The 2027 AFL Draft class would be filling clubs with confidence in the range of prospects they'll have access to at the end of next year, with no outfit more excited than the Tasmania Devils as they prepare to join the competition with Picks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 spearheading their draft hand for their inaugural intake (with selections 5, 7, 11 and 13 required to be traded).
In addition to their bounty of picks, the Devils will also be able to list some of the best 2027 names a year early, should there be a mutual desire from their U17s targets.
On this week's episode, Craft of the Draft named the 12 leading draft prospects for the 2027 AFL Draft, as well as the five names they would target if they were the Devils.
A name likely to be toward the top of Tasmania's hitlist is Western Australia ruckman Axel Walsh, who has returned to starring form after overcoming a long-term knee injury that ended his U16s National Championships early.
The 202cm teenager from East Perth could be an ideal asset for a new club to build around given his dominance and flexiblity as a key position talent.
"Walsh was one of the top performers at the U16s champs last year for WA," Craft of the Draft host Mitch Keating said of the WA prodigy.
"Has found some great form as a bottom-ager. A towering ruckman who can play behind the ball and as a marking forward, from what we saw last year too. He's overcome that injury and is looking like... when you talk in a Tassie sense, a ruckman of his calibre is quite promising."
Victorian forward Jake Miller is another name looming as one of 2027's best prospects, with the athletic and aerially dominant key forward another promising key position prospect for the Devils to consider.
Miller's 2026 campaign has started well off the back of an U16s season that included a leading role for Vic Metro at the Development Championships and a four-goal, 18-disposals double bottom-aged debut, with the Western Jets tall booting eight goals in four games in the Talent League while also balancing school football commitments.
"He'd be right towards the pointy end. Top two or three at this stage," Craft of the Draft's Jonty Ralphsmith said of Miller. "He was so good at the U16s champs and has been a pillar of consistency for the Western Jets when he's played for them.
"Had a few quieter weeks at Brighton Grammar, but he gets so much attention when they double and triple team him. He did kick the five goals on the weekend, so it was good to see him return to form.
"His work rate... direct opponents always talk about how hard he works, and he has the strong dukes as well as a Josh Treacy-type."
A third leading key position prospect for 2027 is West Perth defender Maxim Collins, who has been one of the form players for the Falcons to start his bottom-aged season.
Collins missed last year's U16s Development Championships due to an ankle injury, and is making up for lost time in 2026 with starring performances against older opponents.
"The big Russian. High 190cms key defender. Has played a bit of key forward for the WA trials period as well," Keating said of Collins.
"He was one of the names that didn't play at last year's U16s (championships) due to a hairline fracture in his ankle. He's looking like one of the top-rated key position talents. Was best-on for the Falcons Colts side in their first two games, and you pair him with Tadhg Barrowclough - another bottom-ager over at the Falcons - those two have been a big force.
"(Collins) is a big one to watch for Tassie."
An "electric" and versatile livewire, Bendigo's Max Thompson has been one of the premier Talent League players this year despite not being eligible for the 2026 draft.
Thompson was eye-catching as a small forward for Vic Country last year and has matured as a rebounding defender for the Pioneers in 2026 to show his value across multiple lines.
"Can play off half-back, can play as a small forward. He projects as a small forward but it's good he's had that positional flexibility for Bendigo this year," Ralphsmith said of Thompson.
"We'll see him feature at the U18s national champs. He's one who has a dynamic skillset, he's electric and he knows how to make things happen, whether it's off half-back creating chaos on turnover or more naturally at the fall off the ball forward.
Jonty's and Mitch's five ideal Tasmania draft targets
Jonty's list
Axel Walsh
Jake Miller
Max Thompson
Koby Bewick*
Harvey Chapman
Mitch's list
Axel Walsh
Jake Miller
Max Thompson
Maxim Collins
Baxter Sruk
*Club-tied
