The next potential AFL stars are about to get their chance to shine.
The boys’ under-18 championships will be held from June 13 to July 19 between Vic Country, Vic Metro, South Australia, Western Australia and the Allies, comprising players from the ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.
After conversations with club recruiters, we have selected 15 standout prospects ahead of the championships, including a couple who will miss out because of injuries.
This draft class is generally viewed as a stronger one than the 2025 crop, but will also be compromised by academy and father-son-eligible talent.
Among the players considered for this list but missed out were Caylen Murray, Gabe Patterson, Leo Steed, Wil Malady, Marlon Neocleous and Jackson Phillips.
Arki Butler
The grandson of St Kilda premiership player Allan Davis, who made 250 VFL/AFL appearances across four clubs, is one of the most exciting, skilful and classy players in this year’s crop. Butler’s combativeness also appeals to recruiters, but they would like to see more consistency and defensive commitment from him. The top-10 prospect is playing mostly as a midfielder in the Talent League, but projects as a forward at the next level.
AFL talent ambassador Kevin “Shifter” Sheehan says: “I barracked for St Kilda, and he’s a chip off the grandfather’s block – they are so similar, even with their mannerisms; the way he walks, and his mercurial ability to win the ball and turn his opponents inside out. Arki does freakish things, is athletically sound, and capable of doing special things, like a modern-day Stevie J [Johnson].”
Dougie Cochrane
The potential No.1 pick will miss the championships, and possibly the rest of the season, while recovering from patella surgery after battling knee tendinitis. Port Adelaide had a big win when the AFL approved Cochrane joining their Next Generation Academy once his Indigenous heritage was verified. It remains unclear which position he will settle in, but he can play at both ends or through the midfield. That is a question mark for some recruiters – likening him to Jack Lukosius – but others rave about his versatility and skill set at his height.
Shifter says: “He is hopeful to play at the back end of the year, but he was well-exposed in his 16th and 17th years, and was even outstanding as a 15-year-old. He’s strong overhead, a great user of the ball and decision-maker, and is still untapped at senior level as to where he might end up playing because he’s capable in any zone. He is certainly in the top handful [of prospects].”
Ethan Drever
Drever is storming up draft boards, and reminds some scouts of star Roo Luke Davies-Uniacke. He has won at least 25 disposals in every game for the Rebels this year, regularly kicks goals, boasts good acceleration, makes quick decisions, has a penetrating kick, and is strong and competitive in the contest. The knockers say he needs to improve his stoppage work, and he may start as a winger rather than an inside midfielder at AFL level.
Shifter says: “The game is, to a large degree, about winning contested footy, and this is a bloke with the size to compete against the bigger boys. He’s a hard-working inside mid, but capable of playing other spots as well. He has good vision [in the contest], clean hands, is ultra-consistent, makes good decisions, and his work rate is fantastic. His output has been brilliant in the first part of the year.”
Kodah Edwards
Some recruiters like Edwards more than others, but the ones who rate him really rate him. He is a hard-nosed, contested ball-winning midfielder who impacts the game up forward as well – where he may start his AFL career – in a similar vein to Richmond’s top-10 pick last year, fellow South Australian Sam Cumming. Edwards marks the ball well overhead for his height, but is not a great runner, which is his most common critique.
Shifter says: “Kodah’s been named South Australia’s captain, which is no surprise. He’s the ultimate professional in the way he goes about it, a model of consistency, kicks goals almost every game, and is effective inside and outside the contest. His 17th year was dominant, and everything he’s done this year, including for the AFL Academy, indicates he is an elite talent.”
Khaled El Souki
A broken ankle will sideline the Western Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy product from the championships, but he already has everyone’s attention. El Souki’s draft range starts in the top 10, such is his high-end talent, but don’t be surprised if he slides in the order by November. He kicks goals in various ways – and lots of them – and even showed he can play some midfield minutes, although he will need to improve his running ability.
Shifter says: “He has innate goal sense, which is backed up by terrific athletic ability, speed and agility. A quick glance at the sticks is all he needs, and once he’s on a roll, you can’t stop him.”
Mitch Harris
Harris, who is likened to a combination of Harris Andrews and Sam Collins, might challenge Clancy Snell as the best key defender in the draft. His best performances are captivating, with his athleticism, aggression and marking ability at the forefront of his attributes. Being a tough country kid doesn’t hurt either, and his upside is huge. That said, Harris is raw, can be inconsistent, and there is too big a gap between his best and worst.
Shifter says: “He’s made sacrifices each week to travel from where he lives to train and play in the SANFL, and he is reaping the benefits of that investment with some dominant performances as a key defender. He makes great decisions, whether to mark as an interceptor or spoil, rebounds well, and has true grit that you want key defenders to have. He looms as a great ‘watch me’ prospect.”
Ethan Herbert
Could Herbert be the next Luke Jackson? That is an ambitious projection for any prospect, but scouts are excited about what this versatile South Australian could become – although they want to see how he performs at the championships. His ground-ball work is outstanding for his height, and he effectively becomes an extra midfielder after the ruck contest. Others think Herbert might end up in a key post at either end.
Shifter says: “He plays like the old ruck-rover. His numbers are incredible around the ground in winning the footy, and he’s a modern-day tall, in that he’s not just about what he does at the centre-bounce hitouts. He’s a link man as well, wins contested ball, gets around the ground very well, and can play as a marking forward. He will continue to grow and develop, and he’s going to be exciting wherever he plays.”
Xavier Ladbrook
Meet the No.1 swingman in this year’s draft, a player who polarises but has fans who think he may end up being a top-10 selection. Ladbrook has played mostly as a defender, but is poised to spend considerable time in attack and the ruck at the championships. The expectation is he will take time to develop and become a more polished product, but his Mac Andrew-like athletic attributes make him an intriguing prospect with upside.
Shifter says: “He has fantastic size, covers the ground so well, sets up the play as a lefty not just with his feet but his hands as well, is so poised, one-touch overhead, and can play at both ends. He looks a potential swingman, and was the best player in the Australian side, playing deep in defence. He had one run-down tackle late in the game that was sensational and showed his competitive edge.”
Ethan Matthews
The Giants have unearthed a beauty. Matthews is one of the form players in this draft class, and has won heaps of the ball at Talent League level and in trial games. One recruiter even likened the left-footer to Scott Pendlebury for how he finds time and space – lofty praise, indeed – while another called him a “beautiful mover”. He is damaging in transition, continues to develop his stoppage craft and is trending towards being a top-10 pick.
Shifter says: “I really like this young fella. He is not only a prolific ball-winner, but also has the subtleties that the smart players have. I’ve seen him [do things such as] get a hand in to push the ball in the path of teammates. He’s a good size, covers the ground well, a great decision-maker, reads the game well, and makes his teammates better. He comes from a part of Sydney we haven’t had many top players from, so he’s breaking new ground.”
Heath Mellody
Mellody’s had a few injury interruptions, but has a well-earned reputation as the best kick in the 2026 draft class. That status will ensure he is at least considered as a top-10 selection, particularly if he can perform strongly at the championships. Mellody is athletically gifted, kicks the ball well with both feet, and has played at half-back, in the midfield and on a wing. He projects as someone who could be a weapon on the outside for an AFL team.
Shifter says: “Heath was super impressive last year, and has been dominant in games this year. He’s as good a kick as you will see at underage level, and his decision-making and use on both sides are elite. He sets the play up, is composed, a one-touch player, and will probably start on a wing or at half-back.”
Clancy Snell
Snell is likened to Sam Taylor and Connor O’Sullivan. He looks like he will blossom into one of the AFL’s top key defenders with his ability to defend first but also intercept in one-on-one aerial contests, where he uses his body well and often reads the ball better than forwards. Snell rarely has bad days, and how early he goes in the draft – maybe even top five – could depend on a team’s willingness to be patient over a quicker-fix midfield recruit.
Shifter says: “Clancy gave glimpses last year at both ends of the ground, but has settled this year as a defender. His ability to know when to spoil – and he spoils it 15–20 metres – or go for a contested mark is fantastic. He is a great size, mobile, makes great decisions in the air at the last second, and is very rarely beaten in the contest. It’s very hard to find [quality] kids who play key defensive spots, but Clancy is one of those.”
Gus Teixeira
Teixeira’s physical traits, particularly his power, should ensure he remains in the top-10 mix all year, while his running ability, and versatility as a midfielder who can go forward have also earned him plenty of fans this year. His penetrating kicking is another tick. Some recruiters would like to see more composure and better decision-making from Teixeira, who can be prone to dropping marks he should not.
Shifter says: “Gus had a terrific bottom-age year [in 2025] for Sandy, and a prominent grand final, and has made a good start to this year. He is another who impressed in the trial games. He is quick, agile, has good touch, clean hands, and is a neat decision-maker, with good fundamentals and goal sense – he’s everything you want in a guy who plays as a midfielder-forward. There are high expectations for him this year.”
Harry Van Hattum
This kid is a man mountain, but once you get over that, you can’t believe how well he kicks the ball for a ruckman. Big men aren’t supposed to be this skilled or athletic, and adding to his appeal is that he can take a clunk up forward. Van Hattum’s follow-up work is often compared to Brodie Grundy. One recruiter described him as a once-in-a-decade prospect, and he is viewed as part of a “Big Three” with Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker.
Shifter says: “Harry is an awesome athlete and potential footballer with his physique and presence, and even his personality – it’s all big and positive. You can’t find many who jump as high as ‘Nic Nat’ [Nic Naitanui], but his running jump is like ‘Nic Nat’, and he’s strongly built. You get glimpses out of the centre where he looks like a ruck-rover, then he can put the ball on the forward’s chest with a beautiful pass. He has enormous potential.”
Cody Walker
Carlton’s latest father-son gem is one of those rare prospects who was on the radar of fans before his draft year. Dougie Cochrane’s injury heightens Walker’s chances of attracting a bid at No.1. His combination of power, aggression, endurance, competitiveness, ball-winning ability and professionalism suggest he will be a Blues star in the years to come. But not everyone sees him as a top-three pick, in large part because of questions over his kicking.
Shifter says: “There are so many things to love about Cody. You want kids who are super competitive, and he’s a competitive beast. He loves to win the contested ball, and compete against the best, and he wants to star all the time – he’s very driven. He’s had a great three years of producing at a consistently high level. He went up to the VFL, and took that in his stride, as the best kids do. He has all the credentials to be an excellent player at AFL level.”
Noah Williams
Williams has heaps of admirers, and a track record of performance, including winning the best-on-ground medal in last year’s under-17 Futures game and the first AFL Academy match this year. He fits the modern game well with his zip off the mark, ball use, competitiveness, and ability to play various roles, including in the midfield and across half-back. There is even a bit of mongrel in Williams. Don’t be surprised if he is a top-five selection.
Shifter says: “Noah is small, quick, smart, and another who is a consistently high-level performer, who played well in [Vic Country’s] trial game. He makes great decisions, has a piercing left-foot kick, and can play as a small defender or as an inside and outside midfielder. He’s a hard nut, competes fearlessly, and I imagine, down the track, he could be one of those one-on-one types, if needed, because he’s a disciplined player.”
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