2026 AFL Draft

[one-eyed]

Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' August ranking

Remember, this is a ranking of the best prospects and does not take into account where bids on father-son or Academy players will come or where the players will necessarily get selected.

1. Dougie Cochrane               02/05/2008    195cm    Utility                        Port Adelaide/South Australia
2. Cody Walker                     26/01/2008    184cm    Midfielder                   Bendigo Pionees/Vic Country
3. Arki Butler                        23/04/2008    182cm    Forward                     Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (+1)
4. Gus Teixiera                      29/03/2008    181cm    Midfielder                  Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (-1)
5. Harry Van Hattum             01/07/2008    205cm      Ruck                        Northern Knights/Vic Metro
6. Ethan Drever                    10/07/2008    188cm    Midfielder                   GWV Rebels/Vic Country
7. Heath Mellody                   27/07/2008    184cm    Defender/Midfielder    Claremont/Western Australia
8. Ethan Matthews                04/09/2008    185cm     Midfielder                  GWS Academy/Allies
9. Clancy Snell                      21/08/2008    196cm    Key Defender             Gippsland Power/Vic Country
10. Wil Malady                      12/10/2008    190cm     Forward                    Gippsland Power/Vic Country (+1)
11. Leo Steed                       07/03/2008    176cm     Midfielder                  Swan Districts/Western Australia (-1)
12. Mitch Harris                    01/07/2008    196cm     Key Defender             Woodville-West Torrens/SA (+1)
13. Sam Gayfer                     21/05/2008    194cm     Key Forward              Northern Knights/Vic Metro (+5)
14. Caylen Murray                 03/01/2008    183cm     Midfielder/Defender    Brisbane Academy/Allies
15. Jackson Phillips                30/01/2008    182cm     Midfielder                  Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country (+1)
16. Noah Williams                 22/01/2008    177cm     Midfielder                  Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (-4)
17. Tyson Bradley                  16/09/2008    195cm     Key Defender             Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (+4)
18. Lochie Burrows                11/04/2008    181cm     Midfielder/Defender    Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (new)
19. Toby Krasna                    28/02/2008     181cm     Midfielder                  Northern Knights/Vic Metro (+1)
20. Kodah Edwards                25/07/2008    183cm     Midfielder/Forward     South Adelaide/South Australia (-5)
21. George Dimer                  21/06/2008    173cm     Small Forward           Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (new)
22. Jack Pickett                     06/03/2008    194cm     Tall Forward               Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (-5)
23. Khaled El Souki                04/07/2008    175cm     Small Forward           Western Jets/Vic Metro (new)
24. Jack Eime                       29/07/2008     183cm     Defender                   Central District/South Australia (-2)
25. Marlon Neocleous            26/02/2008     168cm     Small Forward           Gippsland Power/Vic Country (-1)

Dropped out of Top 25 since July

Ethan Herbert                  01/11/2008    200cm      Ruck                        North Adelaide/South Australia (-7)
Jack Slattery                   27/09/2008     192cm     Forward                    Woodville-West Torrens/SA (-3)
George Gale                    06/09/2008     190cm     Midfielder                 Claremont/Western Australia (-1)

Full profiles here: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1589281/cal-twomeys-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-august-ranking

Harvie Cooke most unlucky not to make this list of 25. Having a really good year and will be in next month's list. Others on the fringe: Will Antrobus, Ethan Herbert, George Gale, Lachie Hicks, Archie Elliott, Archie Van Dyke, Jack Slattery. @AFLcomau

- Callum Twomey

https://x.com/i/status/2090265043976020076

[one-eyed]

Ridiculous second game of senior footy from Larke medallist Heath Mellody today for Claremont against West Coast. Finished with a game-high 33 disposals, 10 tackles and a crucial final-quarter goal in the hard-fought win over a fast-finishing Eagles. His draft stocks continue to rise.

VIDEO: https://x.com/jordan_mc12/status/2091124845895377056

[one-eyed]

Top eight picks of the draft locked in

Picks 1-5 eligible for a bonus pick at the start of the second round under new rule.

Pick 1 Essendon
Pick 2 Richmond
Pick 3 West Coast
Pick 4 Port Adelaide
Pick 5 North Melb
Pick 6 Melbourne (tied to GC)
Pick 7 GWS
Pick 8 St Kilda

https://x.com/CalTwomey/status/2091481988398244326

[Andyy]

So we 100% need to bid on either Cochrane (pending Port/Butter negotiations) or Walker (F Carlscum).

Some things I would be considering:
- Bid on Walker
- Get compo pick (P19-20 before slides)
- Assuming Dons haven't bid on Cochrane already (to preserve P1 prestige), this moves Cochrane down the draft to at least P3, making it easier for Port to match
- Take player with our pick 3 post-Walker bid
- Port accept FA compo for Butters (pick 5 before slides)
- Trade F1 to Port for Todd Marshall, who is out of favour, contracted for another 3 years, and fills a need we have as a mature (albeit modest) KPF. Or another similar fridge player.

Port will then have picks 4-5 before slides and may be able to secure Cochrane with a regular pick, whilst effectively keep their first pick, and securing 2027 P1-3 for Marshall who isn't getting a game, essentially trading Butters for 2x top 5 picks and some salary dumping.

Maybe not a complete plan, but just food for thought.

[Damo]

Of course Essendon bids

It’s 100%

Pick one prestige my arse .. there is an end of round one pick at stake

[Tiger Khosh]

It was less about prestige and more about the marketing of promoting your player as pick 1 in the draft. With the new rules that will absolutely be done away with. Even if you think there is a better player than a f/s or academy player you’d be foolish not to bid and essentially pickup a free end of first round pick.

[Tiger Khosh]

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/21/afl-draft-harry-van-hattum-exclusive-draft-feature-sen

Good interview with HVH, says he’s met with 8 or 9 clubs but us the most. Honestly feel like it’s shifted from him being #1 pick to Butler/Tex being ahead of him after a modest national championships where he was nursing an injury. Worried when he shows off his freak athleticism at the combine that it will move him ahead of the field again.

[camboon]

Of course Essendon bids

It’s 100%

Pick one prestige my arse .. there is an end of round one pick at stake

Agree, an end of first round won’t be passed up by any club .

[Andyy]

Prestige is the best word I could think of at the time, but yes I agree, no club would pass it up even those drug cheats. But we also don't know what else the AFL will give them for being poo.

[one-eyed]

DON’S PICK 1 STRATEGY ... AND WHAT IT WILL REVEAL

Unlike recent seasons, 2026’s No.1 draft pick standout is yet to truly emerge.

That is, any No.1 draft pick within the Bombers’ grasp, with Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker tied to Port Adelaide and Carlton respectively as father-son boom recruits.

Emerging Northern Knights ruckman Harry Van Hattum was an early Pick 1 frontrunner.

But it would be a bold move for the Bombers to invest another early pick into a speculative tall – especially after Vigo Visentini ended the season with an eye-catching three-game stretch rucking alongside Nick Bryan.

Mid-forward Gus Teixeira and goalsneak Arki Butler loom as the frontrunners to become Bombers, either before or after bids for Cochrane and Walker.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/essendon-bombers/afl-2026-mark-mcveighs-todo-list-as-essendon-coach-zach-merrett-trade-assistant-coaches-exodus-offer-to-james-hird-sam-durham-captaincy-analysis/news-story/88287fb23ec4bdb2b0f94c1a9492e8ec

[Francois Jackson]

Who is in charge of recruiting these days? I wouldn't have a clue.  They will be out of a job soon if our kids don't start performing.

I see smith who trained with us playing outstanding footy for the blues, and the kid from geelong dominating who played in our vfl side. Actually both players did   

[MintOnLamb]

Who is in charge of recruiting these days? I wouldn't have a clue.  They will be out of a job soon if our kids don't start performing.

I see smith who trained with us playing outstanding footy for the blues, and the kid from geelong dominating who played in our vfl side. Actually both players did   

That would be Mannagh plus add Donaldson to that list

[the claw]

So we 100% need to bid on either Cochrane (pending Port/Butter negotiations) or Walker (F Carlscum).

Some things I would be considering:
- Bid on Walker
- Get compo pick (P19-20 before slides)
- Assuming Dons haven't bid on Cochrane already (to preserve P1 prestige), this moves Cochrane down the draft to at least P3, making it easier for Port to match
- Take player with our pick 3 post-Walker bid
- Port accept FA compo for Butters (pick 5 before slides)
- Trade F1 to Port for Todd Marshall, who is out of favour, contracted for another 3 years, and fills a need we have as a mature (albeit modest) KPF. Or another similar fridge player.

Port will then have picks 4-5 before slides and may be able to secure Cochrane with a regular pick, whilst effectively keep their first pick, and securing 2027 P1-3 for Marshall who isn't getting a game, essentially trading Butters for 2x top 5 picks and some salary dumping.

Maybe not a complete plan, but just food for thought.

What is to stop Essendon Bidding on Cochrane and when Port match Bid on Walker. They seem to be the two top ranking  picks.

That would mean our pick 2 becomes pick 4 and we would have to bid on Mathews who is the next tied player  if we want a compo pick.

[Andyy]

Nothing stopping them claw.

Historically we don't see a lot of bidding IMO, once clubs realise they won't get that player and the other club will match.

The compo pick is providing incentive, but if you're limited to 1 compo pick each, I'd be very surprised to see any club bid twice.

[Tiger Khosh]

I think Essendon will bid, then take their player, then we will bid and then take our player. I think clubs have shied away in the past from bidding at pick 1 for the reasons Andy has mentioned above but the new incentive will finally put an end to that BS. We don’t have that incentive to bid with our pick considering we’ll already have the compo locked in but I’d still expect us to do it. No difference in saying you’ve got pick 3 to pick 4 so may aswell may Carlton pay up.