Almanac Footy: 2026 AFL Draftees Preview – Ch.1
31/3/26:
Here we look at our first batch consisting of 40 boys made up from a combination of the 2026 Academy and some outstanding efforts in the first two rounds of the Coates Talent League. As usual, we sort the players into their height categories, listing their playing positions and teams.
As yet, the players haven’t been graded, although there are already some talented ones there. That will come as the season progresses.
Already some of you might recognise some surnames. Cody Walker from the Bendigo Pioneers is the son of Andrew Walker (Carlton). Carlton and Richmond are having a battle with the AFL over Father/Son or NGA recruit respectively. Although, he has already nominated Carlton as his preference.
Next, Jett Flower is the grandson of Melbourne great, Robbie Flower.
Also, 194 cm forward Dougie Cochrane is the son of Port and North’s Stuart Cochrane.
Of course, as per the usual genealogy of sport, we see other famous surnames – Beams, Hodgson, Le Cras. Ah, yes, and Aidan McCartney is the son of North’s Jason McCartney, and qualifies both as a North F/S and the Swans Academy.
Another interesting drafting season coming up.
| <180cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| T.Armstrong | M/D | MB/VC |
| A.Butler | F/M | SD/VM |
| N.Williams | M | GF/VC |
| K. El Souki | F/M | WJ |
| H.Cooke | M | NK |
| M.Prasad | F/M | DS |
| M.Owen | M | LionsA |
| M.Thompson | M/D/F | BP |
| 181-185cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| K.Edwards | M/F | SA/SA |
| J.Gordon | D/M | CD/SA |
| A.Hill | D | SunsA/Q |
| G.Kenh | D | EP/WA |
| E.Matthews | D/M | GiantsA/NSW |
| H.Mellody | W/D | C/WA |
| C.Murray | D/M | LionsA/Qld |
| G.Patterson | F | G/SA |
| C.Walker | M/F | BP/VC |
| L.Hicks | M/F | WJ |
| J.Beams | M/D | T/D |
| J.Flower | D/W | ER |
| J.Hewitt | D | MB |
| M.Downes | M | NK |
| 186-189cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| H.Chapman | W | ER/VM |
| D.Szerszyn | D | DS/VC |
| A.Macgowan | M | SD |
| E.Drever | M | GWV |
| 190-194cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| T.Hodgson | D | NK/VM |
| K.Le Cras | F | WP/WA |
| W.Malady | F | GP/VC |
| A.McCartney | F | SwansA/NSW |
| J.Pickett | F | GF/VC |
| S.Marsic | F | OC |
| N.Staropoli | D | CC |
| 195-199cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| D.Cochrane | F/D | CD/SA |
| L.Houndsome | R/F | NK/VM |
| M.Buck | R | WJ |
| 200+cm | Pos | State |
| Name | ||
| E.Herbert | R | NA/SA |
| X.Ladbrook | R | GP/VC |
| H.Van Hattem | R/F | NK/VM |
| B.Van Rooyen | R | C/WA |
You can follow all my list updates as they become available at https://www.ozfootylistmanager.com/2026-lists-new.html
More from Micky McTigger can be read Here.
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It was 25 years ago that I began developing a model for analysing footy squad lists for the purpose of improving those lists into a premiership window. Since then, the model has been used to successfully predict premiership clubs and to improve either lop-sided or underdeveloped lists into premiership lists. Indeed, the model was used for an article that I had published as a double page spread in The Age 2005 Pre-Season magazine. Over the 25 years, I have analysed the annual lists of one particular club but have used it for other clubs upon request. It has always been on my bucket list to display the lists of all the clubs, using the model, which I've done since 2021 on my website - OzFootyListManager.com
So is there a grandfather-grandson law to tie young Flower to Melbourne?
Incidentally the father-son law was established to make sure Ron Barassi Jnr became a Dee after Ron Snr lost his life in World War 11.
The AFL should intervene.