Draft prospects Sam Gayfer and Lewis Houndsome during the 2km time trial at the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft Combine. Image: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos
AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top ruck and tall forward prospects ahead of the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft, including 10 Victorian boys.
This year’s Telstra AFL Draft will be held on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20. The 2026 Telstra AFL Rookie Draft will follow on Monday, November 23.
Sheehan's player profiles will be released via positional group each week ahead of the Draft. This week’s edition highlights the small defenders and midfielders in this year’s Draft pool.
All players profiled attended the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft Combine or 2026 Telstra AFL State Draft Combine in October.
The 10 Victorian ruck and tall forward prospects are profiled are below, click here for the full national list.
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE
Sam Gayfer
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Northern Knights
Community Club: Banyule
Date of Birth: 21/05/2008
Height: 194cm
Profile: An athletic tall forward, Gayfer is known for his vice-like grip overhead, strong athletic traits and high natural leap. He had an outstanding year for the Northern Knights, averaging 12.4 disposals and 4.4 marks, while kicking 30 goals from 13 matches to be rewarded with selection in the Talent League Team of the Year. Gayfer also kicked 10 goals and averaged 11 disposals and 4.2 marks for Victoria Metro in four matches at the National Championships, including kicking four goals against South Australia in a dominant display for the title-winning team. Broke the AFL Draft Combine record for the running vertical jump in October, with his 114cm leap the highest recorded in more than 30 years of testing. Also ranked first in the standing vertical jump with his 88cm leap confirming what we see in marking contests. Is the nephew of Collingwood 1990 premiership player Mick Gayfer.
Lewis Houndsome
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Northern Knights
Community Club: Yarrambat
Date of Birth: 29/05/2008
Height: 198cm
Profile: A developing tall forward and ruck, Houndsome has shown distinct promise with his mobility, natural leap and strong hands over the past two years. Endured a setback when he suffered a significant rib and lung injury in his second match representing the Australia U18 team in April and took some time to recover completely and return to his best. Still showed some of his undoubted potential playing for Victoria Metro in four National Championships matches, averaging 10.5 disposals and 8.5 hitouts in a tall forward/ruck support role. Really hit his straps in the final month of the season for the Northern Knights when he returned to crashing packs and taking contested marks in a glimpse of his overall talent and potential. His overall fundamentals are good and he possesses a sound kicking technique. Finished up playing 11 Talent League games with the Knights, averaging 12 disposals, 3.2 marks and 19.5 hitouts. Had a top-ten finish in the standing vertical jump at the Draft Combine with a 76cm leap.
Wil Malady
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Bairnsdale
Date of Birth: 12/10/2008
Height: 190cm
Profile: A medium-sized forward, Malady showed some exciting talent during the under-16 National Championships in 2024, with his ability to read the ball coming in and his one-touch hands real features of his game. A high-impact player, he took seven contested marks at the tournament (ranked No.1) and kicked six goals for Vic Country to be rewarded with All Australian honours. He continued to put his potential on display in his bottom-age campaign in 2025, including kicking five goals for Team Boak in the National Futures match at the MCG last September, showcasing his potential on the biggest stage. He opened this season in great form with a six-goal haul for the Gippsland Power in a dominant Round 1 performance against the Murray Bushrangers. A member of the AFL National Academy, Malady mixed his football between two games with the Australia U18s team, Gippsland Power and Victoria Country, showcasing his weapons with his exciting ability in the air and precise goal kicking. Averaged 11 disposals and 4.3 marks while kicking 27 goals from 13 games, as well as fulfilling his playing commitments with Caulfield Grammar. Topped off his year with a game-breaking second half in Gippsland Power’s Talent League Grand Final win over the Dandenong Stingrays, booting five goals in the second half to confirm his ability to influence outcomes in big games. Was outstanding during testing at the Draft Combine, ranked second for agility (7.83 seconds) and third on the 20m sprint (2.90 seconds).
Seb Marsic
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Hawthorn Citizens
Date of Birth: 30/08/2008
Height: 196cm
Profile: A tall forward who has both strong hands on the lead and in contested situations, Marsic only gave a thin slice of his talent early in the season before injuring his ankle. His standout performance was in the Oakleigh Chargers’ Round 2 win over the Sandringham Dragons, where he booted seven goals from six marks and 15 disposals. Tackles aggressively and has a real physical presence up forward. Finished with just four matches for the season, with a return of 11 goals, which was enough for AFL clubs to have a closer look at both his progression from his rehab program and timeline on returning to full training during the Draft Combine.
Jackson O’Brien
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: Lake Wendouree
Date of Birth: 05/06/2008
Height: 207cm
Profile: Developing ruck prospect who progressed in leaps and bounds this year to emerge as Victoria Country’s number one ruck. O’Brien is mobile and competitive, with the size and athleticism to match it around stoppages. Has exceptional ruck craft, with soft hands to direct the ball with his tap work. He played all four games for Victoria Country at the National Championships, averaging nine disposals at 75% efficiency, along with with 3.7 marks and 17.5 hitouts. Has always played football but was more focused on basketball until this season, when he was dominant in the Talent League with the GWV Rebels, averaging 27.4 hitouts and 3.1 marks from 14 matches. His competitiveness and excellent endurance for a player of his size was apparent at the Draft Combine, running an impressive time of 6:45 in the 2km time trial.
Jack Pickett
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Torquay
Date of Birth: 06/03/2008
Height: 193cm
Profile: A mobile and strong-marking tall forward with a vice-like grip, Pickett was a weapon inside-50 for the Geelong Falcons as a bottom-age player in 2025. He kicked 31 goals from eight matches in the Talent League, including a haul of seven majors against the Western Jets and two other bags of five goals. He recorded goal kicking accuracy of 77.5 per cent for the season, with sharp shooting being a real feature of his game. Pickett also had a taste of National Championships action for Victoria Country and kicked three goals from two matches, before capping a consistent year with two goals for Team Docherty in the National Futures match in September. He kicked two goals in his first game for the Geelong Falcons this year, before devastatingly rupturing his ACL at training which sidelined him for the rest of the 2026 campaign. Pickett was a member of the AFL National Academy but was sidelined for both its matches in April due to the earlier injury. Although his rehab is progressing very well, he was unable to test at the Draft Combine. Recruiters will rely on his impressive body of work in his 16th and 17th years to evaluate his potential.
Harry Van Hattum
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Northern Knights
Community Club: St Mary’s
Date of Birth: 01/07/2008
Height: 205cm
Profile: An athletic ruck with an awesome natural leap and sharp competitive streak, Van Hattum has exceptional speed for a player of his size and can burst from stoppages like a midfielder. Was a little under done at the start of the National Championships after missing games due to injury but grew in confidence as the tournament unfolded. Averaged 10.8 disposals, 2.5 marks and 22 hitouts and was among Victoria Metro’s best against both the Allies and South Australia before dominating in the demolition of Victoria Country to earn All Australian honours. Had an excellent year for the Northern Knights under the tutorage of former Collingwood star Anthony Rocca, where he averaged 19.1 disposals, 3.6 marks, 5.9 clearances and 20.4 hitouts to win selection in the Talent League Team of the Year and round off an excellent Draft year. Showcased his natural leap to be ranked sixth in the running vertical jump with a leap of 95 cm at the Draft Combine.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE
Jett Elek
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Leopold
Date of Birth: 17/04/2007
Height: 202cm
Profile: A developing athletic ruck, Elek continued to work on both his ruck and forward craft as an approved 19-year-old in both the Talent League and National Championships. Played all four matches for Victoria Country at the Championships, averaging 9.5 disposals and four marks, as well as converting two goals. For the Geelong Falcons he kicked 12 goals in 12 Talent League matches and always looked dangerous when rotated forward, particularly with his marking on the lead. Averaged 5.4 marks, as well as 12 hitouts and 13 disposals. Also showed a good natural leap at the state Draft Combine in Victoria, recording a running vertical jump of 79cm.
Flynn Woolhouse
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Collegians
Date of Birth: 06/05/2008
Height: 195cm
Profile: A naturally talented and athletic tall forward, Woolhouse first caught attention in 2024 by kicking six goals for Victoria Metro against Victoria Country in an under-16 trial match. He gained valuable experience last year, playing nine Talent League games for the Oakleigh Chargers, with his best performance being four goals against the Dandenong Stingrays in Round 11. This season he showed thin slices of his undoubted potential with the Chargers, kicking 10 goals in nine matches and then exploded when given a chance playing for Victoria Metro. Took 10 marks and kicked five goals from 14 disposals in a dominant performance against Victoria Country in the final match of the National Championships. Showcased his athletic potential at the state Draft Combine in Victoria, with his speed (2.96 seconds for the 20m sprint), running vertical jump (85cm) and agility (8.22 seconds) all good indicators of his physical assets.
Brady Wright
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Werribee VFL
Community Club: Darley
Date of Birth: 19/12/2004
Height: 194cm
Profile: Mature-aged tall forward who has been on the AFL radar since 2022, when he kicked 23 goals for the GWV Rebels when he worked in tandem with eventual No. 1 Draft pick Aaron Cadman. Wright emerged as a genuine Draft prospect this year with an outstanding campaign for Werribee in the VFL. He kicked 49 goals in 17 matches, including seven majors against reigning premier Footscray in Round 17 to win the prestigious Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL’s most promising player. His strong marking and accurate kicking made him a real force in his second season at this level. Showed his athleticism at the state Draft Combine in Victoria, with his agility (8.12 seconds) and running vertical jump (83 cm) both impressive for a player of his type.