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.
30-21
30 - Kodah Edwards (South Adelaide)
Started the year in top 10 considerations before a, by admission, inconsistent National Championships despite getting All-Australian honours. Has drifted somewhat but late season senior opportunities for South Adelaide were a reminder of what he could do as a hard-as-nails goal-scoring and clearance-winning midfielder. Skippered South Australia at the U16s and U18s Championships - and has long been seen as the state's best 2008-born footballer.
EDWARDS CHASING AFL STAR'S RUTHLESSNESS
29 - Koby LeCras (West Perth)
Injury hit Lecras at the wrong time in May, with the Western Australian having just shown his absolute best as a strong and mobile half forward option who is a threat in the air and on the ground. He was a standout in the second AFL Academy game and showed promise playing senior footy before his ACL sprain
28 - Billy Wigmore (Western Jets)
An interesting prospect to rank, the intercept marking half-back has bullied his way up the rankings with irresistible form for Vic Metro and Western Jets. Was one of the sturdier defenders from any team across the National Championships and accumulated intercept possessions for fun as a third tall type at Talent League level. It comes after he started the year forward. His kicking remains an area of improvement but he has shown growth in 2026.
27 - Harvey Spawton-Guy (West Perth)
The key-position swingman played impressive footy which somewhat flew under the radar in 2026. Did his best work as a strong-marking forward and got late-season league opportunities, kicking nine goals in four games and proving he had the strength and physicality to match it with bigger bodies. Has put on significant size this year and has great scope.
SPORTIN-GUY: THE MOMENT WHICH SEALED THIS PROSPECT'S CHOICE
26 - Khaled El Souki (Western Jets)
The Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect kicked goals for fun at Talent League level this year, with his ability to finish unmatched in the draft crop. A small forward who always put himself in the right spots, El Souki had an ankle injury which interrupted his National Championships but his strength and craft makes him an asset. Got VFL opportunities for Footscray but the question mark which has long surrounded him has been on his athletic deficiencies and endurance, the latter of which has improved as he has got bursts through the middle.
25 - Keenan Boi (Gippsland Power)
Taking out Gippsland's best-and-fairest was fitting reward for the Hawthorn-tied small forward who possesses power in the contest and electrifying x-factor in the forward half. He was arguably the form small forward in the talent pathway in the second half of the season, performing strongly for Vic Country, Gippsland and local club, Warragul. Those around him highlight his emotional maturation which has helped him rise in 2026. Looks up to Cyril Rioli and would be an exciting addition to the Hawks' forward line.
HAWTHORN-TIED BOLTER REFLECTS ON RAPID RISE
24 - Xavier Ladbrook (Gippsland Power)
Finally the key defender has been settled down back after circumstance had forced him to play in attack and the ruck in 2026 - and lo and behold, the positional continuity led to his best footy. Ladbrook benefitted from the Power's deep finals run, with his last two games of the year a showcase of him at his very best: aggressive aerially, willing to take metres by taking grass and then using his effective kicking. Has narrowed the gap between himself and the consensus top three key defenders.
23 - Albert MacGowan (Sandringham Dragons)
Never plays a bad game. MacGowan's consistency across all levels has flown under the radar for much of the year but he does everything with a minimum of fuss and his aerobic base allows him to impact for longer than most and in different ways. Granted, he is not blessed with speed - but neither was Murphy Reid and look at what he has become. A winger/midfielder with a deceptively good overhead mark, he does his best work with ball in hand kicking inside 50 and can drift forward for a goal. Had a big Talent League finals series, capped off with a goal after the siren to send Sandringham to the preliminary finals.
22 - Noah Williams (Geelong Falcons)
After the Geelong skipper started the year so brightly, he just wasn't quite able to maintain those standards through a 2026 campaign hindered by injury. The season was headlined by a best afield performance in an AFL Academy game before his form at higher levels fluctuated in between school footy. A Tom Atkins-style aggressive and tenacious midfielder-half-back who plays with a hard edge around contest.
"I LIKE TO SEE MYSELF AS A 200-GAME PLAYER": NOAH WILLIAMS
21 - Lochie Burrows (Sandringham Dragons)
Forward or defender? That's the question surrounding Burrows, who has spoken to 16 AFL clubs and there is a 50-50 split about whether he is a line-breaking forward or competitive defender at AFL level. His best game of the season was indisputably a Vic Metro trial game where he played in defence, which put him on the radar of clubs, but he also offers liveliness ahead of the footy. It's been a steady rise for Burrows, who missed Sandringham's Under-16s squad and two years later is on the AFL's doorstep.
