AFL Draft 2026: Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan’s top 25 prospects
AFL clubs plan for years before selecting talent at the draft. These are top 25 prospects they are eyeing for 2026, according to ultimate talent guru Kevin Sheehan.
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It is emerging as a golden era for Carlton – at least when it comes to father-son selections.
Last year the Blues nabbed twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale in the national draft, the sons of 1995 premiership player Scott.
This year, key defender Harry Dean – the son of two-time premiership player and 248-game star Peter – is shaping as a potential first-round draft pick.
Then there’s next year, which looks even more exciting.
If you haven’t yet heard the name Cody Walker, here’s your introduction.
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The son of former Carlton high-flyer and 202-game star Andrew, early expectations are that the midfielder-forward could be one of the first players read out in the 2026 national draft.
“He’s phenomenal,” Bendigo Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree said of Walker earlier this year.
“He’s doing everything right, he’s in the gym, he’s working really hard at training and working on parts of his game that he needs to work on. He’s ultra-professional.”
Walker won Vic Country’s MVP award at the under-16 national championships last year, while also being named as the All-Australian captain.
Additionally, he made his senior football debut for hometown club Echuca in the Goulburn Valley Football League last June and was picked as one of only six bottom-age players in the initial 2025 Vic Country squad as he continues his development this year.
Walker is one of a many highly-rated club-linked prospects who are already firmly on the radar for the 2026 national draft.
Richmond has access to small forward Tanner Armstrong through its Next Generation Academy, while North Melbourne has a promising father-son prospect on the horizon in Aidan McCartney (son of Jason).
The Northern Academies are also continuing to churn out talent, with Gold Coast Suns’ Archie Hill, Sydney’s Guy Jenkin and Brisbane Lions pair Caylen Murray and Matthew Owen having impressed at the under-18 national championships last year.
There is also plenty of excitement around South Australian sensation Dougie Cochrane, the son of former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide player Stuart.
The key defender – who has also gone forward to great effect this season – has been flagged as an early No. 1 pick contender for 2026.
Cochrane’s older brother, Tom, made his AFL for Port Adelaide in late March after being a 2024 rookie draft selection.
Here is AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan’s full list of the top 25 draft prospects to watch for 2026.
Originally published as AFL Draft 2026: Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan’s top 25 prospects
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