Under Age U17s - 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion

[briztoon]

Archie Hill (GCS), Caylen Murray (BL), Hamish McPherson (BL) are the other standouts for me in the Allies 2026 crop. Archie Watts (BL) also has a fair bit of class about him.

My extended list for each age group from our academy.

 

[Miller1971]

Phillips is average. Murray would be about 175cm at best, while Hodge is about 185, not 179.

The younger Bridge is a key defender, not a mid. He would already be a few inches taller than his older brother.

Ellen is a mid sized defender, can play wing. Not a mid. He would be 6'2 these days though and is a serious athlete.

Boothey is a Ruckman/Forward, same as Will White. Boothey would be 200cm+ now, White not much behind him, but 15kg lighter.

Rafter is a pure midfielder, not a small forward.

Kleinshcmidt is no good

Never seen Noble play

Dobbie is more like 195cm and can play anywhere, he is a talent.

 

[Davo-27]

2026 Early top 35 from the u16s champs in no order

VM
Arki Butler
Max Downes
Harry Van Hattum
Kai Parker
Lachlan Hicks
Archie Spencer
Jack Surkitt
Isaac Mullins
VC
Cody Walker
Jackson Phillips
Marlon Neocleous
Marcus Prasad
Jack Pickett
Wil Malady
Blake Newton
Gus Kennedy
SA
Archie Van Dyk
Doug Cochrane
Cain Florance
Jermaine Miller
Koby Moir
Ethan Herbert
WA
Koby LeCras
Leo Steed
Lucas Robinson
Kye Ormerod
Garrison Kenh
Damien Newry
ALLIES
Matthew Owen - Bris
Cooper Hodge - Bris
Sam Murray - GCS
Mason McGroder - Syd
Sam McNamara - TAS
Jaxon Hay - TAS
Brodie Speed - TAS

other prospects that are on my watch list

VM
Jordan Knapp, Hunter Ryan, Sam Gayfer, Jack Poustie, Logan Shepherd, Tate Hodgson

VC
Tanner Armstrong, Cody Templeton, Mitch Toner, Ethan Drever, Noah Williams

SA
Kodah Edwards, Jacob McNicol, Jack Leys, Memphis Webb, Angus White, Harvey Chapman, Ryan Davies, Jack Gordon

WA
Jayden Clarke, Tazzi Faithfull, Antonio Crupi, Thatcher Simmons, Lachlan McGlade, Benji Van Rooyen, Jai Debono

Allies
Blake Philpott, Jess Bula, Mason Brown, Josh Webber, Hugh McCallum(Tas), Caylen Murray, Jared Moss, Hamish McPherson (Bris), Leroy Kaesler (GCS), Harvey Bromson, Tom Wichman, Tex Longmire (GWS), Guy Jenkin, Aidan McCartney(Syd)

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Will be interesting to see how this group is touted at the end of this year. When I was watching the 16s stuff last year I felt they had the makings of a bit of a super draft. Wasn't paying too much attention to names other than Walker but they were playing some seriously impressive footy even compared to some of the 18s games.

Feel like the 2025 draftees looked a bit mediocre as bottom agers in 2024 but it's obviously a long way out and things always change... That said, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a level of hype for the bottom agers at the end of this season rivalling the 2023 crop.

Some seriously talented kids in this class.

 

[briztoon]

Phillips is average. Murray would be about 175cm at best, while Hodge is about 185, not 179.

The younger Bridge is a key defender, not a mid. He would already be a few inches taller than his older brother.

Ellen is a mid sized defender, can play wing. Not a mid. He would be 6'2 these days though and is a serious athlete.

Boothey is a Ruckman/Forward, same as Will White. Boothey would be 200cm+ now, White not much behind him, but 15kg lighter.

Rafter is a pure midfielder, not a small forward.

Kleinshcmidt is no good

Never seen Noble play

Dobbie is more like 195cm and can play anywhere, he is a talent.

All heights I have copied either from U16 or U18 championships guides or Lions academy team sheets.

Position wise, it’s where I’ve seen them play. But I may have got some players wrong, especially the U16 games, as those I watched on the computer.

 

[Miller1971]

2026 Early top 35 from the u16s champs in no order

VM
Arki Butler
Max Downes
Harry Van Hattum
Kai Parker
Lachlan Hicks
Archie Spencer
Jack Surkitt
Isaac Mullins
VC
Cody Walker
Jackson Phillips
Marlon Neocleous
Marcus Prasad
Jack Pickett
Wil Malady
Blake Newton
Gus Kennedy
SA
Archie Van Dyk
Doug Cochrane
Cain Florance
Jermaine Miller
Koby Moir
Ethan Herbert
WA
Koby LeCras
Leo Steed
Lucas Robinson
Kye Ormerod
Garrison Kenh
Damien Newry
ALLIES
Matthew Owen - Bris
Cooper Hodge - Bris
Sam Murray - GCS
Mason McGroder - Syd
Sam McNamara - TAS
Jaxon Hay - TAS
Brodie Speed - TAS

other prospects that are on my watch list

VM
Jordan Knapp, Hunter Ryan, Sam Gayfer, Jack Poustie, Logan Shepherd, Tate Hodgson

VC
Tanner Armstrong, Cody Templeton, Mitch Toner, Ethan Drever, Noah Williams

SA
Kodah Edwards, Jacob McNicol, Jack Leys, Memphis Webb, Angus White, Harvey Chapman, Ryan Davies, Jack Gordon

WA
Jayden Clarke, Tazzi Faithfull, Antonio Crupi, Thatcher Simmons, Lachlan McGlade, Benji Van Rooyen, Jai Debono

Allies
Blake Philpott, Jess Bula, Mason Brown, Josh Webber, Hugh McCallum(Tas), Caylen Murray, Jared Moss, Hamish McPherson (Bris), Leroy Kaesler (GCS), Harvey Bromson, Tom Wichman, Tex Longmire (GWS), Guy Jenkin, Aidan McCartney(Syd)

Moss is 18 in Feb, he is 2025 draft.

All heights I have copied either from U16 or U18 championships guides or Lions academy team sheets.

Position wise, it’s where I’ve seen them play. But I may have got some players wrong, especially the U16 games, as those I watched on the computer.

Some of them may well have played in those positions, as guys like Ellen, Rafter and Dobbie were playing as bottom agers.

 

[briztoon]

Some of them may well have played in those positions, as guys like Ellen, Rafter and Dobbie were playing as bottom agers.

Yeah I figured that.


Who’s the best out of the 2027 crop, at this stage?

 

[Miller1971]

Yeah I figured that.


Who’s the best out of the 2027 crop, at this stage?

On exposed form, it would have to be Rafter. He won the medal at the National Schools Championship and was the best bottom ager in the u16 team (well got the most minutes)

However, they have an elite crop of talls. Max Boothey may as well have a sign on his back saying 'draft me'. He is 200cm+, good body size, has an elite left foot with a penetrating kick and is really clean below his knees. Ironically for a player so physically imposing, his weakness would be that he is really hot/cold with overhead marking.

Another kid called Sam Dobbie, he is not as tall - but far more athletic, has real swagger/arrogance and is a neat and tidy player and very good overhead. If he keeps growing, he will be a real prospect, but if he tops out at under 200cm, then he probably doesn't have the weapons.

Rafter is a good honest player, wins alot of footy, but he is a dinky little kick, not particularly clean and to me is just a kid that wins alot of footy playing in and around his age group, but I don't see a high ceiling, no obvious weapons.

Suns have a decent one in Taj Murray also, he has a bit more upside than Rafter. PBC High know how to churn out quality kids with high footy IQ!