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 4 - Richmond: Harry Van Hattum
| 4 RANK |  | Harry Van Hattum Northern Knights Ruck HEIGHT: 205cm |
Keating: If Butler's off the table, [Van Hattum] would be a consensus selection. But even if Butler was up for grabs and it was between those two, I think Harry Van Hattum is still the one (for Richmond). A generational-type ruckman, he's a perfect fit for Richmond. They've built that midfield and have the talls at either end of the ground. He's the one.
