Draft Watch: Son of hard-nosed Roo growing in stature; Swannies jet bags seven

North Melbourne father/son prospect Sam Harris is growing in stature every week.

“Such a hard-working midfielder/forward," Calder talent lead Seb Spagnuolo told SEN's Future Stars show.

Fellow father/son jet Cody Walker again handled himself impressively in the VFL, picking up 24 disposals with nine marks and four inside 50s as Carlton kicked a huge score of 24.13.(157) to beat Casey by 122 points.

One of their guns in Ben Pignatelli bagged seven goals in a dominant showing against the Eastern Ranges.

The Giants continued their good recent form with a 26-point win over the Devils in Blacktown. Ethan Matthews was enormous for the victors, amassing a game-high 37 disposals to go with eight inside 50s, seven marks, six tackles and two goals. Brynley Ryan has been in great form and delivered again, booting four goals from 20 touches with six inside 50s. Jim Houston (24 disposals, seven rebounds 50s) and Cooper French (23 disposals, six inside 50s) were also busy for the Giants. Tassie’s Jake Beams was once again his side’s leading possession winner with 27 (24 kicks) while taking 11 marks, contributing 10 rebound 50s and kicking two goals. Archie Devine was again prolific with 26 touches and five inside 50s while Tom Munting had 21 touches.

Calder beat Geelong in Torquay, coming from five goals down at quarter-time to get up by 22 points. Charlie Robbins, son of former Lion and Roo Ben, starred for the Cannons with 27 touches, seven marks, seven inside 50s and two goals. He was aided by North father/son prospect Sam Harris who was excellent. Harris played primarily as a half-forward, kicking 3.1 from 21 touches and laying six tackles. 16-year-old Isa Merhi starred with his super speed, racking up 29 touches and five inside 50s, while Essendon NGA-tied Moustafa Darwish had the ball 25 times. Port Adelaide father/son and Bombers NGA youngster Tevita Rodan had 27 touches and nine inside 50s, as Nate Jenkins booted four goals. For the Falcons, Tom Teague racked it up with 32 touches (28 kicks) and 12 rebound 50s and Riley McLure had 26 disposals and seven rebound 50s. Richmond father/son talent Achie Daffy, son of 165-game forward Nick, was busy with 21 possessions, nine marks, five rebound 50s, three inside 50s and a goal. Van Rahilly contributed two goals, 20 touches and five inside 50s. He is the son of Cats assistant and 90-gamer James. And Jax Cooney, son of Adam, kicked two goals.

The Swans went to second on the ladder courtesy of a 46-point victory over the Ranges at Dingley. Ben Pignatelli starred for the Swannies with a bag of seven goals from 17 disposals and five marks. Pignatelli's work rate stood out, getting up the ground and working back hard. A performance that surely puts him in the frame for Allies selection. Henry Meaney again turned in a big game with a team-high 29 touches and seven inside 50s, Guy Jenkin was very solid yet again with 27 touches while his twin brother William had it 23 times, as did Oscar Clifton. Jake Medved, with a rugby league background, looked good in defence with 18 touches. Jordan Knapp was Eastern’s best with a game-high 34 possessions plus six inside 50s, Mitchell Gillan had 25 touches and a goal, and Archie Spencer had 18 touches and a game-best 11 tackles.

The Rebels got their second win of the season by beating the NT Academy by 23 points at TIO Stadium in Darwin. It was a curtain raiser to the Gold Coast v St Kilda AFL game. Ethan Drever has been immense for the Rebs in 2026 and again showed up, this time with a game-high 31 touches plus eight inside 50s and two goals. Archer Beattie had 24 touches and kicked 1.2, while Levi Munyard bagged five goals and Charlie Kenna kicked three. Ben Barnard was again the NT’s most prolific player with 21 disposals and nine rebound 50s, while Sonny Smiler kicked 2.1 from 16 disposals, seven inside 50s and six tackles.

The Knights are undefeated on top after six games with a massive percentage of 242 following a 63-point drubbing of the Suns at Carrara. Harvie Cooke is firmly in draft calculations after another strong performance, picking a team-high 24 possessions, laying a game-high 10 tackles and providing six inside 50s. Sonny Caruso almost had a huge game, kicking 0.4 from 22 touches, while lead-up forward Harrison Leeder was also wayward, kicking 3.6 from 15 disposals and eight marks. Leeder was playing Parade Grammar twos last year and has come from nowhere to put himself firmly in the draft frame. Sam Gayfer, nephew of premiership Pie Mick, kicked 2.4 and Jack Tranquilli, son of 12-game Pie Andrew, had it 18 times and kicked 1.1. For the Suns, Cooper Collins was brilliant individually with a massive 42 touches (27 kicks, 15 handballs) plus seven marks and eight rebound 50s. Isaac Mayne had 23 touches while Archie Hill had 21 and a goal, Leroy Kaesler also had 21, and Kodi Wallace took 14 marks and 19 touches.

The Jets cast the Bushrangers aside by 83 points in Werribee. Lachlan Hicks starred once again for Western with 31 disposals, 11 marks ands four goals. Doing scoreboard damage again was Bulldogs NGA jet Khaled El Souki with four majors from 16 touches, while Kobe Williams kicked 3.5 from 25 disposals. Angus Tippett was huge with 33 possessions, five tackles and a goal, and Billy Wigmore had it 25 times with seven marks. Murray’s usual suspect was Jackson Hewitt who had 28 disposals, 13 marks, eight rebound 50s and seven tackles. Jack Mellington had 23 touches, 10 marks and a goal, while Lincoln Brand had 24 touches.

The Stingrays accounting for the Pioneers by 28 points in Bendigo. Dandy’s most prolific was Orlando Clark with 26 touches of which 10 were rebound 50s. Clancy Stuart was good again, this time kicking two goals from 23 disposals, while Dylan Linden booted four majors and Mitch Toner contributed three from 18 possessions and seven marks. Max Thompson was Bendigo’s best with 28 touches, eight marks and six inside 50s. Cruz O’Sullivan kicked 1.2 from 25 disposals, Tyce Griffin also booted 1.2 but from 21 touches, Archer Lancaster produced three goals and so did Oscar Cail, who now has 15 for the season.

The Lions won their fifth game of the season with a 15-point triumph over the Power at La Trobe Uni in Bundoora. Cooper Hodge was again influential for Brissie, picking up 21 possessions with eight marks and seven tackles. Caylen Murray had a game-high 28 touches, nine inside 50s, five tackles and a goal, while Matthew Owen amassed 24 disposals and eight tackles. Harrison Bridge continued his strong season with 26 touches and Archie Watts had 20 disposals, seven marks, five inside 50s and booted three goals. Gippy’s Thomas Macmillan had 24 touches and five rebound 50s, Oscar Henwood was solid with 19 touches, six tackles and a goal, Cody Templeton had 20 and a goal, while the athletic Augustus Finsterer booted three majors including a belter on the half-time siren. Keenan Boi was lively with a couple of goals, 15 touches and four tackles as a small forward. Clancy Snell was huge as a key defender with 10 marks and 13 touches.