It's finally here.
For the first time in 2026, Craft of the Draft has revealed its top 30 AFL Draft prospects, which entails a strong mix of positional prospects.
The standout feature of the list is the number of AFL Academy members missing, with 10 not making the list.
While the top two prospects are both club-tied, there are far fewer club-linked prospects at the top-end than recent years, with just four in the top 30, none of which are from the traditionally strong northern academies.
Victorians lead the way as usual, with a whopping 20 on the list from the home of football, alongside six South Australians and four Western Australians.
This masthead will release an updated list on the first day of each month.
Around the mark
Sturt's Kale Matthews-Hampton was the hardest name to leave off this list having proven his intercepting aptitude and versatility at SANFL Under-18s and AFL Academy level so far in 2026. Oakleigh Chargers key forward Seb Marsic was also close as a high-upside player with strong hands who has never been in the talent pathway before this year. His athletic forward teammate Flynn Woolhouse enhanced his stocks at the Victorian trial game and can take a good grab. Aidan McCartney, tied to both North Melbourne and Sydney, is exceptionally hard to place given he will miss the year with injury, but could have made the list. South Australian pair Harry Franz and Jake Eime both have their fans. Western Australian pair Leo Steed and Finlay Yeo were also right on the precipice after strong starts to the season. Left-footed Northern Territory prospect Sonny Smiler has speed and was added to the AFL Academy, underlining the intrigue around him. A dark horse who has garnered plenty of eyeballs despite not having a pre-season due to injury is diminutive Sandringham forward George Dimer who is arguably the cleanest player in the draft class and among the most watchable.
10-6
10 - Gabriel Patterson (Glenelg, forward)
Pies fans, look away. The son of 96-game former Magpie, Stephen, Patterson shapes as a potential top-10 prospect. Always on the move, busy and looking to make things happen, the energetic and proactive forward is lively and dangerous forward both flying for big grabs and creating chaos when the ball hits the deck. He missed some early season SANFL Under-18s footy due to a shoulder dislocation but has shown promise every time he has taken to the field. Does not need much of the footy to make a big impact.
9 - Clancy Snell (Gippsland Power, defender)
Snell has been the bolter across the first six weeks of 2026. After playing mostly as a forward last year, he has spent this year in defence and looked at home. Genuine key-position height, he has the capacity to lockdown, never allowing his opponent separation and is now viewed by many as the best tall defender in the draft class. Knows when to mark and when to spoil, reads the ball early, intercepts confidently and has strong hands. A co-captain of the Gippsland Power.
8 - Kodah Edwards (South Adelaide, midfielder)
Always busy at stoppages and looking to get on the move, the reigning South Adelaide best and fairest winner stood out with his burst in the first AFL Academy game. Is clean below his knees, and injects energy into the midfield mix and is a difficult match-up as a medium forward which is where he likely starts his AFL career. Runs games out well, has traits transferrable across the field giving him great utility value and wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.
7 - Marlon Neocleous (Gippsland Power, small forward)
Made a mockery of his initial non-selection in the AFL Academy, showing plenty of promise in both games as a late inclusion. A small forward who has drawn comparison to Hawthorn's Nick Watson, he makes things happen around goal and has a knack for pulling off the spectacular. Can fly, speed and power through a pack and knows how to finish his work. While he has plenty of tricks, he has a maturity to his game which is underlined by his poised decision-making and manic pressure. Was one of the best in last year's Under-17s Futures game and is getting midfield minutes this year for both Gippsland and Caulfield Grammar where his clean skills and work rate are on show.
6 Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons, midfielder)
The 2026 Victorian talent pathway trials should henceforth be known as Teixeira Sunday. Rarely has a player looked so far above the level in a representative game as what Teixeira did, proving that after a foot injury sidelined him for the first three weeks of the season, he had not missed a beat, living up to his strong pre-season reputation. It was his power, toughness, work rate and speed which stood out on Teixeira Sunday. Wherever the footy is, he is able to impact, just as likely to be scrapping for a hard-ball at the bottom of a pack as he is offering an uncontested marking option on the spread. If he is given time and space in the forward half, it will usually result in a score.
