All eyes in the Talent Pathway industry were on Casey Fields on Saturday where a pair of U17s trial matches were taking place.
The clashes contained some of the top prospects for the 2026 draft, with Vic Country taking on NSW/ACT before Vic Metro hosted Queensland.
The match will prove a decisive factor in determining who will play in the U17s Futures Match at the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day, though several top-liners from each side were missing.
Below were some of the standouts.
Vic Country
Geelong trio Darcy Harrington, Archie Daffy and Charlie Hanegraaf were among the standouts for Vic Country.
It was a particularly pleasing outing for Harrington, playing just his second match of 2025 after injury wiped out the first two thirds of his season.
His speed and ball-use off halfback were eye-catching, particularly early, while Daffy, a Richmond father-son prospect, was another to look dangerous with his acceleration away from contests.
Hanegraaf took the midfield opportunity with both hands, showing off his burst speed, power and clearance-winning which has long been a feature of his game at Geelong College.
Gippsland trio Cody Templeton, Marlon Neocleous and Wil Malady were also among the best.
Playing forward, Templeton kicked two impressive goals and set up three more scores as he proved a hard matchup with his marking and sidestep, while his kicking inside 50 was elite.
Neocleous kicked two front and centre goals and ran through the midfield, while tall forward Malady took a third quarter screamer which highlighted an impressive day where he split his time between attack and the wing.
Dandenong Stingrays pair Gus Kennedy and Jackson Phillips were also ultra-impressive.
Kennedy's power and drive off halfback and through the middle impressed onlookers following an extended run in Dandenong's engine room in 2025, while Phillips was silky and smart in the front half.
Among the Vic Country players absent were athletic defender Darcy Szerszyn, Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker, Geelong pair Noah Williams and Jack Pickett and GWV's Ethan Dreaver.
Vic Metro
Northern Knights tall Lewis Houndsome showed why there has been so much hype around his name, with a standout performance playing forward for Vic Metro.
Houndsome didn't represent Vic Metro's U16s due to injury but is widely viewed as one of the leading tall prospects in next year's draft, and will continue to get the chance to learn off fellow key forward and Knights coach Anthony Rocca.
North Melbourne father-son prospect Sam Harris was strong and powerful in the middle, matching his output when played in that position for Calder, while Eastern Ranges' Archie Spencer was also very good.
Gus Teixeira, a product of the Sandringham Dragons, was another to show off his strength and power in the contest, making the most of his chance after strong form for APS school team St Kevin's College.
Sandringham's Arki Butler and Northern Knights pair Tate Hodgson and Harry Van Hattum were among the touted absent players.
Interstate prospects
GWS Academy prospect Ethan Mathews' decision-making and execution was a standout for NSW-ACT, with his impressive outing following an Allies outing as a bottom-ager this year.
Sydney Academy's Will Jenkin was another to show a lot, while Brisbane Academy and Hawthorn father-son prospect Cooper Hodge showed a bit, as did Sydney Academy and North Melbourne father-son eligible Aiden McCartney.
Top prospects get VFL run
Dan Annable and Willem Duursma both excelled in a tense affair at Brighton Homes Arena, with Duursma's Casey getting the chocolates by four points.
Annable had 22 disposals to back up back-to-back important games, with his skillset at U18s level translating seamlessly to the state league.
Duursma had 19 touches and showed great poise and intercepted well to help Casey press for a sustained period in the last quarter which ultimately led to the match-winning goal.
Geelong Falcons second round prospect Hugo Mikunda debuted for Werribee and looked comfortable with 15 disposals and four tackles.
Top small forward Lachy Dovaston had four shots on goal but converted just one to go with 18 touches for Box Hill.
