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KioskNews
The Daily Newsstand · Free, Always
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
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The Sydney Morning Herald·Australia·

AFL draft 2026

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This year’s national draft will be held on November 19 and 20. Here, you will find The Age’s coverage in the lead-up, with player profiles, rankings and insights into what the best juniors in the land need to do to reach the elite.

10 stories

Talent is just the start. What do footy recruiters look for in young players?

We ask the experts how they pick future professionals from skilled amateurs – and contenders tell us what it’s like to be under the microscope.

  • Madeleine Heffernan and Peter Ryan
Gus Teixeira is one of this year’s top AFL draft prospects.

Power, speed, creativity and a penetrating kick: This young gun has the lot, and now he’s healthy

Gus Teixeira spent most of his draft year feeling fatigued. He still ended it with All-Australian honours and as one of the top AFL draft prospects.

  • Marc McGowan

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Arki Butler moulds his game on some of the AFL’s most exciting players.

Lippy, annoying and with star potential: The ‘next Tom Papley’ set to shake up the AFL

Arki Butler is a small forward agitator in the Tom Papley mould and looks certain to be a top-10 pick in next month’s AFL draft.

  • Marc McGowan
Ethan Drever is one of the top prospects in this year’s AFL draft.

‘An A-plus character’: The prospect from a family of Essendon diehards who could kickstart the Dons

Ethan Drever is one of the best prospects in 2026. Essendon - the club he supports - are strongly considering him at the top of the AFL draft.

  • Marc McGowan
Wil Malady is one of the most exciting prospects in this year’s AFL draft.

‘Spelling mistakes everywhere’: How an email from the heart got this AFL prospect a scholarship

Wil Malady is one of the most exciting players up for grabs in this year’s AFL draft, but he had to beg for a private school scholarship.

  • Marc McGowan
Cody Walker looks destined to join the Blues as a father-son selection in next month’s draft.

Who the players rate as the cream of the crop in this year’s AFL draft

We asked 12 top draft prospects who they thought were the best young players on offer to AFL clubs in 2026. Two had themselves at the top of the list.

  • Marc McGowan
Sam Gayfer.

Why this nephew of a premiership Pie is getting attention ahead of the draft

This top AFL draft prospect obliterated a long-standing combine record and might be about to continue his family’s legacy at Collingwood.

  • Marc McGowan
Draft prospects Ethan Drever, Cody Walker and Arki Butler.

Exquisitely talented, daring, smart: This Brighton Grammar footy captain is shaking up the draft

A strong group of prospects has separated themselves at the top of next month’s AFL draft. Here are our October rankings.

  • Marc McGowan

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Arkie Butler is at No.2 in our draft rankings.

‘Wow’ moments, dominators and draft bolters: We rank the top 30 AFL draft prospects

This is not a mock draft, but rather a ranking of prospects based on performance, potential, injury risk and intangibles, based on discussions with recruiting staff at 10 AFL clubs, junior coaches, and this masthead’s own views.

  • Marc McGowan
Australian football’s under-18 championships start this weekend, showcasing the brightest prospects in the game, including Ethan Matthews, Harry Van Hattum, Cody Walker and Dougie Cochrane.

The Bombers and Tigers will be keeping an eye on these young guns ahead of the draft

Recruiters were out in force to try to unearth the AFL’s next stars when the under-18 championships were held across the country.

  • Marc McGowan

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View the original on The Sydney Morning Herald →

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