The AFL has confirmed the players invited to take part in the 2026 Telstra AFL and AFLW Draft Combines.
Northern Territory prospect Sonny Smiler has capped a standout 2026 campaign with an invitation to the 2026 Telstra AFL National Draft Combine.
The Wanderers and Northern Warlpiri Mozzies livewire, who was also recognised as an NT News Rising Star nominee, has emerged as one of the Territory’s most exciting draft prospects after a series of impressive performances across the year.
Smiler first underlined his talent with a best-on-ground display in the NTFL Futures match before backing it up with several strong outings for the Cazalys NT Talent Academy. Across the Academy campaign, he combined scoreboard impact with high-pressure football, recording multiple goal-scoring performances while consistently winning the ball, taking marks and applying defensive pressure.
His rise has also extended onto the national stage, earning selection for the Marsh AFL National Academy clash against North Melbourne’s VFL side and playing an important role in the 2026 Allies campaign, where his trademark energy was highlighted by a viral backflip celebration.
The 2026 Telstra AFL and AFLW Draft Combines will be held across a two-week period following the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The national events will take place over four days in Melbourne from Tuesday, September 29 to Saturday, October 3.
The national AFLW Draft Combine will run from Tuesday to Friday, while the national AFL Draft Combine will be held from Wednesday to Saturday.
Club interviews for both national Draft Combines will be held at the MCG, before players complete physical testing at the State Netball & Hockey Centre on the final day of each event.
Testing will include vertical jumps, the 20-metre sprint, an agility test and a time trial.
The AFLW Draft Combine time trial will shift to 1.6km this year to better reflect running patterns in AFLW matches, while the AFL Draft Combine time trial will remain at 2km.
Three state Draft Combines will also be held in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The Melbourne events will feature the girls’ combine on October 2 and the boys’ combine on October 3, followed by Adelaide on October 10 and Perth on October 11. Each state Combine will be held across a single day, with participants to complete physical testing.
The 2026 Telstra AFL Draft Combine invite list features 63 players for the national Combine, with a further 39 players invited to a state Combine.
The national 2026 Telstra AFLW Draft Combine will include 46 players, while 43 players have been selected to attend a state Combine.
Additional players may be invited to attend a Draft Combine ahead of each event.