The AFL season is done and the trade and draft season has arrived.
If you have not followed our rankings throughout 2026, this Power Rankings is for you as we overview the key information about the top players in AFL clubs' sights.
For the first time this year, the list extends to 50, with the crop characterised by a great evenness after the first round.
There is a nice blend of the types of players available
Among the players to just miss out were: Andrio Sousa, Harry Franz, Kaie Sullivan and Lachie Hicks.
10-6
10 - Leo Steed (Swan Districts)
| 10 RANK |  | Leo Steed Swan Districts Midfielder HEIGHT: 176cm |
The most competitive player in the crop? Steed attacks the footy with fearless ferocity and can accelerate from stoppage and find teammates inside 50 and is a dynamic target when played forward. Rose sharply at a National Championships where he ran close to winning the Larke Medal after standing out as Western Australia's captain. His endurance is another strong trait.
9 - Mitch Harris (Woodville-West Torrens)
| 9 RANK |  | Mitch Harris Woodville-West Torrens Defender HEIGHT: 196cm |
Does not need a lot of the footy to have maximum damage as the best key defender in this year's draft crop. Competitive and athletic, he isn't afraid of initiating contact which allows him to lock down premiere key forwards and can also float across to take a strong intercept mark. A best afield performance in a trial game for South Australia put him on the map - unbelievably he only had eight disposals but was indisputably a star of the day with his spoiling and body positioning. Followed that up with a trusty National Championships and has competed hard in senior opportunities for Woodville-West Torrens.
BOLTER EMERGES FROM PROPERTY THE SIZE OF 190 MCGs
8 - Ethan Matthews (GWS Giants)
| 8 RANK |  | Ethan Matthews GWS Academy Midfielder HEIGHT: 185cm |
A midfielder who impacts in transition with his beautiful lace-out kicking and can win his own footy, there remains plenty of upside with the GWS Academy prospect. Had his Championships cut short by injury, but what he showed at the carnival and in the Talent League early in the year has ensconced him in the top 10 range of the draft as a player who will start on the outside and has the capacity to go inside. Had a heavily interrupted pre-season yet took no time to reach his best footy and has also had VFL experience.
7 - Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons)
| 7 RANK |  | Gus Teixeira Sandringham Dragons Midfielder HEIGHT: 181cm |
The Sandringham forward-midfielder missed most of the last month of the season due to a calf injury he unbelievably played through for much of 2026. Outwors opponents and continues running after disposing of the footy, which allows him to get multiple possessions in a chain and get forward to kick goals. Showed genuine forward craft playing in attack at the Under-18s National Championships which breeds confidence he could play at the top level next year.
6 - Harry Van Hattum (Northern Knights)
| 6 RANK |  | Harry Van Hattum Northern Knights Ruck HEIGHT: 205cm |
Battled through injury at times this year but has all the tools at his disposal to be the player he was touted as entering 2026. Strong and mature framed, he is a modern-day leaping ruck whose tap craft is elite and he can take big boy contested marks and his skill is better than most his size.
