By day, I work as an exercise physiologist. By night, I moonlight as an AFL draft fanatic. I'm watching 6-10 games per week, and staying across all the statistics and highlights of games and players I may have missed.
When I watch games, I have my own ranking criteria that I stand by as a measure of a player's impact on the game. Something I can use to separate prospects aside from the stats, and outside of purely football knowledge and intuition.
When it comes to putting together rankings, it's not hard to end up with a huge list of players worth noting. I've limited myself to 100 names for now, but make no mistake, there are upwards of 200 names on my radar. Without further ado, let's get into the current top 100 players in the 2026 AFL draft.
40-21
40. Harvey Spawton-Guy - KEY UTILITY - West Perth Falcons
Strong hands and good running power for his size. Gets up the ground when playing as a key forward, works hard when chopping out in the ruck and uses his strong marking ability down the line or intercepting behind the ball.
39. Tyson Bradley - KEY DEF - Sandringham Dragons
A high-level player who plies his trade in a more traditional key defender role. Bradley has a great frame and uses it well to make himself hard to beat. He can also peel off his opponent to intercept and has solid foot skills.
38. Tate Hodgson - KEY DEF - Northern Knights
An interesting key position prospect who loves to come off his opponent to get involved in offensive play. Hodgson has the size and athleticism to lock down and is a beautiful kick, he has often been the primary distributor out of the backline as well as the #1 defender.
37. Caylen Murray - HALF BACK/MID - Brisbane Academy
Great combination of leg speed and foot skills to break lines off half back, Murray can also play as an outside midfielder and uses his running power to get himself involved multiple times in transition and also hit the scoreboard.
36. Tanner Armstrong - MID - Murray Bushrangers *Richmond NGA
Intense play style that belies his stature, Armstrong brings an intensity when playing on ball to win first possession or tackle hard. Armstrong also has good speed, solid enough foot skills and shows a level of composure when playing off half-back to compliment his toughness.
35. Ben Carroll - MID - Dandenong Stingrays
Explosive speed out of stoppage with skills at ground level and overhead. Carroll has gone somewhat under the radar this year, but is starting to become a serious rankings riser as his form has become undeniable. Wins the ball on the inside and backs his leg speed to break away from congestion.
34. Albert Macgowan - MID/WING - Sandringham Dragons
Classy mover and user who has the ability to find space in congestion and the skills and smarts to do something impressive with the ball once he's in the open. Can kick on both feet and has an impressive ability to play both on-ball and out on a wing to a high level.
33. Archie Spencer - MID - Eastern Ranges
Unheralded as a midfield prospect this year who plays with great intensity and brings high quality skills in addition to his tackling pressure. Played off half back for Vic Metro where his playstyle translated nicely.
32. Archie Van Dyk - MID - South Adelaide Panthers
Someone who hasn't been able to get himself on the park yet in 2026. His performances last year were extremely impressive. A well-rounded midfielder who wins clearances, works hard both ways and can take a strong mark overhead.
31. Jackson Phillips - MID - Dandenong Stingrays
A professional level midfield prospect who can either get first hands on the ball or use it to a high level with his foot skills. Works hard to make himself dangerous in transition and get himself on the scoreboard.
30. Xavier Ladbrook - KEY UTILITY - Gippsland Power
A somewhat tricky prospect to rank, Ladbrook has played great games at both ends of the ground this year and didn't look out of place on a wing last year. Despite not yet putting together a consistent run of high-level performances so far this year, Ladbrook has shown enough to suggest that he is extremely talented and worthy of a high draft selection.
29. Darcy Szerszyn - GEN. DEF - Dandenong Stingrays
Despite only playing in one talent league game upon returning from injury, Szerszyn made his way straight into the Vic Country line-up for their first champs game, such is the level of his talent and his regard within that team. Szerszyn is capable of both locking down an opponent and playing as an interceptor, and he loves to get the ball and use his elite speed and great kicking to break lines.
28. Jack Pickett - KEY FWD - Geelong Falcons
Could be the forgotten man in this year's draft. An ACL injury has cruelled any chances of Pickett showcasing his wares this season. However, what he showed last year was more than enough to put him in the conversation with the best key forwards in this crop. Strong hands one-on-one or on the lead.
27. Mitchell Harris - KEY DEF - Woodville-West Torrens Eagles
An imposing presence behind the ball, Harris sets himself up as a one-man wall that is tough to penetrate. Not only does he have extremely strong hands, he also has the speed to stay with his opponent and the leap to either spoil strongly or take the mark over everyone's head.
26. Kale Matthews-Hampton - GEN. DEF/HALF BACK - Sturt Double Blues
Matthews-Hampton has a great combination of size and skills that allow him an element of positional versatility that is highly sought-after in the modern game. He can play as either a third tall defender or as a running half-back, and he has shown all the traits to make a move into the midfield or up to a wing.
25. Gabriel Patterson - FWD/MID - Glenelg Tigers
A slider at this point in the season, having started the year closer to the top-10. Patterson has all the attributes to be a high-level performer at the next level. Great speed, agility, size and goal sense. He still has plenty of time to work his way higher up the rankings.
24. Memphis Webb - MID - North Adelaide Roosters
Another player who has had a steep rise this year, having missed almost all of last year and the early stages of this year recovering from an ACL rupture. Webb has shown an impressive goal kicking ability at SANFL colts level while playing both forward and on the ball. At state level, Webb has also shown that he can stand up when his team needs him.
23. Jacob McNicol - MID/FWD - Glenelg Tigers
The most impactful and consistent performer at SANFL colts level this year so far, averaging 28 disposals and kicking at least 2 goals in every game he's played at that level. McNicol is a clearance winning midfielder with a great left boot and he's also a dangerous match-up when playing deep forward.
22. Khaled El Souki - FWD/MID - Western Jets *Western Bulldogs NGA
Elite left footer who is a natural offensive threat either delivering inside-50 or finishing himself. One of the most impressive things about El Souki is that he has had high possession games, high goal games and he's been able to put them both together on occasions for some monster performances.
21. Jordan Knapp - MID - Eastern Ranges
Clean and classy inside midfielder who can get first hands on the ball in tight as well as use his agility to find room and use the ball well by foot. Knapp also works hard to make himself an option on the spread which has translated well to his performances on the wings for Vic Metro.
