2026 AFL Draft: prospects, picks and mock draft planning
Build a view of the draft by connecting three things: the players available, the picks a club can use, and the rules that change the order. This hub helps you test that view without confusing a scenario with a confirmed selection.
Your first AFL mock draft
Set the order, make selections, compare scenarios and keep your draft.
Read guide →Draft points & bid matching
Understand the 2026 rules, then work through a points example.
Read guide →Club needs & trade scenarios
Compare the cost of moving up with the players you might miss.
Read guide →Read a prospect profile as a set of questions
A height, position and comparison name can help you picture a player, but they do not settle where that player should be selected. Read the scouting description for the role being described. Is the player creating chances, finishing them, defending space, or winning the ball at the contest? Which of those skills matters for the club you are drafting for?
Use the same questions for competing prospects. A projection about development should be treated differently from a recorded measurement. A comparison with an established player describes a style; it is not a prediction that the prospect will produce the same career.
Build a shortlist with an alternative
Choose a preferred prospect for a club's next selection, then name a second option before drafting. Run the board to that pick. If your preferred option is gone, the alternative lets you assess the opportunity you actually have rather than restarting until the board gives you the outcome you wanted.
This approach is particularly helpful when a bid changes the order. A club might still secure its tied prospect, but spend picks it had intended to use elsewhere. Compare its whole draft haul rather than judging the night from one selection.
Why 2026 needs its own bidding assumptions
The AFL announced changes to bidding and compensation for 2026. Older examples may use different pricing and matching arrangements. Start with the AFL's official player-movement announcement, then use our points and bid-matching walkthrough to connect the rules to a simulator decision.
The app supports custom rules as well as draft-class defaults. Before sharing a result, say which settings you used and whether you changed the starting order. That gives other fans a way to reproduce the discussion.
A three-scenario plan
- Baseline: use the current setup and draft according to your player preferences.
- Needs first: keep the setup but prioritise the roles you identified in the club list.
- Trade variation: return to the baseline and change one pick package, then compare who remains available.
Look for a decision that changes across the three versions. That is a useful point to investigate: whether the trade is worth its cost, whether a role has enough depth in the pool, or whether a bid leaves the club too little flexibility.
Where to check confirmed information
Use AFL.com.au's draft coverage and official club announcements for confirmed selections and developments. SotaramAFL's automated news wire links to original reporting but is not an official register. Report an outdated profile or pick with the relevant source through the contact page.