Sydney enters the AFL Draft at an interesting spot in 2026.
With Pick 6, it will either have access to the best of the rest behind the five open pool players widely viewed as the best: Arki Butler, Heath Mellody, Gus Teixeira, Harry Van Hattum and Ethan Drever.
Or if a club in the top five chooses a left-field selection - Melbourne has been linked to Mitch Harris - they could get a bargain at Pick 6.
Draft Picks: 6, 38, 39, 47, 54, 76, 95, 113
As well as bringing in a high-end talent, the Swans also have selections at a reasonable spot in the late-30s where there are likely to be players who have slipped who the Swans may view as top-30 worthy given the evenness of the draft crop.
The Swans will also have priority access to Mason McGroder, who has chosen footy over pursuing a career in athletics, as well as potential late selections Jake Medved and Henry Meaney.
List needs
Key defender: Tom McCartin is a key cog for Sydney, while Will Green looks like a player for the long term, but outside of that there is little in the way of developing defenders. The loss of Nick Blakey, although more of a counterattacking half-back, further highlights key defenders as a list need for the Swans.
Small forwards: Who is the Tom Papley successor? Jesse Dattoli has shown promise this year and will be a long-term player, while Malcolm Rosas Jr. and Tom Hanily are a couple of others, but a game-changing front half player who energises his team and gets under opponents' skin is something the Swans might look at if there is a player in their range they feel can provide it.
Potential targets
Mitch Harris: Harris is the obvious name here. Outside the top five, he is probably the best available talent, and he fits the Swans' list need of a key defender. Harris is ultra-competitive, can float across and intercept and is starting to hurt opposition more with his ball-use.
Gus Teixeira: Sydney like Teixeira, and there is a school of thought he is one who could fall, if anyone, outside the top five of the open pool. A clearance-winning midfielder who has also proven he can be a dynamic threat inside 50, where he will likely start his AFL career. Outworks his direct opponent with his outstanding tank.
Harry Franz: If the Swans opt against a key defender with their first pick, Franz is the player with genuine height who should still be on the board when they are next on the clock. Had a quiet Under-18s National Championships but showed his athleticism and intercept marking regularly at Talent League level in South Australia.
Mason McGroder: Officially made the decision to choose footy last month over athletics. At 195 centimetres, he could also develop into a strong marking key defender in time. Has power, speed and an excellent leap and may take some time before he is AFL-ready given his multi-sport background.
Henry Meaney: A clean and calm midfielder who got VFL opportunity this year, Meaney projects as a late or rookie selection having performed solidly in an inconsistent Allies side at the Under-18s National Championships.
Jake Medved: A third tall defender who is a threat in transition, Medved is athletic, and there are some similarities between him and Nick Blakey, whom the Swans need to replace - notwithstanding the lofty standards of the former Swan. Like Meaney, he received VFL exposure this year and performed well at Talent League level.
Marcus Prasad: One who will likely still be available at Sydney's second selection, he is a livewire who loves to antagonise and makes things happen as an x-factor small forward. Overcame a mid-season injury to return for seven late-season games where he showed his spark, agility at forward 50 stoppages, forward nous and pressure.
Tom Brown: One who should be available with a later selection, Brown showed what he could do at the Under-18s National Championships, consistently matching up on taller opponents and using his physicality and aerial combativeness to nullify well. Several key forwards said he was their hardest matchup this year, and he is regularly referenced as an important cultural glue guy by teammates.
