SotaramAFL
2026 AFL National Draft

Sam Tassone: 2026 AFL Draft profile

Certified Bolter

SotaramAFL scouting view · Snapshot 19 October 2026

2026 NATIONAL DRAFTTop 45 · EDITORIAL RANGESA
Position
Defender
Listed height
180 cm
Club / region
North Adelaide (SANFL U18 / SA)
Projected range
Top 45 (editorial)

Sam Tassone scouting report

Sam Tassone is the 2026 draft’s "certified bolter." Standing 180cm, the North Adelaide product has surged from outside the South Australian state squad to become one of the most talked-about prospects in the country. A high-octane rebounding defender who can shift into the midfield, Tassone is a "possession powerhouse" who averaged 27.5 disposals across the opening rounds of the 2026 SANFL U18 season. Renowned for a "bouncy" running stride and a devastating turn of pace, he is the Roosters' chief distributor—a daring playmaker who refuses to play it safe, constantly looking to bring the ball inboard and slice through defensive blocks with assertive, attacking kicking.

AFL player comparison

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

A stylistic comparison from the scouting database, not a prediction of career output.

More from the scouting notes

Tassone mirrors that specific "elite distributor" archetype. Like Nasiah, he possesses a rare combination of lateral agility and a high-velocity kicking game that makes him the primary architect of his team's transition. He has that "bouncy" athleticism that allows him to dance around oncoming pressure at half-back before delivering a surgical 45-degree ball that completely breaks the game open.

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Source: the existing SotaramAFL 2026 scouting database, republished as a dated editorial snapshot. Listed facts have not been independently re-reported for this page. See methodology and corrections.