As 13-year-olds, Harry Chapman and Lachie Hicks broke the Australian record for their age group at the medley relay at the National Championships in Darwin.
The team race comprised a 100-metre, two 200-metre and a 300-metre run. Chapman ran one of the 200-metre legs, while Hicks had the responsibility of burning through the 300-metre stint.
Six years later, the pair are on AFL clubs' radars as AFL Draft prospects.
"It was a really cool experience," Chapman told Zero Hanger.
"I learned a lot about the mechanics of running from my athletics background because I would train almost every day for a while there, either running or in the gym.
"Lachie and I have a strong relationship still. We're both on the same pathway with footy as well, so we've been able to connect closely."
Both players attended nationals at U12s and U13s in Melbourne and Darwin, Chapman competing in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints and Hicks in the 200m and 400m.
Hicks' athletic upside was on show at the AFL Draft National Combine, taking out the National Combine's AFL Agility with a time of 7.8 seconds, breaking three seconds in the 20-metre sprint, and also recording a top 10 finish in the two-kilometre time trial.
Chapman's numbers weren't quite as impressive, but he passes the eye test as a Justin McInerney-like outside runner who damages when he gets the footy.
He models his game on Will Day, who he leaned on during a week of training at Hawthorn in pre-season as part of the AFL Academy.
"Putting on a bit of size so I can play inside mid in the future if I'm lucky enough to get onto an AFL list. I feel like that's where I play my best footy, sort of like a Will Day type," Chapman said.
"I feel like we have similar frames and in his 18s year, he was a similar build and frame to me so hopefully in the years to come I can be an AFL midfielder. Training at Hawthorn in pre-season, Will Day was definitely one who took me under his wing.
"He taught me about midfield craft; he's obviously not the biggest midfielder, so just being able to use your weapons, I've got long arms, so just using that to my advantage."
Hawthorn Hawks and GWS Giants at University of Tasmania Stadium, on March 29, 2025, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
Hicks competed in athletics for close to a decade at Williamstown and Essendon Athletics clubs, with brother Brodie competing at the U20s World Championships.
Lachie ultimately preferred footy, giving up athletics at 15.
"I love aths and thought it was really good," Hicks said.
"When I was really young there was a desire, but as I got older, I realised athletics is pretty damn hard to make it in Australia and I love my footy a bit more being a team-oriented sport.
"Running is a big component of the game, especially now, so the athletics background helps me a lot; the ability to get across the ground and move well is important. "
Chapman echoes that sentiment, attracted to athletics as a junior before being won over by the culture of footy. He also played representative basketball alongside Ollie Greeves - who was at the Hawks during his stint there - at Knox Raiders.
While he hopes to follow Day's path in the long term, Chapman's career will likely start as a winger or half-back where he can get creative with his disposal, find handball receives, generate overlap and use his dash.
"I pride myself on my running power and taking the game on, which I felt I was able to show for Vic Metro, AFL Academy and Eastern Ranges. I feel like I've doubled down on my strengths and having more confidence as a top-ager this year has been important."
Unlike Chapman, who is naturally eye-catching, Hicks has flown largely under the radar this year - several Vic Metro teammates spoken to by this masthead pointed to him as the best hidden prospect in this year's crop - but his season at Talent League level was compelling.
He has averaged 29 disposals and four tackles per Talent League game and kicked 21 goals this year.
Despite the pair having received completely different amounts of publicity, they sit in a similar region of the middle part of the AFL Draft - and if anything, Hicks sits slightly higher as a player who could sneak into the top 30 with momentum coming for him at the right time of the year.
The Jets utility has relished the role as his team's midfield barometer, who can go forward, take a grab and get from contest to contest with ease, attributes he also showed for Wesley College last year.
"I grew in belief last year. I went from being that second midfielder to being the main midfielder at Wesley last year when Felix (Kneipp) went down with injury, so having belief in my own game that I'm a good player was important and set me up for this year," Hicks said.
"The coaches told me to back myself and play my footy. I had a lot of confidence this year as well, especially with the group we had. I feel like we were really connected and the type of footy we played allowed us to all show what we could do."
Having played on the wing at times for Vic Metro, having forward attributes and doing his best work in the engine room this year, Hicks believes it's as a midfielder where he can be most effective.
"I'd say inside mid - that's where I feel I'm able to be my most damaging and have the most impact and a little bit of forward as well," he said.
"I think the forward role and a bit of wing is where I can start with my running power."
Both players have also navigated the challenge of having graduated from school - Hicks is doing maintenance work at a school, while Chapman is doing landscaping.
Billy Wigmore, Marcus Prasad and Garrison Kenh are other prospects to have graduated, which allows players to hone in on footy, but those in the industry stress the importance of having an outlet to prevent them from overthinking.
"I've got more time to hone in on recovery and extra touch sessions outside of training and being able to get to training earlier has allowed me to be more efficient and effective with my footy," Hicks said.
Chapman is close with Oskar Taylor, who has emphasised the importance of enjoying his last year of junior footy in 2026 and given him an insight into the running-heavy nature of footy, a prospect Chapman salivates at.
He has been challenged to show his strength in the contest to complement his power and potency in transition and has been given midfield opportunity by Eastern Ranges.
"I felt like I've improved (my contested work) a little bit, a lot of work to go through, and putting on size is something I want to do," Chapman said.
"I feel like I'm a bigger frame and one of the taller midfielders. I have more confidence with my head over the ball."
