Disappointing defeats bookended Vic Metro's U18s National Championships in 2025, but several players were able to press their draft cases.
The middle two games, against Western Australia and the Allies, were both brilliant showcases, allowing stars to play to their strengths, while several defenders also proved competitive matchups.
There were also several club-tied talents who played strong footy.
Ollie Greeves stakes top 10 claims
Eastern Ranges midfielder Ollie Greeves claimed Vic Metro's MVP to cap off a standout carnival.
The powerful, big-bodied Eastern co-captain was one of the few Vic Metro players to give a good account of themselves in the team's first game of the National Championships, a heavy loss to South Australia, and it laid the platform for a consistent carnival.
As well as his power and contested ball-winning, the kicking efficiency his Coates league club Eastern Ranges noted as an area he lifted throughout pre-season, overlap running and outside carry were also impressive factors of his performance.
While primarily stationed as a midfielder, leading the Vic Metro on-ball brigade, Greeves also spent sporadic time forward and proved a dangerous matchup.
He averaged a team-high 25 disposals and five marks to stamp his authority as arguably the best big-bodied midfielder in the draft crop.
Xavier Taylor stocks rise
One of the most versatile and well-rounded defenders in the draft crop, the 191cm Taylor was given a range of tasks throughout the National Championships and rarely lowered his colours.
He started with an entertaining bout against South Australian first-round prospect Mitch Marsh and held his own despite the flurry of entries for Marsh.
Highlighting his versatility, he spent time matched up on smaller players and proved he has the smarts and athleticism to match them, as well as the size and presence to go with the talls.
Throughout the four games, he also showed his pace and elusiveness, and was always sure with ball in hand even when under pressure on the last line of defence.
That followed him performing varying roles and showing similarly reliable traits, averaging 18 disposals and six marks.
Skilled, competitive and clean, it should be a matter of when, not whether, he goes on night one of the AFL National Draft.
Lethal small forwards excite
Vic Metro's band of small forwards were the highlight throughout the championships, with Lachy Dovaston, Carlton-tied Tyson Gresham, Essendon-tied Hussien El-Achkar and Adam Sweid causing plenty of headaches.
They were most devastating against the Allies, helping Vic Metro kick away in a shootout.
Dovaston kicked four goals in that game, which was his high point of the carnival, and confirmed his name as the top small forward in the draft class.
Dovaston's underrated pressure, hardness and mobility at stoppage and front and centre ability all came to the fore in his energetic championships.
Vic Metro always looked like scoring when the ball was in El Achkar's hands, with his power helping him up to 27 score involvements from 42 possessions.
El Achkar, alongside Sweid, who built into the carnival as a forward-midfielder, looks set to eventually slot into Essendon's forward line, averaging 11 and 17 disposals respectively.
Sweid was brilliant in the last two games, kicking four goals against the Allies before his offensive punch was an important factor in the last game.
Gresham had 20 disposals and two goals in an important showcase to Carlton and the talent pathway of his dynamism and toughness in the front half, with that game following a three-goal outing for Northern Knights.
CDT shows upside
One of the most impressive players for Vic Metro in its fourth game, Cooper Duff-Tytler showed glimpses of what he could be as both a skilled ruck and marking forward throughout the National Championships.
He took some big contested grabs forward of the footy throughout the championships to importantly show that string to his bow, averaging four marks, to go with a team-high 14 hitouts.
His best performances were probably his bookends, working relentlessly against champions South Australia, before again doing what he could in a loss to Vic Country.
His athleticism and imposing presence helped him impact with and without the footy, and he was arguably the most consistent ruck from any team across the carnival, to go with his impact around the ground.
Zac McCarthy justifies hype
The Collingwood Next Generation Academy tall showed the upside which has plenty of people in the talent pathway industry excited.
While it was moreso glimpses than a consistent carnival, his third outing, against WA, provided plenty of reason for excitement for Pies fans.
He kicked three goals and was arguably the most dangerous forward target, not only taking contested marks but also providing an important presence which enabled the smalls to roam liberally at his feet.
While his average of 10 disposals and four marks doesn't jump off the page, the way he launched at the footy, athleticism and skillset provided a sense that there is plenty to work with.
Meanwhile, fellow Pies-tied prospect Tom McGuane was solid given he was pushed out of the on-ball brigade, averaging 16 disposals, four marks and two tackles in a show of his versatility.
St Kilda NGA shows plenty
St Kilda Next Generation Academy defender Kye Fincher was a reliable counterpuncher from Vic Metro's backline throughout the carnival, maintaining his status as a worthy prospect for Saints fans to keep their eye on.
Fincher was his side's leading ball-winner in the first game, but it was probably his final game of the carnival where he best showcased his wide skillset.
His ability to meet the ball at speed to effect turnovers and punish opposition with his chiselling ball-use and athleticism stands out, and he's shown across all levels this year that he's not afraid to jump high for a mark, which enables him to matchup on taller opponents.
The Sandringham Dragons prospect averaged 20 disposals per game and has good power, which he'll look to showcase in the back-end of the Coates League season.
Max Kondogiannis reliable
The Oakleigh Chargers defender entered the National Championships as a relatively unknown quantity but emerged as one of his team's most bankable defenders.
Kondogiannis, who captains school side Carey Grammar, averaged 19 disposals and five marks
At 190cm, he fits the threshold of being a third tall perfectly, and his intercepting and understanding of when to mark, spoil and peel off was sound off the back of a good base at Coates League and APS Footy level in the first half of 2025.
He is capable of competing against bigger bodies and is hard to outmark, with his reliability in the first game against South Australia when the backline was under great duress, laying a great platform.
Perhaps most impressively, Kondogiannis produced that consistent form despite not playing any footy in the month between his first and second games due to a finger injury.
Kondogiannis, who is also capable of spending time forward, put on size in a big pre-season, but remains a raw prospect, so clubs would take a long-term approach if he were selected.
