Again though (and this is just my opinion but its one shared by many other watchers) this isn’t a situation like we’ve seen over the last two drafts where the top of the pool is quite even and players are likely to rise and fall over the course of the year.
Dougie Cochrane enters the year as a Harley Reid kind of talent. A true “tier 0” generational prospect. There was never much of a chance of Harley sliding out of pick one in 2023. In this case, the only difference with the Harley draft is that we also have Cody Walker who’s also an incredible talent. But barring any kind of disaster, Dougie isn’t sliding out of the top 2, and his main pick 1 rival is also club tied, so its not like the Uwland/Duursma situation.
Things change in a top age season, we can revisit this a year from now and talk about how wrong I was, but there’s a significant gap right now to the rest of the field.
Dougie has the added bonus of training with Port all year and being coached to their game style in preparation for next. He is basically on their list now so they have him a year in advance which is utterly ridiculous IMO
To be fair NGA kids in VIC have the same opportunity. Huss and Sweid trained at the club every chance they had (school permitting). Bewick as a F/S will be the same, he may even do some January sessions next year
Everyone wants to play midfield these days. That’s where the money and accolades are when you get into the AFL. This is why you have mids that are now 190cm+and small forwards and defenders that are pushing to get into the midfield.
I’d take whichever of those small forwards is a strong overhead mark. That and a hard running/highly skilled outside mid would be my priorities for the 26 draft
Big difference is Dougie will attend every training possible with Port and will play around a dozen or more SANFL games for them under their style and instruction from above. He is in effect in an AFL system as of now and will get all associated benefits from medical etc
I’d be stunned if someone drafts Neocleous with the intention of playing much mid if he’s 168cm.
Granted I’ve only seen the one game where he kicked 4 goals, but he’d be well advised to continue to hone his craft as a small forward if he’s going to make it at AFL level.
A prospect in the extended first round mix for 2026, Gus Teixeira is a hard working wing or half forward with running power on the outside and creativity with his disposal. The Dragons always seem to have a handful of kids emerge in their top age season to dominate the Talent League and Teixeira looks to be a strong candidate to do just that.
Heath Mellody, not to be confused with Will Malady, looks to be one of the top prospects from WA in next years draft pool. In the Futures game on grand final day he played mostly on a wing, holding his width well and showing elite running power (both endurance and pace) to burn off his man and continually find space, allowing him to be used regularly as an outlet by his teammates and finding a significant amount of the ball. While his disposal was a little off here, typically Mellody is a penetrating and accurate kick of the footy.
I expect us to have pick #5-#8 (before compo and matching).
Obviously if we trade out players for good compensation that solves the problem. But if we don’t, outside of trading our first I think there is a good chance of missing Bewick if he goes very early (assuming the AFL doesn’t increase the discount which we should be lobbying for).
Surely there has to be some change to the compensation/draft points system in a year where the AFL has magically generated a bunch of extra picks for Tassie
For me there’s no chance we miss out on Bewick. We’ve had plenty of time to prepare, we’ll be able to dip into future picks to trade in extra capital, there will be a team in Tasmania with a stack of early picks that they’ll be required to trade.
Unless the AFL changes the rules again to make it essentially impossible, then we will be able to get it done as long as we choose to do so.
Too early really, but based on what I’ve seen so far (mostly U16 champs) I’d have a few ahead of him.
Baxter Sruk
Axel Walsh
Zemes Pilot
Those three for sure… and then for me Koby is in the next group with Jake Miller and maybe Max Gulliver.
Koby still needs to mature physically a lot more than most of the kids mentioned.
Big if, but IF this group continues at its current trajectory then it will be a boom crop. This is fantastic for us, as Koby will end up going later than he might otherwise have in a weaker draft.
