Author Topic: 2026 AFL Draft  (Read 50150 times)

Offline Tommy_Wolfe7

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #600 on: October 20, 2026, 07:02:36 AM »
George Dimer is one of a clump of talented small forward types likely drafted in the late first / early second round (picks 15-30ish). He’s got serious small forward attributes but probably leans towards setting up others over scoring himself. Is also a super high character guy, both in the way he thinks about things and plays the game.

Had a great chat with him here about his conversion from midfield to the forward line, Matthew Lloyd’s influence and the differences between private school footy and the Coates League.

https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2026/10/19/draft-chats-15-george-dimer/

Offline one-eyed

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #601 on: October 20, 2026, 01:10:01 PM »
Ben Waterworth on Fox indicating Richmond will take HVH at their second pick. Means Richmond and Melbourne will fight over Arki & Gus at picks 2/4.

https://x.com/Dylfollowsdraft/status/2112348134013841500

Offline one-eyed

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #602 on: October 20, 2026, 01:11:11 PM »
Only if you're certain Drever goes to the Dons. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it to the Tigers

https://x.com/Tommy_Wolfe7/status/2112358944824021317

Offline pmac21

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #603 on: October 20, 2026, 01:20:06 PM »
Ben Waterworth on Fox indicating Richmond will take HVH at their second pick. Means Richmond and Melbourne will fight over Arki & Gus at picks 2/4.

https://x.com/Dylfollowsdraft/status/2112348134013841500
This is the right move to take him with our 2nd pick.  Even if we miss on him. 
Arki Butler no matter what.

Online Tiger Khosh

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #604 on: October 20, 2026, 01:28:06 PM »
If there’s one thing I can confidently say in the build up to the draft it’s that we don’t leak intel until day of / day before. No one knew what we were doing last year and only picked us taking Sammy after they spotted the team catching a flight to go and tell his family lol

Offline ajGreen

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #605 on: October 20, 2026, 01:52:27 PM »
Tommy Wolfe latest mock has us taking  Van Hattum, Drever. Noah Williams :pray

Offline the claw

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #606 on: October 20, 2026, 02:01:13 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

Offline georgies31

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #607 on: October 20, 2026, 02:19:58 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

KPF ? We drafted 2 at the first round and Sims also they all need time to develop and no injuries.Maybe one later in the draft developing
Wings I think we're sorted the Geelong lad and Freo kid we brought in.
Alger is the Gfwd with Peuker and Campbell
Midfielders and HBF yes who can kick the footy ?



Offline the claw

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #608 on: October 20, 2026, 02:52:22 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

KPF ? We drafted 2 at the first round and Sims also they all need time to develop and no injuries.Maybe one later in the draft developing
Wings I think we're sorted the Geelong lad and Freo kid we brought in.
Alger is the Gfwd with Peuker and Campbell
Midfielders and HBF yes who can kick the footy ?
I never ever come from the perspective of just looking at the senior team. I look at what the right number for the list is with the following in mind.
 Copying what we do in the seniors, depth, competition from below and succession Imo the number is 6.
We are down to 5, Lynch has one year most likely, Fawcett is gone and needs to be replaced, Lefau is a fill in.
 It only leaves Faull, Armstrong and Sims. My money is on at least one of them being a bust.

Imo taking a kpf is more important than what people think.


Wright is a good fit for us and we could do with another either mature or junior to go with him imo. he starts in front of Lefau and would be an instant upgrade he actually covers the loss of Fawcett and had a far better year than  the three kids we have.
I think  38 goals and a shedload of marks against men  has him in front of all three imo and he certainly brings pressure for spots.

Offline ajGreen

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #609 on: October 20, 2026, 03:03:57 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

KPF ? We drafted 2 at the first round and Sims also they all need time to develop and no injuries.Maybe one later in the draft developing
Wings I think we're sorted the Geelong lad and Freo kid we brought in.
Alger is the Gfwd with Peuker and Campbell
Midfielders and HBF yes who can kick the footy ?
I never ever come from the perspective of just looking at the senior team. I look at what the right number for the list is with the following in mind.
 Copying what we do in the seniors, depth, competition from below and succession Imo the number is 6.
We are down to 5, Lynch has one year most likely, Fawcett is gone and needs to be replaced, Lefau is a fill in.
 It only leaves Faull, Armstrong and Sims. My money is on at least one of them being a bust.

Imo taking a kpf is more important than what people think.


Wright is a good fit for us and we could do with another either mature or junior to go with him imo. he starts in front of Lefau and would be an instant upgrade he actually covers the loss of Fawcett and had a far better year than  the three kids we have.
I think  38 goals and a shedload of marks against men  has him in front of all three imo and he certainly brings pressure for spots.

Yet you have a very childish way of looking at it.

The vfl side doesn't need to be an exact replication of the senior team.

For example sonsie did not play mid at afl level last season.

Offline the claw

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #610 on: October 20, 2026, 03:52:36 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

KPF ? We drafted 2 at the first round and Sims also they all need time to develop and no injuries.Maybe one later in the draft developing
Wings I think we're sorted the Geelong lad and Freo kid we brought in.
Alger is the Gfwd with Peuker and Campbell
Midfielders and HBF yes who can kick the footy ?
I never ever come from the perspective of just looking at the senior team. I look at what the right number for the list is with the following in mind.
 Copying what we do in the seniors, depth, competition from below and succession Imo the number is 6.
We are down to 5, Lynch has one year most likely, Fawcett is gone and needs to be replaced, Lefau is a fill in.
 It only leaves Faull, Armstrong and Sims. My money is on at least one of them being a bust.

Imo taking a kpf is more important than what people think.


Wright is a good fit for us and we could do with another either mature or junior to go with him imo. he starts in front of Lefau and would be an instant upgrade he actually covers the loss of Fawcett and had a far better year than  the three kids we have.
I think  38 goals and a shedload of marks against men  has him in front of all three imo and he certainly brings pressure for spots.

Yet you have a very childish way of looking at it.

The vfl side doesn't need to be an exact replication of the senior team.

For example sonsie did not play mid at afl level last season.

 if it means we are actually attempting to do in the reserves  what we do in the seniors.
yep if thats childish ill take it every day of the week Doesnt that allow for smooth transition between the two teams coming into a similar structure that we want to play with, yep its really childish to attempt to do this..

If building an actual succession plan and having players at various stages of develop that allows an actual  succession is childish then i will take it.

If building depth in each area of the list is childish yep im gunna take it.

If building competition from below and putting pressure on incumbent players is childish then yep you guessed it im happy.

Thats your problem you never ever seem capable of grasping good old common sense.

I take it your not interested in maintaining decent numbers that would allow the above to happen probably because you have nfi and resent anyone who has an opinion on it.
Cmon put up a plan that will enable us to do the above.


heres a little bit of help you obviously need it.

6 KPF
6 kPD
4 Rucks

12 - 14 mids
4 wings

6 General defenders
6 general forwards

Oh and it doest have to be exact because the thing you lack, common sense says so. It would be a good starting point for ya though you know a good guide.

Lets see what you come up with this will be a fun watch.

My money is on your happy to leave it alone nfi main reason but   your mostly  content sitting back with the cheap shots.
Always ready to have a go at those who come up with a plan but only ever happy to take cheap digs without putting up your self.

Cmon big shot lets see how you think the list should be structured and why.


Offline georgies31

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #611 on: October 20, 2026, 06:55:29 PM »
They traded up before we nabbed our pick 5 though and didn’t give up much to get there. They may have another player in mind but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t take the opportunity to draft HVH if we tried to be cute and take one of the smalls first.

Since we have 2 picks, I think we’re way better placed to take the “risk” of picking HVH as we’ll still have another to pick another target. I say risk because it’s not traditional to take a ruck that high but now that it looks to happen in b2b drafts maybe it is becoming common place. Imo he’s no bigger risk than any other player, it’s just about the worth of a ruckman.

If we are assuming the bombers take Drever, then what’s left from the consensus top contingent are a ruck (which we need) and hybrid fwd/def mids (of which we have plenty). I just wouldn’t understand the strategy of taking the risk and going one of Butler/Tex/Mellody first which risks missing out on HVH when one of those 3 will 100% still be available at our next pick.

I think your right end of the day there are all sorts of different types that we need. kpf, Mid, HB, General fwd, Wing,  and young Ruck.
Seems they have cut in a way to take HVH.

Its about who we take at pick 7.

What i find interesting is who do you rate a better player and pick Drever or Walker to me that should be Essendons dilemma.


P/A have Cochrane covered so why bid on him when you can bid on Walker who you can actually get.

KPF ? We drafted 2 at the first round and Sims also they all need time to develop and no injuries.Maybe one later in the draft developing
Wings I think we're sorted the Geelong lad and Freo kid we brought in.
Alger is the Gfwd with Peuker and Campbell
Midfielders and HBF yes who can kick the footy ?
I never ever come from the perspective of just looking at the senior team. I look at what the right number for the list is with the following in mind.
 Copying what we do in the seniors, depth, competition from below and succession Imo the number is 6.
We are down to 5, Lynch has one year most likely, Fawcett is gone and needs to be replaced, Lefau is a fill in.
 It only leaves Faull, Armstrong and Sims. My money is on at least one of them being a bust.

Imo taking a kpf is more important than what people think.


Wright is a good fit for us and we could do with another either mature or junior to go with him imo. he starts in front of Lefau and would be an instant upgrade he actually covers the loss of Fawcett and had a far better year than  the three kids we have.
I think  38 goals and a shedload of marks against men  has him in front of all three imo and he certainly brings pressure for spots.

Reckon we need to fill a few gaps from the wafl, vfl and sanfl a few mature body's.  Anyone your liking  from those competitions.

Offline Tommy_Wolfe7

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #612 on: October 20, 2026, 07:20:05 PM »
My latest mock draft is up, taking into account all the changes from the trade period.

Had a go at predicting how the first two rounds based on what we currently know (and quite a bit of my own thinking given we're too far out for real rumours to be trusted).

Keen to hear what people think!

https://readingtheplay.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/2026-afl-mock-draft-v3-0/

SPOILER: Tigers got HVH, Drever and Williams

Offline one-eyed

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #613 on: October 20, 2026, 11:12:43 PM »
The complete Herald Sun Ultimate Draft Guide highlights several key strategies and specific targets for Richmond:

• Harry Van Hattum & Mitch Harris: Richmond is heavily linked to both prospects. They are noted as filling the club's "biggest list needs," particularly in the key defensive stakes, despite the off-season arrival of free-agent ruckman/forward Kieren Briggs.

• Ethan Drever & Heath Mellody: The Tigers are keenly looking at midfield speedster Ethan Drever and silky midfielder-defender Heath Mellody. The article notes Richmond's midfield and forward halves have "lacked spark" over the past two years, making these pacey options high priorities.

• Arki Butler & Gus Teixera: This dynamic duo from the Sandringham Dragons is also firmly on Richmond's radar to inject life into their forward and midfield lines.

• Cody Walker Bid Anticipated: Carlton fans are warned to "brace for an early Richmond bid" on Cody Walker. Walker came through the Tigers' Next Generation Academy, and Richmond has a track record of bidding aggressively on rivals' academy prospects (such as placing consecutive bids on Dylan Patterson and Dan Annable the year prior).

• VFL Lifeline for Father-Son Snubs: While the club confirmed they won't nominate Jack Leys or Archie Daffy as father-son selections for the national draft, they have left the door wide open to continue their relationship by offering them official VFL opportunities for 2027 if they pass through the open draft pool unselected.

• Richmond are fans of Jake Soutar and view the mature-aged prospect as a player who can make an immediate impact. The Tigers see the 20-year-old East Perth intercept king as a ready-made general defender who could fill the void left by retired premiership hero Nathan Broad from the get-go. While Richmond holds strong interest, they face heavy competition. Separate draft intel highlights that Soutar is a highly sought-after defensive commodity, having been interviewed by 14 AFL clubs—with North Melbourne also showing keen interest in his range.

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/every-clubs-current-picks-and-the-players-linked-to-them-ahead-of-the-2026-afl-national-draft/news-story/03fde4e27071dc04ce9ff0d28757dded

Offline ajGreen

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Re: 2026 AFL Draft
« Reply #614 on: October 20, 2026, 11:36:41 PM »
Goods news in regards to daffy and Leys.