2026 AFL Draft

[Tommy_Wolfe7]

Had a chat with Gippsland speedster Judd Burgiel about his season, mindset and draft journey. Missed National Championships selection, but was one of the very best in the Coates League grand final.


https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2026/10/14/draft-chats-13-judd-burgiel/

[Tiger Khosh]

Its pretty simple for me. If we have botched more than 2 picks from our 2024 draft that wont be elite then its a hard no for HVY. Take 2 mids.

smilie is likely one already 

Problem is out of the top5 open pool players, only Drever is classified as a pure mid. Butler & Tex are the fwd/mid types and mellody def/mid.

I still the bombers are a chance to take butler with their pick, which would make things interesting if Drever is available at ours.

Do you take Drever and hope HVH is still available at our next pick or take HVH and hope Drever is still available. My reading tells me that Tex will most likely be the one left at our next pick so you wouldn’t be able to get both Drever and HVH which would be my preferred combo.

[Francois Jackson]

Its pretty simple for me. If we have botched more than 2 picks from our 2024 draft that wont be elite then its a hard no for HVY. Take 2 mids.

smilie is likely one already 

Problem is out of the top5 open pool players, only Drever is classified as a pure mid. Butler & Tex are the fwd/mid types and mellody def/mid.

I still the bombers are a chance to take butler with their pick, which would make things interesting if Drever is available at ours.

Do you take Drever and hope HVH is still available at our next pick or take HVH and hope Drever is still available. My reading tells me that Tex will most likely be the one left at our next pick so you wouldn’t be able to get both Drever and HVH which would be my preferred combo.

I get your point and but perhaps we have seen enough of Taj to throw him in the middle.

No chance IMO they are not taking Drever. Bombers kid growing up and they have form in this area. Robey, Sharp im pretty sure were both fans.

I wish they would take Walker personally.

[Tiger Khosh]

Butler is also a bombers supporter.

I think they’ll most likely take Drever too but I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s locked in yet.

They drafted 2 big bodied mids last year, if they rate them around the same talent wise, could see them taking a more forward inclined player in butler.

[ajGreen]

Hoping we take two of the big five.

Gayfer or harris type would be a bit spooky after such an expensive trade

[ajGreen]

Becomes fascinating now if Richmond will take who they want most @ 2 or try and poker wce and Melbourne.

[TigerLand]

Butler is also a bombers supporter.

I think they’ll most likely take Drever too but I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s locked in yet.

They drafted 2 big bodied mids last year, if they rate them around the same talent wise, could see them taking a more forward inclined player in butler.

Can see bombers being spooked with the failings of mid/fwds of the past. Perkins, Cox, Zaharakis was ok but didn't fulfil potential,

[the claw]

Its pretty simple for me. If we have botched more than 2 picks from our 2024 draft that wont be elite then its a hard no for HVY. Take 2 mids.

smilie is likely one already 

Problem is out of the top5 open pool players, only Drever is classified as a pure mid. Butler & Tex are the fwd/mid types and mellody def/mid.

I still the bombers are a chance to take butler with their pick, which would make things interesting if Drever is available at ours.

Do you take Drever and hope HVH is still available at our next pick or take HVH and hope Drever is still available. My reading tells me that Tex will most likely be the one left at our next pick so you wouldn’t be able to get both Drever and HVH which would be my preferred combo.

I get your point and but perhaps we have seen enough of Taj to throw him in the middle.

No chance IMO they are not taking Drever. Bombers kid growing up and they have form in this area. Robey, Sharp im pretty sure were both fans.

I wish they would take Walker personally.

With Martin over injury  and Bowes drafted , Durham  along with Robey Sharp im hoping they go HVR and then use 17,21 27 on mids there will be good ones available at those picks but they do need a ruck probably more than us.

[one-eyed]

Journo: Is there a particular player that you have your eye on at pick 5?

Hartley: Maybe, but I'm not telling you.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2151796/hes-fully-committed-going-forward-hartley

[TigerLand]

Its pretty simple for me. If we have botched more than 2 picks from our 2024 draft that wont be elite then its a hard no for HVY. Take 2 mids.

smilie is likely one already 

Problem is out of the top5 open pool players, only Drever is classified as a pure mid. Butler & Tex are the fwd/mid types and mellody def/mid.

I still the bombers are a chance to take butler with their pick, which would make things interesting if Drever is available at ours.

Do you take Drever and hope HVH is still available at our next pick or take HVH and hope Drever is still available. My reading tells me that Tex will most likely be the one left at our next pick so you wouldn’t be able to get both Drever and HVH which would be my preferred combo.

I get your point and but perhaps we have seen enough of Taj to throw him in the middle.

No chance IMO they are not taking Drever. Bombers kid growing up and they have form in this area. Robey, Sharp im pretty sure were both fans.

I wish they would take Walker personally.

With Martin over injury  and Bowes drafted , Durham  along with Robey Sharp im hoping they go HVR and then use 17,21 27 on mids there will be good ones available at those picks but they do need a ruck probably more than us.

With us picking up Briggs agree with you.

Don's don't need an 18yo ruck tho as much as they need an AFL quality 23yo+

[TigerLand]

So draft haul this year.

2, 5 and 44, it doesn't get mentioned that we will get pick 23 as compo.

With only a 3rd rounder next year, I expect us to trade with Tasmania possibly a Brown, Banks, Mansell type and see if we can snare a 1st rounder for them.

[one-eyed]

First-round Phantom Draft: An early look at who goes where, when bids will come

Jasper Chellappah
ESPN
Oct 14, 2026, 10:00 PM

Exactly five weeks out from the 2026 AFL Draft, this is ESPN's first-round Phantom Draft.

1. Port Adelaide: Dougie Cochrane .......... (Picks used to match bid: 7 and 12)
2. Essendon: Ethan Drever

3. Richmond: Arki Butler
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
MID/FWD, 182cm

Richmond's decision here will be highly dependent on their intel into West Coast and Melbourne after them. Butler presents as the best on the board and most unlikely to be available at their next selection. He's a match-winner inside forward 50 with aerial strength and tricks at ground level, kicking goals in bunches and pinch-hitting with power through the middle. With a host of tall forwards and midfielders drafted in recent years, Butler fits nicely amongst the young Tigers nucleus but real interest in Harry Van Hattum could see them flip this order.

In the mix: Harry Van Hattum, Ethan Drever


4. Carlton: Cody Walker ......... (Picks used to match bid: 12 and 17)
5. West Coast: Heath Mellody
6. Melbourne: Mitch Harris

7. Richmond: Harry Van Hattum
Northern Knights/Vic Metro
RUC/FWD, 205cm

Richmond would be thrilled to see Van Hattum get through to the pick they brought in via Port Adelaide. The big ruck trained with the club over pre-season and he ripped games apart at various stages of 2026. Van Hattum plays with a physical edge, follows up as an extra midfielder and uses the ball beautifully off his favoured right boot. He looms as the perfect replacement for skipper Toby Nankervis, so much so that Van Hattum could even be snapped up by the Tigers with their first selection before Melbourne gets a look in.

In the mix: Gus Teixeira, Mitch Harris


8. GWS: Ethan Matthews ........... (Picks used to match bid: 11 and 19)
9. Sydney: Gus Teixeira
10. Gold Coast: Sam Gayfer
11. Brisbane: Caylen Murray ........... (Picks used to match bid: 21 and 27)
12. St Kilda: Wil Malady
13. Collingwood: Tyson Bradley
14. Melbourne: Leo Steed
15. Adelaide: Clancy Snell
16. St Kilda: Lochie Burrows
17. Essendon: George Dimer
18. Fremantle: Jake Soutar

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/50112069/afl-draft-2026-combine-results-power-rankings-october-top-40-ethan-drever-cody-walker-dougie-cochrane-sam-gayfer

[Damo]

Surely we bid on Walker if Essendon don’t ?

[Tiger Khosh]

100% would expect us to bid.

Man these next 5 weeks of mock drafts are gonna drain it.

[ajGreen]

First-round Phantom Draft: An early look at who goes where, when bids will come

Jasper Chellappah
ESPN
Oct 14, 2026, 10:00 PM

Exactly five weeks out from the 2026 AFL Draft, this is ESPN's first-round Phantom Draft.

1. Port Adelaide: Dougie Cochrane .......... (Picks used to match bid: 7 and 12)
2. Essendon: Ethan Drever

3. Richmond: Arki Butler
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
MID/FWD, 182cm

Richmond's decision here will be highly dependent on their intel into West Coast and Melbourne after them. Butler presents as the best on the board and most unlikely to be available at their next selection. He's a match-winner inside forward 50 with aerial strength and tricks at ground level, kicking goals in bunches and pinch-hitting with power through the middle. With a host of tall forwards and midfielders drafted in recent years, Butler fits nicely amongst the young Tigers nucleus but real interest in Harry Van Hattum could see them flip this order.

In the mix: Harry Van Hattum, Ethan Drever


4. Carlton: Cody Walker ......... (Picks used to match bid: 12 and 17)
5. West Coast: Heath Mellody
6. Melbourne: Mitch Harris

7. Richmond: Harry Van Hattum
Northern Knights/Vic Metro
RUC/FWD, 205cm

Richmond would be thrilled to see Van Hattum get through to the pick they brought in via Port Adelaide. The big ruck trained with the club over pre-season and he ripped games apart at various stages of 2026. Van Hattum plays with a physical edge, follows up as an extra midfielder and uses the ball beautifully off his favoured right boot. He looms as the perfect replacement for skipper Toby Nankervis, so much so that Van Hattum could even be snapped up by the Tigers with their first selection before Melbourne gets a look in.

In the mix: Gus Teixeira, Mitch Harris


8. GWS: Ethan Matthews ........... (Picks used to match bid: 11 and 19)
9. Sydney: Gus Teixeira
10. Gold Coast: Sam Gayfer
11. Brisbane: Caylen Murray ........... (Picks used to match bid: 21 and 27)
12. St Kilda: Wil Malady
13. Collingwood: Tyson Bradley
14. Melbourne: Leo Steed
15. Adelaide: Clancy Snell
16. St Kilda: Lochie Burrows
17. Essendon: George Dimer
18. Fremantle: Jake Soutar

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/50112069/afl-draft-2026-combine-results-power-rankings-october-top-40-ethan-drever-cody-walker-dougie-cochrane-sam-gayfer

That's the way I'm leaning atm.

Butler and hvh...

If Melbourne call our bluff and take hvh.

Then you take home butler and Teixeira. Hopefully rounds out forward line and big shot in arm midfield.