The first eight selections of the 2026 AFL Draft order have been locked following the conclusion of the home-and-away season, with Essendon to open this year's count at Pick 1.
With these selections in mind, Craft of the Draft ran through how the opening to the 2026 AFL Draft might unfold with a 'mini mock draft' on this week's episode.
Analyst Jonty Ralphsmith made picks for Essendon (Pick 1), West Coast (Pick 3), Melbourne (Pick 6, via Gold Coast) and GWS (Pick 7), with host Mitch Keating holding selections for Richmond (Pick 2), Port Adelaide (Pick 4), North Melbourne (Pick 5) and St Kilda (Pick 8).
By the end of the mock draft, a total of nine selections and three bids were made. Here's how it unfolded...
Pick 6 - North Melbourne: Heath Mellody
| 11 RANK |  | Heath Mellody Claremont Midfielder HEIGHT: 184cm |
Keating: I'll be taking Larke Medal winner Heath Mellody. I think that's a nice addition. He doesn't have to be seen as a midfielder at all. Put him across half-back to at least start his career. Will add some polish and some run in that back half. It's an area North Melbourne have tinkered with a little bit. His form at league level in the WAFL at the moment has been exceptional.
Ralphsmith: 33 disposals he had on the weekend. That was a really clinical performance.
