Another bloody draft ranking? Yes. But this one comes from watching full games and player-involvement vision, testing what actually makes a junior prospect likely to succeed at AFL level. This is my final Top 30 for the 2026 AFL National Draft, not a phantom draft, and not an attempt to predict the order in which clubs will call names. With Essendon holding Pick 1 and further selections expected later in the draft, there is an obvious Bombers lens to parts of this discussion

With 23 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, Don The Stat continues its daily journey through Essendon’s guernsey history. Guernsey Number 23 has been worn by some of Essendon’s most durable players and important leaders, spanning the early VFL years through to the present day. The jumper found its first long-term custodian in Thomas Clarke , who wore #23 from 1927 to 1934 , playing 103 games . Its defining era came through Bill Brittingham , who wore G

“Old Essendon” shouldn’t be a divided club, board challenges and instability. It’s Jack Jones giving tours of The Hangar to fans until his final days, , because he wanted people to love Essendon Football Club as much as he did, it’s Michael Long standing up against racism with his club united behind him