Ethan Drever

Hailing from the Ballarat Football Netball Club, Ethan Drever has emerged as a leading contender for the number one pick in the 2026 AFL Draft. The explosive inside midfielder enjoyed a remarkably consistent draft year as captain of the GWV Rebels. He earned the club's best and fairest award and was named in the Talent League Team of the Year. Drever carried his strong form into the National Championships, where he won Vic Country's MVP award and secured selection in the Under 18 All-Australian team.

Scouts praise Drever for his blend of power, balance and elite pace, which he uses to break away from stoppages and take territory. A strong contested ball winner with clean hands, he frequently pushes forward to impact the scoreboard. At the national draft combine, he reinforced his athletic profile by recording a sub-three-second 20-metre sprint time. While recruiters rate his ability to find the football and burst through traffic, some note that his kicking under pressure and outside game are areas for ongoing development. Widely considered a top prospect, he is firmly in the mix to be taken with the first overall selection.