First-round chance emerges, ‘freak’ forward… and self-nominated ‘bolter’ — Draft’s big risers revealed

A Morrish Medal winner pushing into first-round contention, a freakish small forward and an elite athlete weighing up an AFL career against an Olympic dream.

They’re among the prospects their peers believe could be worth a first-round pick in next month’s draft.

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Earlier this month, foxfooty.com.au asked 22 of this year’s top AFL draft hopefuls to nominate a player they’d be prepared to use a first-round pick on – whether a bolter or a slider.

One of the most compelling nominations is Northern Knights prospect Harvie Cooke, whose outstanding season has put him firmly in the first-round conversation.

While scouts have been divided over his AFL potential throughout the season, Cooke couldn’t have done much more on the field to enhance his prospects.

Cooke was particularly impressive in his national championships campaign for Vic Metro. He kicked four goals and averaged 17.5 disposals, 7.0 marks, 6.2 score involvements and 98.9 ranking points to finish fifth in Larke Medal voting and earn Under 18 All-Australian selection.

Cooke also claimed the Morrish Medal as this year’s Talent League best and fairest, averaging 24.7 disposals, 5.9 clearances and 4.9 tackles.

At the draft combine, he finished fifth in both the 2km time trial (6:08) and agility test (7.962 seconds), as well as eighth in the running vertical jump (89cm).

Cooke’s energy, competitiveness, tenacity and creativity in the forward half are hard to ignore. And multiple sources told foxfooty.com.au this week he was in the late first-round mix for next month’s draft.

Northern Knights teammate and good friend Harry Van Hattum had no hesitation nominating Cooke as his 2026 draft riser.

“He’s finally getting some recognition now,” Van Hattum told foxfooty.com.au.

“Over the past couple of years he’d never made Metro or summer hub or any of those teams. He’s ticked every box he could’ve ticked this year and he’s coming at the right time of the year. I’d take him pretty high.

“He’s one of my best mates and I’ve seen the work he puts in behind the scenes over the past couple of years to get his running and craft up to that standard. It’d be insane to see him get picked up.”

At 176cm, scouts were keen to see Cooke’s work close to goal this year as that’s where he’d likely begin his AFL career should he be drafted.

Van Hattum agreed that a deep forward or high half-forward role would be his likely starting point at the next level.

“Obviously he’s only 18, but he’s probably one of the strongest in the draft. His deep forward work and marking down forward are insane, so I can definitely see him playing there next year.”

Cooke was part of a dynamic Vic Metro forward line that also featured Sandringham Dragons prospect George Dimer, who has attracted growing admiration throughout the year.

The 173cm prospect works hard up the ground as a link option but is equally dangerous close to goal, where his goal sense and front-and-centre crumbing stand out.

Dimer (173cm) kicked three goals and averaged 16.0 disposals, 8.3 contested possessions, 5.7 marks and a team-high 124.4 ranking points across three national champs games. But here’s the best carnival stat: 26 of Dimer’s 48 disposals led to Vic Metro scores, highlighting his ability to turn possession into scoreboard impact.

“I’m not just saying this because he’s my friend, but George Dimer … he’s a freak,” Dragons and Vic Metro teammate Lochie Burrows told foxfooty.com.au.

“He’s put in heaps of work and he’s definitely one of the best small forwards in this draft.

“Every time he gets the ball, he’s looking to give it off to set other people up. He’s so unselfish and is always pursuing in that forward half.”

Archie Elliott was among the prospects to receive multiple nominations from his peers.

The GWV Rebels forward kicked 43 goals from 14 games for the GWV Rebels to top the Talent League goalkicking table. It came after a strong finish to his Under 18 carnival with for Vic Country, booting four goals against South Australia and two against Vic Metro.

Rebels teammate Ethan Drever said Elliott was a similar player to premiership Magpie – and namesake – Jamie Elliott.

“There’s probably no one else like him in the draft because he can take an overhead mark and is also really good on the ground,” Drever told foxfooty.com.au.

“He’s that hybrid forward and has really good endurance.”

Gippsland Power forward Marlon Neocleous experienced how damaging Elliott can be both as a teammate and opponent.

“He’s very athletic. He was very dangerous close to goal for us (Vic Country), similar to what he did for GWV,” Neocleous told foxfooty.com.au.

“If the ball is in his area, he’s going to make something happen.”

Gippsland Power’s Xavier Ladbrook is one of the draft’s most versatile prospects, with the 203cm talent combining athleticism and elite endurance with the ability to play almost anywhere on the ground.

After playing on the wing in his bottom-age year while also spending time as a roaming forward, scouts were pleased Ladbrook eventually settled in defence this year next to highly-rated Power teammate Clancy Snell.

“He’s had a rough time. They’ve been switching him up forward – he likes back better – but he’s going to be a gun,” Snell told foxfooty.com.au.

“He’s 203cm, so silky and has good co-ordination. It’s everything you need, really.”

Geelong Falcons forward Jack Pickett said it felt like Ladbrook had “just gone down the rankings for no sort of reason”.

“He’s versatile, he’s 203cm, he kicks well and runs well, so I reckon there’s no harm in investing in that,” Pickett told foxfooty.com.au. “He could turn out to be an unbelievable player.

“Being behind the ball and seeing the game in front of him allows him to read it well. He takes marks and really gets his intercept game going when he can do that. He looks like a real good player.”

Like Ladbrook, Geelong Falcons utility defender-midfielder Noah Williams might’ve slipped down some club draft boards. But his peers believe he still should be in the first-round mix, despite a busy and injury-interrupted season.

Williams has a reputation for standing up in big games. He was named Team Boak’s best player in the Under 17s futures match on AFL Grand Final day last year, while he won the medal as the AFL Academy’s best player against North Melbourne VFL earlier this year.

Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker, who was recognised next to Williams last year as Team Sloane’s best player, said his Vic Country and AFL Academy teammate was “not probably getting the love that he probably should be”.

“Apparently he’s sliding a little bit, but I think he should be right up in the mix of it all because he’s such a competitive player,” Walker told foxfooty.com.au.

“What he did at national level and the National Academy is pretty special, so I think he’s under the radar a lot.”

Lions academy prospect Caylen Murray shared Walker’s viewpoint after playing with Williams for the AFL Academy against North Melbourne and Richmond’s VFL sides.

“No one has really spoken about him, but what he did early in the year was pretty crazy,” Murray told foxfooty.com.au.

“Probably for his leadership mainly, but his skills are good and he’s a nice kick.

“He’s also very, very competitive. You don’t want to verse him in table tennis!”

North Adelaide’s Sam Tassone – a composed rebounding half-back who can push up onto the wing – also received multiple nominations.

Woodville West-Torrens defender Mitch Harris said Tassone was “a running machine and really smooth with the ball”, while Glenelg’s Gabe Patterson said his fellow South Australian had “really good physical attributes and fundamentals”.

“He sort of come out of nowhere earlier this year and put some good footy together,” Patterson told foxfooty.com.au.

“He did really well in the 2km time trial (6:13). He’s someone who I’d invest in.”

Patterson himself was nominated by Woodville-West Torrens forward Jack Slattery, who said his SA teammate deserved to be “on the edge” of the first round.

“Gabe Patterson is all over the shop in different rankings and he probably didn’t have the championships he would’ve liked. But he played an amazing SANFL Under 18s finals series and had a great end to the year,” Slattery told foxfooty.com.au.

'Compromised' draft to cause chaos? | 05:44

“He could be anything, really. He could be Cyril Rioli (if it clicks for him at AFL level). He’s a very exciting player to watch and play with.”

And in a first for foxfooty.com.au’s draft combine survey, one prospect even nominated himself as a bolter.

It felt appropriate, too, considering Swans Academy prospect Mason McGroder has spent the year weighing up two ambitions: Representing Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics or challenging himself to become “a generational talent” in the AFL.

On the footy field, McGroder is a speedy, physical defender with a high vertical leap and a determination to beat his opponent before “trying to make a big statement on the offence”. He describes himself as an “impactful” defender, with the size (195cm) and pace to “keep up with either” tall or mid-sized forwards.

But McGroder’s talents on the football field are matched by his feats in athletics, highlighted by a silver medal in the long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Portland, Oregon. It was his second long-jump medal at the event after he claimed a remarkable bronze in 2024 … as a 15-year-old.

McGroder, unsurprisingly, tested superbly at this month’s draft combine, recording the fastest 20m sprint (2.827 seconds), while finishing second in both the running vertical (107cm) and standing vertical jump (85cm).

“I guess I’ve flown under the radar due to athletics, but I see my potential as sort of unmatched because of both my athletic capabilities and the way I could learn as a footballer,” McGroder told foxfooty.com.au.

“I don’t think it’d take me too long to fit into a professional environment. I’d hope to be playing (AFL) footy in my first year.

“I’d almost compare myself to Harry Kyle from last year, who was definitely a bolter, going at Pick 14. He hadn’t played a lot of footy, but he had athletic capabilities. I don’t see how I’m not similar, if not a bit better on some of those points.”

Here are the other prospects this year’s draft hopefuls believe could be first-round bolters.

Port Adelaide NGA star Dougie Cochrane said: “I’d probably say Archie Van Dyke. He got best-on-ground in the reserves. People might be a bit worried about his running, but I don’t see a problem with that. He’s a good runner and a big-bodied midfielder. He ran a good 2km time yesterday, so he’s one who’s gone a bit underrated this year.”

Gippsland Power forward Wil Malady said: “I really like Tom Brown’s game from WA. I think he has potential to go Round 1. His champs were unreal. He obviously played on me when we played WA, and he was competitive and very strong.”

Swan Districts midfielder-forward Leo Steed said: “I think some of the (WA) boys in the state combine like Harper Banfield, Tom Brown. I’m sure Lucas Robinson hasn’t had enough love. I think those three are bloody good players and I think they can have an impact at AFL level. So I’d love to see them get a bit more respect.”

Western Jets small forward Khaled El Souki said: “I reckon Lachie Hicks has gone a bit under the radar and also Billy Wigmore. They’re Jets boys as well, but I reckon they’ve both actually gone under the radar.”

Sandringham Dragons forward-midfielder Arki Butler said: “I played school footy with one guy who’s sort of got some love in the last couple of weeks, Jasper Williams. He sort of plays ruck and a bit of key back. He’s a pretty special talent, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear his name called quite early on draft night … He’s played some awesome football this year and put himself on the radar.”

Sandringham Dragons forward-midfielder Gus Teixeira said: “Definitely Albert MacGowan. He won the 2km time trial, he’s won best and fairest for every team he’s played for this year. He’s just a star. He’s got elite skills and elite running. I’m probably surprised he’s not talked about higher.”

North Adelaide ruck-forward Ethan Herbert said: “I think a big bolter for me, again another SA boy, probably I’d say is Harry Franz. I feel like, yeah, he’s sort of that other key defender. He’s sort of gone on the radar a bit throughout the year, and he’s had some really good performances for Glenelg, and he was part of their grand final team. But he’s also a really raw and athletic talent, and he’s still coming into his own, similar to Mitch (Harris), but he’s definitely a good key defender to watch out for.”

Claremont midfielder-defender Heath Mellody said: “A WA boy I rate pretty highly is Harvey Spawton-Guy. He’s a good guy who’s shown a lot throughout the year and made big improvements. He had a bit of a slow start but really built into it towards the back-end. Then he went on to play league footy at West Perth, a struggling side, and to kick goals and play well there was a really good effort. Credit to him.”

Giants academy midfielder Ethan Matthews said: “Probably Caylen Murray, although he’s shot up the rankings now. I’ve played a lot of footy with him in the Allies and I think he’s a great player. I’ll probably play a similar role to him initially, at half-back, and I see a bit of myself in him and some of the things he does. He’s been very good and is one of my good mates.”

Northern Knights key forward Sam Gayfer said: “He’s getting plenty of recognition now, but I think Lochie Burrows. Seeing him in the Vic Metro carnival and how he locks down his opponent while also providing drive off half-back, he’s a good player. He has versatility, he can play absolutely anywhere and he does whatever the team needs. He does it and dominates doing it.”