With the 2026 AFL Draft now just over a week away, the shape of this year's intake is beginning to unfold as more whispers and intel surface, and it's time to deliver our third of four Mock Drafts for the year.
This Mock Draft is an evolution of our most recent exercise, which also included a total of 43 selections across the first two rounds of the count.
VIEW: FIRST EDITION MOCK DRAFT - PICKS 1-18
VIEW: SECOND EDITION MOCK DRAFT - PICKS 1-43
PLAY: AFL MOCK DRAFT SIMULATOR
Pick 25 - GWS: Xavier Ladbrook
GWS has been closely linked to Ladbrook, who polarises clubs but has high upside as an aggressive aerialist who takes the game on by foot and looked an enticing prospect late in the season when he finally got continuity in defence, having been utilised in attack and the ruck throughout 2026. A best afield performance against senior bodies in the AFL Academy also reinforced his credentials.
The Giants are in need of key position stock to complement the speedy players that have been added to the list in recent years, and although Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun are an ideal trio down back, a youngster developing in the background would be ideal to add long-term depth.
