The first eight selections of the 2026 AFL Draft order have been locked following the conclusion of the home-and-away season, with Essendon to open this year's count at Pick 1.
With these selections in mind, Craft of the Draft ran through how the opening to the 2026 AFL Draft might unfold with a 'mini mock draft' on this week's episode.
Analyst Jonty Ralphsmith made picks for Essendon (Pick 1), West Coast (Pick 3), Melbourne (Pick 6, via Gold Coast) and GWS (Pick 7), with host Mitch Keating holding selections for Richmond (Pick 2), Port Adelaide (Pick 4), North Melbourne (Pick 5) and St Kilda (Pick 8).
By the end of the mock draft, a total of nine selections and three bids were made. Here's how it unfolded...
Pick 1 - Port Adelaide: Dougie Cochrane (Matched Essendon Bid)
| 1 RANK |  | Dougie Cochrane Central District Utility HEIGHT: 196cm |
Ralphsmith: The Port Adelaide-tied phenom who has played a few SANFL games and has looked pretty good off the back of no footy this year.
Keating: He's going to be a fascinating one with where he starts for Port (at AFL level) given what he's doing behind the ball. He's been noted as a forward target or midfielder, but given his aerial ability and elite kick, it makes a lot of sense (to see him play defence) to start off his AFL career.
*Port Adelaide will not have their Pick 4 selection in this exercise due to the Cochrane bid.
