Under 18 national championships results, Cody Walker Carlton glimpse, Cooper Hodge call, Harper Banfield and Noah Braun in West Coast squeeze, date, order, latest rankings news

As Carlton’s father-son gun exploded on the national stage, a tough reality set in for Blues fans. Plus another son-of-a-gun impresses and the impending bid squeeze at West Coast.

Foxfooty.com.au assesses the talent landscape in AFL Draft Watch ahead of the 2026 AFL national draft – with the first round to be held on Thursday November 19, followed by the remaining rounds on Friday November 20.

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WALKER’S GLORIOUS GLIMPSE INTO BLUES FUTURE

It would’ve been a bittersweet experience on Wednesday for Carlton fans watching Cody Walker produce arguably his best game of the season.

For the star Blues father-son prospect just gave Baggers supporters a breathtaking glimpse into his enormous potential at AFL level against South Australia.

The catch? It made Walker an even more enticing early bid target – at a stage of the season where Carlton is on a 7-0 roll.

In his first game back from a short-term shoulder issue, Walker produced a dazzling display at Mars Stadium against the Croweaters, finishing with 35 disposals, a whopping 18 contested possessions, five clearances and five inside 50s in a losing cause for Vic Country.

The 18-year-old shrugged off close defensive attention from SA midfielders using his core strength and AFL-like movement. His cleanliness at ground level and in congestion was exceptional as he constantly fed the ball out to Country teammates.

But it was Walker’s explosive speed in space that was just as eye-catching, while a couple of efficient kicks would’ve pleased scouts. He almost pulled off the match-winning play in the final minutes, accelerating away from congestion and nailing a long inside-50 kick to teammate Xavier Ladbrook, who marked but ultimately missed the set-shot opportunity that would’ve put Vic Country in front.

Nonetheless, it was a performance that solidified Walker’s standing as a genuine top-three prospect and, for some, cemented him as the clear No.2 player in the class.

While Port Adelaide NGA member Dougie Cochrane – who remains sidelined but is close to returning from knee surgery – is widely viewed as this year’s No.1 prospect, there’s some conjecture around whether Walker is a clear No.2 or lower. But his performance against SA was one of the best individual games of the championships.

Walker is tied to Carlton under the father-son rule, as his dad Andrew Walker played 202 games for the Blues and was their leading goalkicker in 2011. Andrew was taken with Pick 2 in the 2003 draft – and there’s every chance Walker is selected with the same pick 23 years later, particularly after Wednesday’s game.

To match a Pick 2 Walker bid, the Blues would need 2481 points – but would only be able to use two picks in this year’s draft, rather than banking an array of later selections as per previous years. The challenge is because of the resurgent team’s seven-game winning streak under interim coach Josh Fraser, the Blues’ picks keep getting pushed back later in the draft. Plus if they climb out of the bottom eight, they don’t get the 10 per cent discount.

Carlton holds its own natural 2026 first-rounder (currently Pick 9, 1355 points), as well as the Swans’ first pick (currently Pick 17, 879 points) as a result of the Charlie Curnow trade. The value of those two selections combined is 2234 points – 247 points short. It means the Blues would have to get creative at the trade table to ensure they have sufficient points to match the Walker bid, or take the short-term hit and go into draft deficit for 2027.

However it lands, the Blues will make it work trade-wise to ensure they secure Walker.

Walker in July last year formally agreed to join the Blues as a 2026 father-son selection – around 15 months before the deadline – rather than nominate Richmond as part of its Next Generation Academy. Since then, Walker has worked closely with the Blues, continuing his development in the revamped Carlton Academy, training with the AFL squad and playing four games for the Blues’ VFL side.

The thought of Walker and Patrick Cripps in the same midfield in the short-term, as well as joining Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith for the long-term, is a tantalising prospect for Blues fans.

DREVER A DREAM AS TOP-10 PROSPECTS EMERGE

Walker wasn’t the only Vic Country star to enhance his top-end prospects on Wednesday, with GWV Rebels midfielder Ethan Drever continuing his excellent draft year.

Drever, a high-damage 188cm on-baller, finished with 25 disposals, six score involvements, six marks and five inside 50s against SA, while he also booted a trademark goal on the run bursting away from centre ball-up congestion. His acceleration away from stoppage, cleanliness and agility in tight, strength in the contest and piercing right-foot kick were on full display in Ballarat.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect about Drever’s game was that it was closer to a four-quarter performance, considering he was breathtaking five days earlier at Marvel Stadium against WA but dropped off – like many of his Vic Country teammates – during the Black Swans second-half fightback.

While Vic Metro trio Harry Van Hattum, Arki Butler – who’ll miss the next couple of months with a collarbone injury – and Gus Teixeira are in the top-five mix, Drever must be in the same conversation, considering he’s also kicked seven goals and averaged 29.0 disposals, 7.4 clearances, 6.3 inside 50s and 6.1 tackles from his seven Talent League games so far.

Claremont’s Heath Mellody, too, can’t be discounted after a brilliant national carnival for Western Australia, in which he answered one of the biggest questions surrounding this draft crop.

Mellody capped off a strong four-game campaign with 30 disposals, 10 marks, eight score involvements, six inside 50s and four clearances in his team’s tight loss to the Allies playing as a full-time midfielder. It came after Mellody was moved into the midfield after half-time against Vic Country and helped inspire his side’s epic comeback victory at Marvel Stadium.

Mellody (186cm) had put together an excellent year as a rebounding defender prior to the champs, with scouts of the belief he seems well suited for the modern game. But his final one-and-a-half carnival matches as a dominant midfielder proved he indeed has the scope to be an on-baller at AFL level.

He worked well in tandem with Swan Districts young gun Leo Steed, who’s one of this year’s biggest bolters – to the point where he now shapes as a top-10 prospect. A competitive, speedy, physical and hard-working 176cm forward-midfielder, Steed averaged 24 disposals across his four games. He was on track for another prominent game against the Allies, but had to sit out the last quarter due to illness.

Two other top-10 Vic Country prospects were prominent against the Croweaters, with Geelong Falcons star Noah Williams and Gippsland Power key defender Clancy Snell both crucial in the back-half.

Williams, a 177cm defender-midfielder, showcased his all-round game with 20 disposals, six tackles, six intercepts, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s. Outside of one early shank, his ball use was solid and his speed off half-back broke the game open for Country. It came five days after he was arguably Country’s best four-quarter performer in the loss to WA, highlighting why scouts love his game-to-game consistency and competitiveness. Williams looms as a safe, reliable pick at the top-end of the draft.

The 196cm Snell, who finished with 15 disposals, 11 marks and four intercepts, is regarded as one of the best key-position defenders in the pool, alongside Glenelg’s Mitch Harris, who had some big moments in his side’s victory, especially late when the game was on the line. Harris had 10 touches, seven intercepts and two contested marks. Both Snell and Harris are highly regarded for their intercept games.

SA’s two top hopes had varying days, with Ethan Herbert thriving as the side’s No.1 ruck and skipper Kodah Edwards quieter than previous games but still impacting the game with fewer touches.

With Jobe Janeway left out of SA’s team, Herbert (201cm) was given the chance to lead the Croweaters’ ruck division against Jackson O’Brien. While he brokeeven with O’Brien at ruck contests, Herbert’s spread and ability to impact around the ground was impressive to collect 20 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven inside 50s, six clearances, five intercepts and five tackles.

Blessed with freakish groundball cleanliness and aerobic capacity for a guy of his size, Herbert relishes ruck craft, but recruiters believe the 200cm big man may ultimately be better suited to a key forward role at AFL level. Yet during SA’s campaign, he was at his most influential when playing on the ball as a roaming ruck.

Edwards wasn’t as prolific as previous matches – he’d averaged 24 disposals from his previous three champs games – but crucially eight of his 14 touches led to SA scores, including a goal for himself. Edwards also had eight contested possessions and five clearances to show why he’s highly regarded as a 184cm contested ball-winning midfielder.

The other sneaky top-10 chance is Dandenong Stingrays on-baller Jackson Phillips – a skilful, versatile and clean 184cm midfielder, who’s attracting ample interest from AFL clubs. Phillips averaged 16.7 disposals from three games for Vic Country, but had some big moments – none bigger than a brilliant one-handed pick-up and long-range goal against WA at Marvel Stadium.

COOPER’S SUPER FINISH AS INTRIGUE OVER CALL REMAINS

This was the game Hawthorn and Brisbane fans wanted to see from Cooper Hodge, who saved his best Under 18 championships game until last.

Hodge on Wednesday played a key role in the Allies’ upset win over WA in Ballarat, finishing with 20 disposals, nine contested possessions and five score involvements. He was particularly important late when the game was up for grabs, cracking in at the coalface, putting his body on the line and tackling hard, while some of his right-foot kicks across the day were superb.

It comes after Hodge’s impressive display for the Lions’ VFL team against the Gold Coast Suns where he collected 19 disposals and four marks.

Which AFL club Hodge will ultimately be tied to later this year, however, remains a mystery.

Hodge is the son of four-time premiership Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge, making him Hawks father-son eligible. But he also has the option to nominate the Lions as a northern academy selection as he’s been living in Brisbane ever since his dad’s late-career move to The Gabba.

Players and clubs usually finalise nominations for tied prospects in late October. And there’s no clear indication yet which way Hodge will lean come decision time.

While Hodge, at this stage, seems unlikely to attract a first-round bid, he’s done enough to put himself on the national draft radar.

Should Hodge choose the Lions, it means Brisbane could have to match two national draft bids, with fellow academy member Caylen Murray a chance to have his name called as early as the first round.

Murray, an aggressive, line-breaking 183cm defender-midfielder, capped off his excellent national carnival on Wednesday with a team-high 26 disposals, six intercepts and five rebound 50s as he provided ample dash from the backline for the Allies. He’d be in Position A to claim the Allies’ MVP award this year.

Swans fans also would’ve been buoyed by the performances of their academy prospects on Wednesday. Midfielder Henry Meaney – a shrewd 184cm midfielder with good hands – was a constant stoppage threat for WA kicking one goal from 22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six clearances, six inside 50s and five tackles. Meanwhile athletic 190cm defender Jake Medved – who comes from a touch footy background – was influential with his ability to disrupt and run, collecting 17 touches and six intercepts. On-baller Conrad Blackwell-Smith – the Swans academy’s Under 16 MVP in 2024 – had 18 disposals and five tackles.

And a shout out for exciting NT forward Sonny Smiler, who had some important moments in the game. He booted 2.1 from 11 disposals, while he took a big contested mark and nailed a late-game inside 50 kick that set up a set-shot opportunity.

TRICKY EAGLES SQUEEZE

A second consecutive year of tough calls on Eagles-tied players looms for West Coast.

At last year’s draft, the Eagles opted not to match bids on NGA graduate Koby Evans (Brisbane) and father-son prospect Charlie Banfield (St Kilda), but matched for NGA forward Tylah Williams. Those three players all had their names called within four picks in the second round.

Twelve months later and there could be more tricky decisions to make for the Eagles’ list team, as they have an array of club-tied players in the national draft mix again.

The standout is arguably NGA prospect and AFL academy member Garrison Kenh, whose last two games for WA were outstanding. After a classy 22-disposal display in the win over Vic Country, Kenh had another 22 touches against the Allies, showing off his composure, rebounding ability and lethal left-foot kick in front of scouts.

Harper Banfield – the brother of Charlie Banfield and son of dual premiership Eagle Drew Banfield – also had an eye-catching four-game carnival for WA, averaging 23 disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s across four games. Banfield (181cm) was a regular centre ball-up member for WA alongside Steed, George Gale and, later, Mellody, where his competitiveness, workrate and cleanliness in tight was on full display.

Like Banfield, Noah Braun is father-son eligible to the Eagles as his dad, Michael Braun, played 228 games for West Coast and was part of the famous 2006 premiership side. Braun (183cm) came into the WA side for its final two carnival games and played a key role, collecting 19 touches against Vic Country then booting 2.1 from 12 touches against the Allies. He knows how to find the footy, racking up a whopping 50 disposals for Claremont’s colts side earlier this year.

Subiaco’s Kyan Perera is also Eagles tied via their NGA. Playing across half-forward, Perera demonstrated clean hands and speed across the four WA carnival games.

And then there’s Eagles NGA forward Lachlan McGlade, who booted 7.3 from four games for WA, including a three-goal haul against Vic Country last week where he lit up Marvel Stadium.

Like last year, it’s unlikely the Eagles will be able to take all of their top NGA and father-son prospects.

OTHER STANDOUTS …

– Jack Slattery, surely, can’t be ignored any longer. The Woodville-West Torrens goalkicker was SA’s dominant forward 50 source across the team’s four games, finishing with a carnival-high 16.2, including hauls of six, five and four in his last three encounters. A 192cm player with Logan Morris-like traits and goalkicking ability, he’s a lock for the full-forward position in the All-Australian team. Slattery was an over-ager for South Australia as he turns 19 in late September, but that’s unlikely to deter clubs from picking him come November’s national draft.

– Slattery wasn’t the only SA prospect to boost his draft chances. Glenelg’s Jacob McNicol (179cm) was arguably his side’s most consistent and influential performer, averaging 22.0 disposals and 4.8 inside 50s, while he had eight score involvements in each of his last three games. Central District’s Jake Eime (183cm), who averaged 21.3 disposals, is in the first-round mix with his run and carry ability, while fellow Sam Tassone (180cm) was also consistent and reliable with his defensive-offensive balance. Tassone’s North Adelaide teammate Memphis Webb was SA’s most prolific ball-winner, averaging 24.8 disposals.

– For Vic Country, GWV Rebels prospect Klay Nicholls (186cm) had a strong finish to his carnival playing as a defender, amassing 21 disposals, 12 intercepts and five marks against SA as he showed off his polish and efficiency. Fellow Rebel Archie Elliott (182cm) brought has strong Talent League goalkicking form into the national champs, kicking a team-high 4.2 from nine disposals and six marks against the Crows.

– For WA, the Dockers have an NGA prospect that has the potential to attract a national draft bid in Finlay Yeo. A 172cm East Fremantle player, Yeo booted two goals in each of his final two games as he impressed with his speed and finishing ability in the forward half.

– And don’t sleep on the WA big guys. Claremont’s Benji van Rooyen – the brother of Demon Jacob van Rooyen – looms as the likely All-Australian ruck after averaging 14 disposals, five clearances, four marks and 21 hit-outs across his four games. Scouts are now convinced he’s more likely to be a ruck, rather than a forward, at AFL level at 203cm. Meanwhile, West Perth’s Harvey Spawton-Guy had a big finish to the carnival, kicking 3.1 against the Allies to finish with 6.7 for the four games. The mobile Spawton-Guy (196cm) has a strong pair of hands.