WATop 5
Heath Mellody
Contested Defender
Claremont (WAFL Colts / WA)
Scouting profile
2026 AFL National Draft
Zackariah Young: 2026 AFL Draft profile
High-impact Defensive Spark
2026 NATIONAL DRAFTTop 60 · EDITORIAL RANGESA
- Position
- Defender
- Listed height
- 178 cm
- Club / region
- North Adelaide (SANFL U18 / SA)
- Projected range
- Top 60 (editorial)
Zackariah Young scouting report
Zachariah "Zacky" Young is the 2026 draft’s "backline firecracker." Standing 178cm, the North Adelaide product and Port Adelaide NGA prospect is an exciting First Nations talent out of the legendary Mallee Park breeding ground. Young is a highly disciplined "high defender" who offers a premium dual threat: he possesses the defensive accountability to lock down a dangerous small forward, paired with an elite reading of the play that allows him to peel off, intercept, and ignite transition. When the ball is in his hands, he plays with absolute dare, utilizing blistering speed and clean foot skills to slice open opposition defensive zones. Having spent time in Port Adelaide's senior pre-season program, his tactical awareness and ground-level cleanliness make him one of the most dynamic back-half assets in the South Australian pool.
AFL player comparison
Darcy Wilmot
A stylistic comparison from the scouting database, not a prediction of career output.
More from the scouting notes
Young mirrors Wilmot’s high-energy, high-impact "defensive spark" archetype. At 178cm, he plays with a fearlessness that defies his size, consistently backing his lateral movement and explosive step to escape heavy pressure in the defensive 50. Like Wilmot, he isn't content with just spoiling; he actively hunts for intercept opportunities and immediately looks to turn the game into a fast-paced offensive transition. His combination of lockdown defensive grit and infectious, attacking flair makes him an ideal modern half-back flanker who can break a stagnant game open.
Club connection
Port Adelaide draft hand · Academy in the scouting database. A listed connection does not confirm nomination or matching eligibility.
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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.