The 2026 AFL Draft is fast approaching. Marvel Stadium will once more play host to the first round at 7:00pm AEDT on November 19, with the draft recommencing for the second round onwards on November 20.
Key dates and times
Where: Marvel Stadium
How to watch: Fox Footy
First round: Thursday, November 19, 7pm AEDT
Second round onwards: Friday, November 20, 7pm AEDT
Preseason and rookie draft: Monday, November 23, 3pm AEDT
Each club's picks
*As at Nov. 9
Adelaide: 15, 32, 35, 43, 56, 92, 110
Brisbane: 21, 27, 28, 45, 79, 97, 115
Carlton: 13, 18, 31, 50, 61, 72, 90, 108
Collingwood: 1, 30, 67, 68, 70, 88, 106
Essendon: 1, 17, 25, 80, 98 (plus second round compensation pick)
Fremantle: 19, 40, 60, 63, 78, 96, 114
Geelong: 36, 57, 62, 75, 93, 111
Gold Coast: 8, 81, 85, 103
GWS: 9, 20, 26, 59, 77, 86, 104
Hawthorn: 29, 37, 71, 94, 107, 112
Melbourne: 4, 14, 48, 52
North Melbourne: 33, 49, 66, 74, 84, 102
Port Adelaide: 7, 12, 22, 24, 34, 46, 65, 101
Richmond: 2, 5, 44, 99 (plus second round compensation pick)
St Kilda: 10, 16, 41, 51, 69, 87, 105
Sydney: 6, 38, 39, 47, 54, 76, 95, 113
West Coast: 3, 23, 58, 64, 73, 82, 100 (plus second round compensation pick)
Western Bulldogs: 42, 53, 55, 83, 89, 91, 109
State of play and players to know
Essendon will be on the clock first, holding the top selection a decade on from the last time it took the number one pick to the AFL Draft. The Dons are expected to first bid on Port Adelaide-tied forward Dougie Cochrane, which will trigger a start-of-second-round compensation pick for the Bombers, Tigers and Eagles.
There are familial lines drawn throughout an exciting 2008-born cohort. Cody Walker is the son of high-flying Blue Andrew and will be headed to Princes Park. Cochrane is the son of former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide midfielder Stuart, though he isn't eligible to either team under the 100-game father-son rule. Instead, he's eligible to join the Power as part of their Next Generation Academy as an Indigenous prospect.
Top-10 riser Sam Gayfer is the nephew of 1990 premiership Pie Mick, and Koby LeCras brings goalkicking pedigree via 2018 premiership uncle Mark.
There will be up to five club-tied talents picked in the first round of the AFL Draft. But that won't necessarily result in an extended first night. Over the past five years the first round has averaged out to 25 selections accounting for father-son and academy bids, but clubs are expecting a number closer to the traditional 18 picks in the final intake of the 18-team competition.
Stricter stipulations around matching bids is at play, with clubs only able to use a maximum of two selections when matching for a club-tied prospect, meaning the selections of Port Adelaide, Carlton, Brisbane and GWS will be absorbed as early bids are matched.
We could see a record number of Indigenous talents picked in the first round. The high-water mark was four in 2005 and 2014, and all of Cochrane, Walker, Caylen Murray (Lions Academy), Toby Krasna and Jake Eime could be taken in the first round in 2026.
Thirteen of the top prospects have already been invited to Marvel Stadium on November 19.
Ethan Drever, Arki Butler and Heath Mellody are all still in contention to be the open pool No. 1 pick, with Harry Van Hattum, Gus Teixeira, Mitch Harris and Ethan Matthews (Giants Academy) rounding out the group on top of draft boards alongside Cochrane and Walker.
Murray, Gayfer, Wil Malady and Leo Steed have also received invites in a sign of club interest on night one.
Around 65 picks are expected to be taken across both nights which would surpass the 60 selections last year.