Under Age U17s - 2026 AFL Draft General Discussion
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Miller1971
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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.
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.
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)
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)
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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.
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.
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
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Moss is 18 in Feb, he is 2025 draft.
Some of them may well have played in those positions, as guys like Ellen, Rafter and Dobbie were playing as bottom agers.
Miller1971
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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!
carnthejets
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Briztoon, Miller has given you a bit on Rafter & I’d like to add a bit & respectfully disagree with a lot of what he has said - I’m not his dad or Noah himself, i happened to have seen him play a heap at Hornets & Grange and his representative commitments
Extraordinary call to claim he’s not very clean lol, that is his number 1 strength, ability to mop up 1 grab at speed at the ankles is class!
In general play he has similar attributes to Josh Dunkley in the AFL, the blocks, the bumps the tackles, the getting back into the defence to help them out, the voice around the footy. - The team oriented stuff that Miller & Co probably don’t see but high level academy coaches & school state coaches do and absolutely love
You don’t get selected to captain your state be awarded the medal for the best under 15s schoolboy footballer in the country & get ample underage academy opportunities if you are a “good honest player” - I look forward to watching him progress and proving the doubters wrong !!
Miller1971
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Thats fair, but just as a counter point on the u15 medal stuff. Only 2 of the last 15 winners of the JL Williams Medal have gone on to be drafted, the most recent was Tarryn Thomas, the one before that was LDU and then you have to go back to 2003 to locate Joel Selwood. It's not the greatest guide.
Who would be considered the best Queensland prospect for the 2026 draft class at this point in time? Is it Archie Hill?
Some of these boys should get selected to play for the Allies as bottom agers this year and it looks like it could be a good year for the Allies so that'll be a great experience for them.
Max Boothey.
With the depth of potential Allies players this year, I’d be surprised if any bottom aged kids were selected, unless they’re a potential high end KPP prospect.
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Miller1971
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Matt Owen is a long way ahead of any of them, but Archie Hill probably falls in behind him.
Owen won the Medal at the u16 Champs for Div 2 MVP, he was averaging close to 40 touches until he got a heavy tag (against competition rules) but still managed 29 when tagged. He is running a sub 6min 2km, has elite hands and is a tidy kick on either side of the body. While he is a bit sleight in size, he is a clearance machine and a genuine inside mid - but can go outside.
I wouldn't think any of them are any hope of making the Allies squad given it will be a red hot team this year (not 2023 standard, but it will be very good) However kids do improve at different rates and someone could jump out of the box.
I wouldn't think anyone other than Owen and Murray would even make the Lions u18 side from the 2008 born kids. Strangely in my view, the next best crop from 2008 aren't even part of the academy.
Owen is definitely the standout.
Miller1971
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It's been discussed before, but don't want to go over it again - as I understand some of them have opted out, or been overlooked for poor attitude or other rumoured infractions etc.
some of these kids or parents read all this, so some things are best left alone.
some of these kids or parents read all this, so some things are best left alone.
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