5 November 2026
With the 2026 AFL National Draft just weeks away, former HAD athlete Harvie Cooke has been profiled by Zero Hanger as one of the competition’s standout small forward prospects.
A season to remember
Harvie’s 2026 resume speaks for itself:
Morrish Medal winner, the Talent League’s best and fairest
Northern Knights best and fairest
Top-five finish in the Larke Medal
Under 18 All-Australian selection
What recruiters are seeing
Zero Hanger’s Jonty Ralphsmith highlights Harvie’s strength and power at the contest and his ability to beat bigger opponents. They also point to his clearance work, his pressure inside 50 and his habit of rising to the big moments. He also impressed at the AFL Draft Combine, with strong results in the 20 m sprint and agility tests.
Standing 176 cm, the forward-midfielder is projected to start his AFL career in a Lachie Schultz-style forward role. Zero Hanger has him in the range of picks 25 to 50, with Carlton, Collingwood and Brisbane named as potential landing spots.
Backing himself
“I back myself pretty highly and I’m confident in my own ability,” Harvie told Zero Hanger, while acknowledging he will need to earn his spot at the next level.”
Harvie’s HAD Journey
Harvie worked with HAD Football for two years. The first thing that stood out to Brad in some vision he received on Harvie, was his ability to tackle. It was ruthless. He thought to myself 'this player has some really well channelled aggression.' Then Brad saw him play in a trial for Northern and he was dynamic up forward. Missing out on Vic Metro after captaining the Knights Under 16 team, disappointed Harvie, like it does for many players. But Brad believe it often makes a player hungrier and is a blessing in disguise. Harvie's work ethic is unquestionable. He's got a great mix of offensive and defensive parts to his game.
We're proud of the work Harvie has put in and can't wait to see where his journey takes him.
Read the full profile on Zero Hanger: AFL Draft Profile: Harvie Cooke
Want to follow the same pathway? Start your journey with HAD Football.