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
5. Western Australia
South Fremantle midfielder Fred Rodriguez will captain Western Australia's National Championships push as one of several talented onballers to don the black and gold.
Fellow Bulldogs young gun Toby Whan, who is tied to Fremantle via their NGA program, will also be a key cog in the engine room. The Dockers are also tied to small forward Basil Hart in 2025.
West Coast's NGA prospects Wes Walley, Tylah Williams and Koby Evans are also key figures in the side, with Walley the leading small forward threat while Evans can set up on the wings.
West Perth's Sam Swadling is another midfielder who has enjoyed a dominant year to date at the WAFL Colts level, with Swan Districts ace Blake Kelly another leader for WA.
In attack, Western Australia are likely to use swingman option Cody Curtin - the younger brother of Adelaide's Dan - alongside Charlie Banfield, a father-son prospect for West Coast, while fellow Claremont talent Benji Van Rooyen will ruck.
South Fremantle's Ryda Luke and East Fremantle's Thomas Phillips will be another to keep an eye on, while West Perth's Koby Lecras - the nephew of premiership Eagle Mark - is a bottom-ager and could get a look as a member of the training squad.
The Black Swans' carnival will commence on June 7 against Vic Country in Perth.
