The 2025 AFL U18s Boys National Championships get underway this weekend, with the country's best draft talent set to go head-to-head on the biggest of stages.
Every year, the U18s carnival sees the cream of the crop represent their state or territory, with the 2025 championships looming as quite the contest for the five sides involved.
Vic Metro are coming off their thrilling title of 2024, but with a large majority of their squad moving on to the AFL, a new contender could emerge.
Each side is home to AFL Academy stars, club-tied prospects and teenagers looking to make their name known, with this year's edition of the National Championships set to be a close one.
Here are 77 prospects to keep an eye on at this year's National Championships and in the run-in to the 2025 AFL Draft.
VIEW: CURRENT 2025 AFL DRAFT ORDER
1. Allies
The 'best of the rest' squad for 2025 could replicate the Allies' fest of 2023 when they went undefeated at the carnival to claim their first National Championships title.
The 2023 squad had seven of the first 14 prospects picked at the National Draft, with the Allies side for this year potentially following suit thanks to the riches of talent in the Northern Academies.
Gold Coast will again headline the club-tied intake this year, having first-round prospects Dylan Patterson and Beau Addinsall, as well as Zeke Uwland, who will miss the championships with a back injury.
Addinsall looks set to play a role in a stacked Allies engine room that also includes top Brisbane Academy ball-winner Dan Annable, fellow Suns Academy member Koby Coulson and Sydney Academy gun Max King.
King isn't the only potential top 20 pick tied to the Swans, with Lachy Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain also set to play roles at opposite ends of the field under coach Mitch Hahn.
The Allies won't be short on tall options across all three lines of the field, with Melbourne father-son and Gold Coast Academy talent Kalani White able to play forward, back and in the ruck.
Northern Territory tall Taj Murray could hold the first-string ruck duties, while Tasmanian Jasper Hay will likely take the leading key defensive post. Fellow Tassie native Jack Miller will be a headache for opposition defenders at this year's National Championships.
Murray Bushrangers duo Ryder Corrigan and Harrison Wilson should support the midfield and defensive groups, respectively.
The Allies' carnival gets underway this Sunday in New South Wales against South Australia before matches with Western Australia, Vic Country and Vic Metro.
