The ideal AFL Draft prospect for each club's top 2026 pick

Eighteen clubs, 18 prospects. Craft of the Draft has cast an eye over each club and indicated the draft prospect your club would get their hands on with their first live selection in an ideal world, based on industry intel and list needs. Adelaide Jake Eime [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jake Eime" season="2026"] The Crows sought to have the attacking half-back added to their Academy during the year but were knocked back. Regardless, he falls right in the region of the AFL Draft where Adelaide's first pick is and his run-and-gun off half-back would be well suited to the Crows. Another positive is that it keeps the local boy in South Australia and allows him to learn off Wayne Milera, who he has nominated as an important mentor during the period he trained and played SANFL for the Crows. His kicking and athleticism are suited to modern footy. Brisbane Marlon Neocleous [draft_top10_widget player_id="Marlon Neocleous" season="2026"] The Lions have been linked to Neocleous and need a small forward to succeed Charlie Cameron in the long term. It's hard to know exactly where Brisbane will enter the AFL Draft given the expectation they will trade their first selection on night two and need to match a likely top 10 bid for Caylen Murray. Though wherever it is, there is a chance Neocleous will still be available after an up-and-down year where he was never able to discover his best footy for extended periods. But as a composed ball-user, decision-maker and strong body who can hit the scoreboard and combines talent and hard work, he would be a worthy pick. [caption id="attachment_175701" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 18: Marlon Neocleous of the AFL National Academy kicks the ball during the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys match between Australia U18 and Richmond VFL at Ikon Park on April 18, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] Carlton Brady Wright [draft_top10_widget player_id="Brady Wright" season="2026"] The Blues do not enter the AFL Draft until Pick 31 after matching a bid on Cody Walker, and Wright presents as a sensible option. Harry McKay needs support in the forward line and Carlton are at a point where they will be looking to win games in the short term given the spike they experienced under Josh Fraser. As a mature-ager with significant VFL experience, welcoming in Wright, who can compete immediately, would make sense, and they have been linked to the key forward. Collingwood Tyson Bradley [draft_top10_widget player_id="Tyson Bradley" season="2026"] The Magpies have been linked to Sam Gayfer, the best key forward in the crop, and they have been reliant on undersized types such as Brody Mihocek and Jamie Elliott as their spearheads for a generation - notwithstanding the breakout year of veteran Dan McStay in 2026. But with Charlie West showing promise, it is perhaps up the other end where they need greater support. If Bradley slides through to Collingwood's selection, he would be hard to pass up as a successor to Darcy Moore as the general of the backline and an uber-competitive and composed backman who can lock down the best forwards in the competition. Essendon Ethan Drever [draft_top10_widget player_id="Ethan Drever" season="2026"] Essendon will have first dibs at the AFL Draft and are leaning towards Drever. In such an even race for Pick 1 - Drever's character would be well-suited to a rebuilding club, and his speed is a significant enough differentiator from the other big-bodied midfielders Essendon has recently drafted to make him a suitable Pick 1. The Dons are also interested in Archie Elliott - Drever's close mate - and welcoming in a club supporter is also a positive. [caption id="attachment_183052" align="alignnone" width="2560"] 2026 GWV Rebels AFL Draft prospect Ethan Drever's ball handling skills are exquisite. (Maddie Green).[/caption] Fremantle Jackson Phillips [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jackson Phillips" season="2026"] Jackson Phillips has plenty of suitors in the second half of night one as a hard-running, high-impact player and would be a wise selection if he is available to the Dockers given his ability to generate transition play, perspective, having worked full time this year and athletic profile. He is also wonderfully versatile, so could fill a range of positions for a side that does not have a clear list hole. Geelong Zac Antonellos [draft_top10_widget player_id="Zac Antonellos" season="2026"] It is hard to predict Geelong's desired movements at the best of times - especially so when they enter the National Draft so late into the piece. Given their desire for a small forward, Harvie Cooke is another who would make sense, but will almost certainly be off the board by this stage given he has suitors all throughout the second round. The Cats have done some work on Eastern Ranges forward half threat Zac Anontellos, whose season has been interrupted by injury but has shown potency when he gets the ball during his games across the last two years. Gold Coast Clancy Snell [draft_top10_widget player_id="Clancy Snell" season="2026"] The Suns need a Sam Collins successor and have been linked to taking a defender. With Mitch Harris almost certain to be off the board, it makes sense for the Suns to consider either Snell or Tyson Bradley. Snell tailed off in the back end of the year but started the year rapidly and is still expected to be taken in the early teens, which is right around the mark where the Suns' first-round selection will land. A contested marking lockdown player would suit the club perfectly. GWS Jack Pickett [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jack Pickett" season="2026"] Where GWS' first live pick is will be dependent on where a bid comes for Ethan Matthews, but it is almost certain to be very early on night two. Exactly where Jack Pickett lands is difficult to guess, given he missed the season with an ACL and MCL injury, but he would suit the Giants, who need to get someone in who can support Aaron Cadman in the long term. If he falls to the Giants' selection, he would be difficult to pass up, and they have done work on key position stock at both ends of the field. [caption id="attachment_174245" align="alignnone" width="2000"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Jack Pickett of Team Docherty kicks during the Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match between Team Boak and Team Docherty at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] Hawthorn George Gale [draft_top10_widget player_id="George Gale" season="2026"] Firstly, the ideal outcome for Hawthorn is that a bid for Next Generation Academy small forward Keenan Boi does not come until after their first live selection. With that first selection, could they consider a George Gale type? The Hawks don't have a pressing list need, but the Western Australian co-captain can fill multiple roles as a poised decision-maker, strong body and hard runner, and the Hawks have shown interest in some half-backs, which is a position Gale could start his AFL career. Melbourne Harry Van Hattum [draft_top10_widget player_id="Harry Van Hattum" season="2026"] Melbourne is in an ideal position at Pick 4 where they can't really go wrong with multiple top-end talents to be available for their choosing. Ethan Drever is looking less and less likely to be available here by the day as he is warming to be selected by Essendon with the first live selection, in which case either defender Mitch Harris or ruck Harry Van Hattum would be optimal selections. The Demons do need to start looking at a successor for Max Gawn, and if they do not believe Max Heath is the answer, then Van Hattum makes sense given his mature body and athleticism as a ruck. North Melbourne Jake Soutar [draft_top10_widget player_id="Jake Soutar" season="2026"] The Kangaroos are in need of key defensive reinforcements and are looking for an immediate spike up the ladder, so getting a WAFL club best and fairest winner would be optimal given Jake Soutar's ability to impact straight away. Soutar is right in the range for the Roos' first selection, but with so many clubs in need of marking defenders, there is a strong chance Soutar will already be off the board. He is surely selected by the Roos if available. [caption id="attachment_183925" align="alignnone" width="1132"] Jake Soutar at the AFL Draft State Combie. (AFL Photos).[/caption] Port Adelaide Noah Williams [draft_top10_widget player_id="Noah Williams" season="2026"] The tenacious Vic Country co-captain is one who has been linked to the Power and would make sense given his competitive edge and ability to fill multiple roles, professionalism for a rebuilding club, and likelihood to impact early in his career. He is one who could slide after an injury-interrupted campaign but thrives on the big stage and would be a shrewd pickup. Richmond Arki Butler [draft_top10_widget player_id="Arki Butler" season="2026"] The Tigers are in desperate need of a small forward, so Butler would surely be in their sights if available. He offers a front-half presence in the mould of Toby Greene and is a genuine X-factor who would complement the young core well. St Kilda Sam Gayfer [draft_top10_widget player_id="Sam Gayfer" season="2026"] The Saints desperately need a key forward to partner Max King. His persistent injuries in recent times have highlighted that the support cast around him is undersized. St Kilda loves drafting athletes and Gayfer is perhaps the best on offer - as made evident by his record-breaking combine results. Sydney Mitch Harris [draft_top10_widget player_id="Mitch Harris" season="2026"] If Mitch Harris is not selected by Melbourne at Pick 4 or Richmond at Pick 5, he would be hard to pass for Sydney, which needs to get defensive support for Tom McCartin. Harris is not only the consensus best key defender, but also arguably the best player available at the Swans' selection if the big five - Heath Mellody, Arki Butler, Ethan Drever, Gus Teixeira and Harry Van Hattum - are off the board. Competitive and athletic, he has consistently locked down the best forwards this year. [caption id="attachment_182178" align="alignnone" width="2560"] South Australia's Mitch Harris at the 2026 U18s National Championships (Image: AFL Photos)[/caption] West Coast Heath Mellody [draft_top10_widget player_id="Heath Mellody" season="2026"] It is splitting hairs between Heath Mellody and Arki Butler if both are still available given the Eagles' desperate need for front-half spark, but there are several of those players who will be available with the Eagles' selections in the 20s, so in such a tight tussle, keeping the local boy local weighs into consideration. Western Bulldogs Sam Tassone [draft_top10_widget player_id="Sam Tassone" season="2026"] A difficult one to pinpoint, the Dogs have been linked to a trio of half-backs in Sam Tassone, Archie Spencer - perhaps better described as a utility - and Wil Antrobus. Assuming they match a bid for small forward Khaled El Souki, which will likely come in the first 10 selections of night two, they won't enter the draft until the third round, in which case most of the top prospects would be off the board. But Tassone is a smooth-moving half-back who put up strong numbers for North Adelaide this year, and the club has registered interest in him as a player with defensive intent who can generate counterattack with his read of the play, so he is one to keep an eye on.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	FRE	23	19	4	76	137.2
2	SYD	23	18	5	72	136.1
3	BL	23	16	7	64	121.7
4	HAW	23	15	6	64	120.1
5	GEEL	23	15	8	60	122.3
6	ADEL	23	15	8	60	117.3
7	MELB	23	15	8	60	109.6
8	WB	23	13	9	54	95.4
9	COLL	23	12	9	52	102.4
10	CARL	23	12	10	50	101.5

The ideal AFL Draft prospect for each club’s top 2026 pick

A look at who your club’s preferred selection might be with their first live pick next week.

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