Woodville-West Torrens defender Mitch Harris has established himself as the best tall defender in this year's AFL Draft crop.
His athleticism and ability to fly for the footy make him a dangerous interceptor, but equally, he has shown off his ability to lock down direct opponents, and he doesn't need much of the footy to make an impact.
That was clear when he was named best afield in an SA trial game earlier this year despite having just eight disposals.
That ability to impact comes down to his ability to nullify one-on-one contests and his coolness under pressure. Taking the game on with ball in hand has been an area Harris has sought to grow in 2026 to complement his aerial power. He also has a basketball background which aids his spatial awareness.
Harris got senior opportunities at SANFL level late in 2026 and battled hard to reinforce his status as a likely top 10 prospect, with the likelihood of him being taken at the pointy end enhanced by the number of clubs in that range desperate for a tall defender.
The Yorke Peninsula native grew up on a 1900-acre farm and models his game on Geelong's Connor O'Sullivan, hoping to develop into a tough interceptor.
Strengths
Competitiveness
Intercepting
Athleticism
Draft Range
Picks 5-10
Likely Landing Spot(s)
Melbourne
Richmond
Sydney
Gold Coast
Key Quote
“I want to be an intercept defender who is super competitive, hard to play on and has an impact aerially.” Mitch Harris
