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
4. Vic MetroÂ
Vic Metro will take a squad that looks almost unstoppable into this year's National Championships, having a wealth of key position stars and midfield guns.
Potential Pick 1 selection Cooper Duff-Tytler headlines a long list of likely draft names, with the ruck-forward hybrid joined by Oakleigh's Louis Emmet and Sandringham spearhead Archie Ludowyke as damaging front-half talls.
Standing at 191cm, inside midfield bull Ollie Greeves is a brute force on the ball, and will be assisted by Collingwood father-son Tom McGuane, Essendon NGA talent Adam Sweid, Oakleigh's Sam Grlj and Hunter Holmes, and Sandringham's Rory Wright in the middle.
The attacking third, on top of the aforementioned Duff-Tytler, Ludowyke and Emmett, also boasts Carlton NGA livewire Tyson Gresham, Essendon-tied small forward Hussien El Achkar and Collingwood NGA duo Jai Saxena and Zac McCarthy, with the latter another key position option at 198cm tall.
Eastern's Lachy Dovaston and Sandringham bottom-ager Arki Butler will also be threats when the ball hits the deck, while Sandringham's Jack Dalton will look to return from an arm injury that has hampered his draft campaign.
St Kilda are tied to rebounding half-back Kye Fincher via their NGA program, with AFL Academy jet Tom Burton another who will offer some dash out of defence.
Eastern Ranges interceptor Xavier Taylor will be tasked with halting the opposition's avenues to attack, while Vic Metro at set to be without Calder midfielder Felix Kneipp due to a back issue.
Vic Metro are interstate for their first three games against South Australia, Western Australia and the Allies before a meeting with Vic Country at RSEA Park on Sunday, July 20.
