A pair of Collingwood-linked forwards and an Essendon Next Generation Academy talent have enjoyed strong starts to their draft campaigns to place their names in the mix for National Championships call-ups.
Magpies NGA duo Jai Saxena and Zac McCarthy have both flourished for the Oakleigh Chargers in the opening rounds of the Coates Talent League, with the former booting nine goals in his three appearances.
Saxena kicked five goals in his side's latest outing against Sandringham, while he amassed two goals from 23 disposals the week prior against the Northern Knights.
Speaking onย Zero Hanger's Craft of the Draft,ย analyst Jonty Ralphsmith said Saxena has continued to garner attention thanks to his promise as a front-half threat for the Chargers.
"Jai Saxena has attracted a lot of talk in the last couple of weeks," Ralphsmith said on this week's episode.
"Five goals and two behinds on the weekend. Really could have had seven or eight (goals), he looked dangerous every time it went inside 50.
"Although there were two players missing due to AFL Academy commitments in Archie Ludowyke and Louis Emmett, it was probably the highest standard of Coates League footy you're going to see.
"[Saxena] was one who was really able to stand up to that test. Was far too good for his defenders."
His teammate McCarthy, who is a 198cm forward-ruck hybrid, has been prolific across his pair of games for Oakleigh, averaging 20 disposals, 13 hitouts, 4.5 marks and a goal per game.
The combination of McCarthy and Saxena has led the pair to be among the best names not listed in Vic Metro's squad for 2025.
"After a little hamstring injury to finish his pre-season, after what had been a really strong pre-season for Oakleigh, has shown an ability to take some really strong marks as a hit-up option," Ralphsmith said of McCarthy.
"He's got a good reach and plays in the ruck quite a bit as well. He and Louis Emmett share that role. It shows that bit of versatility and ability to cover the ground."
Essendon-tied midfield-forward Adam Sweid is another AFL-tied talent surging up the ranks, with his two-way efforts for the Calder Cannons expected to earn him interest friom Vic Metro squad selectors.
Alongside fellow Bombers NGA talent Hussien El Achkar, Sweid is growing as a promising prospect for Essendon to include in their draft calculations for this year.
Sweid has averaged 27 disposals, 6.7 tackles and a goal per game for the Cannons to start 2025.
"Adam Sweid has attracted a lot of talk, as he deserves to have," Ralpsmith said of the 17-year-old.
"His balance of offence and defence is really, really good. He's got the ability to win the clearances and when he wins the footy he puts it to teammates' advantage and allows them to run onto his kicks or handballs in open space.
"When he doesn't have the footy he closes like a cobra, he's really good from a tackling or pressure point of view.
"I really like what I've seen from him. From an AFL-linked point of view, they're the three that stand out."
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Ralphsmith listed Sandringham'sย Ricky Theodoropoulos and and Easter Ranges talent Jamie Gilchrist as other Vic Metro outsiders who could build their case for squad spots at Friday's trials.
All of Theodoropoulos, Sweid, Saxena and Gilchrist will combine in game two of this week's U18s trials, with McCarthy suiting up in game one. Both games will take place at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee.
Ralphsmith named Brodie Atkins, Tom Matthews, Jesse Mellor, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy and Jack Lawrence as the leading names outside of Vic Country's 2025 squad.
For the full video of this week'sย Craft of the Draftย episode, head toย Zero Hanger'sย YouTube channel or watch below.
