The AFL Draft is less than three weeks away, with clubs now becoming settled on who sits where in the pecking order.
There is great stability to our final top 50, with only two new players and one returning name in what was a logjam at the back end.
50-41
50 - Sam Devers (Eastern Ranges)
It's now expected Devers will get drafted and he could be one of the bolters of the class despite having a campaign hampered by injury. After playing in Eastern Ranges' 2025 premiership side, he showed great scope and athletic upside this year as a half-back who can take the game on with his line-breaking speed, and is also able to impact aerially.
49 - Jordan Knapp (Eastern Ranges)
A reliable utility who does everything with a minimum of fuss, Knapp has flown under the radar this year as a ball-winner who is efficient by foot. Also has deceptive strength and good hands, with his balanced skillset across the board making him employable across a range of positions. Captained Eastern Ranges this year and no Vic Metro player polled more Larke Medal votes at the National Championships than him.
UNHERALDED DRAFT PROSPECT ON KEY GROWTH
48 - Darcy Szerszyn (Dandenong Stingrays)
Never quite got going as he would have liked in 2026 after missing the first half of the season with a shoulder injury. Creates chaos when he bursts off half-back and showed last year as a bottom-ager for Vic Country how tricky a proposition he can be to match up on. Got a game for North Melbourne's VFL side this year and has attributes as a third tall. Has missed each of the last two pre-seasons, highlighting his potential growth and a strong National Combine showing was a reminder of his elite athleticism.
47 - Archie Van Dyk (South Adelaide)
The big-bodied midfielder missed the first half of the year with injury but showed more than enough on return to suggest he deserves a shot at the next level, having entered the season as a top 30 chance. After strong form as a clean and powerful clearance-winner, he got opportunities against senior bodies and, remarkably, was named best afield in the Panthers' reserves premiership.
HEARTBREAK DRIVING TOP SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PROSPECT
46 - Ethan Herbert (North Adelaide)
The North Adelaide AFL Academy member is a difficult one to place given the different ways clubs assess rucks. Follows up well and has good ruck craft but was largely shown forward in the National Championships where he showed promise but has some growth left. Is able to take contested marks and is a mature character, who also got reserves opportunities at the Roosters.
HOW ADELAIDE RUCK HAS HELPED TOP RUCK PROSPECT
45 - Jack Slattery (Woodville-West Torrens)
Was a deadeye Dick at the National Championships, kicking 17.1 as a Logan Morris-style, slightly undersized forward. What he lacks in athleticism and size though he makes up for with innate forward craft which allows him to escape his direct opponent. An overager, he started the year playing reserves footy for Woodville and broke into the senior team late in the year and while he didn't have an enormous impact, his National Championships make him tough to ignore.
REMARKABLE RISE OF JACK SLATTERY
44 - Blake Justice (Calder Cannons)
An injury-interrupted season for the Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect prevented him from reaching the heights he promised but he has great athletic upside as a dynamic marking forward who can go into the midfield and win clearances. Has a lean build and has put on size, with the Calder Cannons product mixing outside damage with ball-winning.
43 - Lachie Hicks (Western Jets)
A returner to our rankings after a bit of time out, Hicks' range is quite wide, but do not be surprised to see him go as high as the top 30 after a consistent season for the Western Jets. Reinforced his credentials at the National Combine where he showed off his athleticism, given a track and field background. Played his best footy as a ball-winning midfielder with great balance, but can also go forward, take a mark and kick a goal and his running power even lends itself to the wing role.
42 - Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
It's been an interesting year for Templeton who started it in top 20 calculations but the clearance-winning midfielder/crafty half-forward has slid. Has been challenged to improve his running and shown gains in that area and has a knack of performing on the big stage which he showed in the Talent League grand final. Turned the game with five goals and took out best afield. Also does the little things at a level rarely seen in draft prospects but realistically, this masthead has him higher than most.
CODY TEMPLETON THE BIG GAME PERFORMER
41 - Archie Elliott (GWV Rebels)
A high-flying, hard working, goal-scoring forward, Elliott had a strong season of growth having been recast as a forward after spending time in the backline last year. Led the goal-kicking for Vic Country at the Under-18s National Championships and is capable of playing as a link player and deeper where his front-and-centre work comes to the fore and is also able to impact aerially. He is the cousin of former Melbourne-listed player, Rory Taggert.
