Academy games 2026.

[imuninformedtwo]

The AFL has published the list of invitees to the draft combines.

2026's most wanted: Draft Combine nominees revealed - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1577023

The only one of our academy players invited to the national combine is McGroder. Which is sort of interesting, as I think he's currently overseas competing in the World U20 Athletics Championships, and I don't know if he's made a decision between an AFL and athletics career? If he does test, he's obviously going to test well, which might see him attracting a high bid, but perhaps counter to that, is the fact that he's generally been a part time footballer over the past few years. So clubs would be just going on potential and glimpses, rather than proven form.

Meaney, Medved and McCartney have been selected for the state combine. Of those three, I'm most keen on Medved, who's almost as athletic as McGroder, is a late convert to the game and has a bit more demonstrated form. However, he limped off with what might be have been a knee injury, in the last VFL game. So he might not be right to go when the combines start on September 30th. If so, we would probably be able to just rookie list him. Which I think would be a big bargain. Of the others, I tend to rate Meaney as a rookie lister and I think that the general vibe on McCartney, is that he's more likely to choose North as a F/S.

And of course, not being invited is bad news for fringe candidates, like, the Jenkin twins, Price, Pignatelli, etc.

You watch it more closely than me but I'm not really surprised based on what I have watched.

McGroder has tantalising traits, and the inclusion suggests it's less about exposed form, but perversely, there's still a lot they don't know, so they want to dig deeper.

Tend to agree of the rest (and I'm excluding McCartney here as I've been hearing for a year he's going to Norf), Medved has some potential and is most likely to get a rookie spot.

The more I watched the Jenkin twins, the more I thought they were good accumulators, but without a point of difference that would elevate them from a good VFL player to AFL standard. Just too vanilla for me. They seem like a poor man's Lachie Carmichael, and I didn't rate him that highly anyway. In a stronger draft, he would have been outside the top 40. Good luck to him, but it's not like we missed the next Errol there.

[dejavoodoo44]

McGroder has just had his first jump in the World U20 Athletics long jump final. Currently live on 7mate.

[dejavoodoo44]

McGroder jumped two personal bests of 7.94m, to sit second going into the final round. He then produced a new personal best of 7.96, to miss out on gold by one centimetre. Bruce McAvaney was commentating and he said that a few weeks ago, McGroder was almost certainly going to choose an AFL career, but now it's 50/50. He didn't elaborate on why he thought that.

[lwjoyner]

HE NOW HAS A BIG DECISION TO MAKE

[imuninformedtwo]

So, given we might as well look ahead a bit, two Swans academy players named in the u17 futures game - Coen Hardy and Charles McClennan.

Gotta admit, haven't really seen Hardy at work. Deja - you're likely to have better views on them.

[dejavoodoo44]

So, given we might as well look ahead a bit, two Swans academy players named in the u17 futures game - Coen Hardy and Charles McClennan.

Gotta admit, haven't really seen Hardy at work. Deja - you're likely to have better views on them.

Hardy is quite an athletic ruck and/or tall forward prospect, who was considered promising enough to be selected for the Allies as an underager. At a slim 197cm, he might need to add a few centimetres and a bit of upper body strength, to be considered a genuine ruck prospect. Seems quite skilful, can take a contested mark and is a good set shot.

McLennan was my pick of last year's u16 championship, but he was injured for this academy season. So, hopefully he's now fit and we'll see him in the futures game. My other pick from that championship, Monte Cairns, was also injured for much of the season. He actually reminded me a bit of Luke Parker, in that he's a big bodied mid, who can go forward and clunk marks. Of the underagers that did play this season, there were a few pacy and skilful smaller players, who might develop: Macri, Redfern and especially Mok.

[dejavoodoo44]

Aidan McCartney, who was eligible for North as a F/S and us as an academy player, has decided to nominate for North. Not much of a shock, as that was rumoured for quite a while. He didn't play this year due to injury and was only sporadically impressive during the previous season, so it's hard to judge how much of a disappointment that is.

[imuninformedtwo]

Aidan McCartney, who was eligible for North as a F/S and us as an academy player, has decided to nominate for North. Not much of a shock, as that was rumoured for quite a while. He didn't play this year due to injury and was only sporadically impressive during the previous season, so it's hard to judge how much of a disappointment that is.

Yep. I think I first heard that was likely 12 months ago and mentioned it on here. I'm far more interested in McGroder's decision on which sport he chooses. Fingers crossed.