Van Hattum had a good game today

Wonder who they like most of hvh.  Gus Teixeira and Arki butler.

Unlikely it'll be someone outside that group

Id be surprised if either Teixeira or Butler are on our radar.

Gunna say im gun shy taking a ruckman so early as well. Is HVH the next Gawn or Jackson. Prefer a Max Gawn every day of the week by the way..
The point im making i can find just 5  ruckmen on all team lists taken from 20 down. It was a quick look i may have missed the odd one.
Obviously imo the odds of finding a good ruckman outside of the top 20 is good. Fmd Gawn was pick 34. The highest taken ruckman on all lists is Jackson at 3 hence i ask is there a luke Jackson available. CDT at 4 last year is the next highest. eagles obviously have to find out what they have with him. Grundy at 18 the next.

Yep happy to go second or third round but im not overly keen on top picks on ruckmen because the history tells us most are taken well after. Our own Nankervis was a pick 35 originally.

As for the other part of this and how obvious it is.

How many rucks have been drafted say the last ten years?

How many have played more than ten games?

20? If this group it includes Ryan. Ccj...

[the claw]

Van Hattum had a good game today

Wonder who they like most of hvh.  Gus Teixeira and Arki butler.

Unlikely it'll be someone outside that group

Id be surprised if either Teixeira or Butler are on our radar.

Gunna say im gun shy taking a ruckman so early as well. Is HVH the next Gawn or Jackson. Prefer a Max Gawn every day of the week by the way..
The point im making i can find just 5  ruckmen on all team lists taken from 20 down. It was a quick look i may have missed the odd one.
.

To be surprised Richmond have interest in two of the top three. Open pool.  collective consensus rankings players.

Is again. A very silly position to take.

Do you even look at players or do you just read a little bit on them and follow what others are saying. Going by the silly commentary
Definately the latter id say. Does list needs ever enter that tiny thing you call a brain seems not.

Imo i think the top 10 this year are very evenly matched that being the case we need genuine mids we already have Campbell and Hotton who more than fill up our FWD/MID needs.

Its a fact  most rucks and most of the good  are taken well after the top 20 in most cases. Unless we are sure HVH is the next Jackson or Gawn then pick 1 on him would be a waste.
Clubs do not use top picks on ruckmen for a reason. Its not hard to work out but your understanding of the game and how things actually work  does lack badly.
Why do i expect different from someone who constanly espouses nonsense.