Why Right Now Is Worth Paying Attention To
The NAB AFL Draft, the Academy system, the Next Generation Academies and all of it has been grinding away quietly for years. The results are on the field now. Clubs in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia are producing polished footballers at 19 and 20, not just raw kids who need four years of VFL to get anywhere near senior level.
Coaches are also less precious about protecting young players from big moments. Good enough means you play. That’s it.
The Young AFL Players Worth Watching in 2026/27
Five names. Different clubs, different positions, different stories. All worth knowing.
1. Harley Reid (West Coast Eagles)
Pick 1 in the 2023 AFL Draft. Twenty-one years old. Already the most talked-about midfielder in the competition. Reid is Perth-born, composed when it matters, and the kind of player who makes you put the phone down mid-scroll. West Coast are in a rebuild, but he makes that worth watching. Signed through to 2028, which tells you everything about how the Eagles see his future.
2. Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
Two Norm Smith Medals. Both before turning 23. Ashcroft won best on ground in Brisbane’s 2024 and 2025 Grand Final victories, which puts him in a conversation with names that took a decade to get there. He reads the ball off a ruckman’s hand as well as anyone in the game. Brisbane are chasing a fourth consecutive Grand Final in 2026/27, and Ashcroft is the reason that’s a realistic conversation.
3. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
Pick 2 in the 2023 AFL Draft, Tasmanian, 21 years old. Plays halfback with the kind of speed that makes opposition coaches uncomfortable. Averaged 23.4 disposals in his second season. Kicked 12 goals. North Melbourne are building, and McKercher is one of the clearer signs that build is actually going somewhere.
4. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
208 centimetres. Twenty-two years old. Still improving, which is slightly alarming for the rest of the competition. Darcy took a patient path to regular senior footy, but the talent was never in question. Won Mark of the Year in 2025. His ground-level work has come a long way, which matters when you’re that tall and playing key forward. Players like that don’t turn up often.
5. Nick Watson (Hawthorn)
Watson is 20 and plays small forward like he’s got something to prove every time he runs out. The Hawks grabbed him with pick 5 in the 2023 AFL Draft. Good call. His highlights tend to circulate online before the siren goes. Quick, hard to read, and comfortable in the big moments. Hawthorn are a genuine finals side in 2026/27, so Watson is going to get a proper audition on the main stage.
What These Players Have in Common
It’s not just talent. The AFL has seen plenty of talented teenagers fade by 24. What’s different here is more specific:
- High football IQ: they read the play early, which buys them time most players have to earn over years
- They absorb feedback quickly and apply it. Ask anyone inside their clubs
- Physical tools that actually match their position: size, speed, or endurance at a level that holds up at senior level
- They turn up in big games, not just the easy rounds
- They stay on the park, which matters more than most fans account for
The Bigger Picture
Eighteen clubs, Cairns to Adelaide, and the standard keeps climbing. Australia’s football culture, particularly in Victoria and Western Australia, keeps producing athletes who are physically ready for elite football earlier than previous generations managed. The average age of top-10 picks getting consistent senior game time in their first two seasons has dropped over the past decade. That’s not an accident.
FAQ
Who is the standout young AFL player in 2026/27?
Harley Reid. Number one pick in 2023, already the Eagles’ best midfielder at 21, signed through to 2028. That’s the short answer.
What age counts as young in AFL terms?
Generally 18 to 23. Most highly-rated draft picks are in the senior side by their second or third year. Past 24, the emerging label stops sticking.
Which clubs are producing the best young talent right now?
Brisbane, North Melbourne, West Coast, and Hawthorn all have players in this conversation. Each club has backed youth with real game time, and the results are showing up.
How does someone get drafted into the AFL?
Through the NAB AFL Draft each November. Clubs pick based on position needs, list structure, and talent. Father-son selections, academy pathways, and the Next Generation Academies also feed into it outside the main pool.
Could any of these players represent Australia?
Reid and Darcy are the most likely candidates on physical profile alone. The International Series doesn’t run every year, but when it does, both would be squarely in the frame.