It was another big weekend of talent pathways footy as representative action heats up, with the AFL Academy, Young Guns and a Vic Metro trial squad all in action.
The AFL Academy defeated Coburg comprehensively, led by Geelong co-captain Josh Lindsay, while rainy conditions marred the Young Guns clash with Vic Metro.
Here's Craft of the Draft's latest on the draft's movers and shakers...
AFL Academy player-by-player notes
Tom Burton: Was involved in plenty of counterpunches as he was unafraid to get up the ground as a halfback, with two brilliant goal assists his crowning moments.
Beau Addinsall: Kicked a stoppage goal which showcased his class in the midfield and was typically consistent across the four quarters.
Lachie Carmichael: Took a couple of smart intercept marks and was hard to beat even when caught out of position.
Willem Duursma: Played mostly in defence again, but lifted his output significantly, finishing with 20 disposals, starting plenty of transition play, and even got some late midfield time.
Josh Lindsay: Clearly the best on ground, taking out the medal, Lindsay got better as the match progressed, with his aggressive ball use and tireless overlap run complemented by his intercepting, as he punished Coburg off half-back.
Dylan Patterson: Was clean, quick and agile as always, with his last quarter clearly his best.
Ben Rongdit: A quiet day on the stats sheet but showed glimpses of his spring and speed and was solid with his defensive application.
Wes Walley: Kicked two goals including a difficult set shot from the boundary line, and was a constant leading presence for his side, while applying strong pressure, highlighted by his four tackles.
Dan Annable: The skipper fittingly kicked the winning goal for the AFL Academy, bursting from stoppage and finishing around the body. Was proactive, ran well in transition and was more prominent around the footy than his 12 disposals suggest.
Harley Barker: Worked hard to get involved in plenty of transition play and used his size to take a strong contested mark, while a strong early smother in the backline was emblematic of his defensive application.
Sam Cumming: Always seems to be moving at stoppages making him hard to tackle and is good at assessing his options and making the right decisions.
Louis Emmett: Clearly the first round prospect's best game of the year. Given the primary ruck mantle, he competed well all day in a position the U18s are often at a disadvantage against seasoned bodies, and was assured with ball in hand, finishing with an equal team-high five clearances. Was a good option when playing forward, too.
Koby Evans: After missing the first game, had plenty of likeable moments, particularly in the last quarter, playing as a high half forward and providing plenty of energy.
Ollie Greeves: Had four first quarter clearances and was arguably best on ground at half-time as he imposed himself well against the senior bodies. Shrugged off contact with aplomb and even stiff-armed an opponent, while he got involved in uncontested possession chains, as he regularly does.
Taj Murray: Finished with a team-high eight hitouts and also found a bit of the footy around the ground, feeding to teammates well.
Riley Onley: A quieter day for Onley, who spent some time on the wing and didn't get midfield exposure. Still won a pair of clearances, including one inside 50 where he burst through a couple of tacklers.
Fred Rodriguez: A quieter day for WA's top prospect, finishing with just the six disposals, but had some moments, including a holding-the-ball tackle and strong fend off.
Dyson Sharp: Started like a house on fire with eight disposals in the first eight minutes, finishing with 25 disposals and five clearances, both team-highs. Leaned on his inside game and was clean in the contest, but was let down by his ball use when advancing it forward by foot. Also kicked a stabilising third quarter goal from distance.
Cody Curtin: Was virtually unsighted to half-time, playing defence, before getting swung forward late where he looked more likely. Took a courageous mark and slotted the ensuing set shot from outside 50 at a critical juncture of the last quarter.
Cooper Duff-Tytler: A moments game for the number one pick contender, who finished with 12 disposals. Had a touch of class about everything he did, winning clearances and applying pressure when in the ruck, while finishing with 1.1 as a strong target forward of the footy.
Jasper Hay: Amassed just the five disposals, but took two important intercept marks and laid his fist into two strong spoils playing as a key defender.
Liam Hetherton: A frustrating AFL Academy series for Hetherton, who was rarely beaten in one-on-one contests in either game, but was largely unrewarded. Took a strong contested mark and got high up the ground to provide a hit-up option at times.
Matt LeRay: Played a very similar game to Barker, with his running power allowing him to impact in transition, while he also laid a goal-saving smother and took a big contested mark.
Archie Ludowyke: The standout key forward across the series, Ludowyke finished with 2.2, leading well inside 50, finding pockets of space to take marks while also standing strongly under high balls.
Kalani White: Played the inverse game to Curtin, starting forward before going back and had a couple of clean moments below his knees but was relatively quiet.
First look at Northern Academies
Gold Coast Academy trio Max Hudson, Jai Murray and Koby Coulson got their first official talent pathways hitout of the season and gave recruiters plenty to think about.
The strong and dynamic Coulson and hard-running Murray led the midfield domination with 28 and 29 disposals respectively, while also combining for 12 tackles
Hudson was the chief beneficiary, with the 192cm prospect taking nine marks and finishing with 5.2.
Like Coulson, Cooper Collins got a taste of VFL footy last weekend and is also well-regarded, finishing with 17 disposals.
For Sydney's Academy, Max King, the player widely considered the best outside the AFL Academy, kicked the first goal of the game and finished with 1.4, looking dangerous in the forward half.
Nicholas Andreacchio, who represented the Allies as a bottom-ager, was the dominant midfielder with 32 possessions.
For the GWS Academy, Tallis McMillan kicked four goals, inside midfielder Oliver Withers was strong around the footy and Jake Fairman was also among the best.
Brisbane Academy bottom-ager and U16s All-Australian Caylen Murray looked assured on debut with 23 disposals, while Harrison Bridge had some promising moments in his 19 touches and raw tall Isaac Waller had 16 hitouts and 12 disposals.
Mid-Season prospects get chance to push their case
Several Mid-Season prospects showed moments of class on a soggy Saturday at Avalon Airport Oval.
After an injury-interrupted 2024 which stymied his draft push, Geelong Falcons half-back Kobe George provided plenty of run, while fellow defenders Gus Papal (Calder) and Rod Ali (Eastern) were both hard to beat.
The conditions suited Bendigo Pioneers hard nut Tom Evans who got plenty of the footy and applied vicious pressure, while up forward Sam Toner looked the most threatening, kicking 3.2 to go with two goal assists on a low-scoring day.
Casey-listed forward Noah Yze, son of Richmond coach Adem, kicked 2.2 and took some strong clunks in the driving rain, playing an excellent first half, while his maure-aged Casey teammate Caleb Lewis competed well and slotted three last quarter majors.
Lively Sandringham Dragons/Zebras forward Charlie Rozenes and Northern Knights midfielder High White also had moments.
For Vic Metro, Essendon NGA pair Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar continued their strong form, albeit the latter lacked his usual polish.
Small forward Lachy Dovaston looked a likely target all day and kicked the match-winner on the run from 50 with just seconds remaining.
His Eastern Ranges teammate Xavier Taylor was unbeatable, tough and clean in defence, while Hamish Bird (Calder Cannons), Bennett Martin (Sandringham Dragons) and Mitch Moate (Northern Knights) were also solid.
Tom McGuane missed the match as his loads were managed.
WA National Championships squad named
AFL Academy members Fred Rodriguez, Cody Curtin, Koby Evans and Wes Walley headline WA's squad for the U18s boys National Championships, named last week.
Fremantle NGA prospects Toby Whan, Tom Phillips, Basil Hart and Ryda Luke all feature alongside West Coast-tied quintet Walley, Evans, Charlie Banfield, Tylah Williams, and bottom-ager Garrison Kenh.
Phillips, a boarder at Scotch College, will feature for Oakleigh Chargers throughout 2025
Having had a quiet AFL Academy series, spending lots of time in the backline, the championships will be a valuable opportunity for Curtin to show his wares forward of the footy against the best in the country.
Highlighting the depth of the top-aged brigade, Lucas Robinson and Koby LeCras, considered the two leading prospects from WA in 2026, were only able to make the train-on squad.
Other hyped prospects to keep an eye on include midfielders Blake Kelly and Sam Swadling, and ruck Cooper Ramsay, while Benji van Rooyen is a familiar name, the brother of Melbourne's Jacob.
WAFL Colts powerhouse Claremont had the most players selected with nine.
Full squad: Charlie Banfield, Cody Curtin, Oscar Willis, Heath Mellody, Joseph Hopkyns, George Gale, Jay Hill, Benji Van Rooyen, Charlie Watson, Tom Phillips, Luke Carrello, Cooper Ramsay, Luke Hallett, Garrison Kenh, Seb Royle, Matthew Becker, Basil Hart, Jax Williams, Mitch Stirling, Will York, Bol Makauch, Koby Evans, Dale Sutherland, Fred Rodrguez, Toby Whan, Max Thomas, Ryda Luke, Wes Walley, Hudson Walker, Blake Kelly, Tylah Williams, Sam Swadling, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Jacob Farrow
Others to impress across the weekend
Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean continued his hot start to the season, taking eight marks in a strong intercepting performance, while teammate Lenny Koller, an established lockdown defender, pushed his case for Allies selection playing forward.
Bottom-aged Dandenong Stingrays small forward Marcus Prasad continued his strong form with 16 disposals, eight tackles and a goal, making the most of Dandenong's inside 50s in a 62-point loss.
Tassie's Allies aspirants Lucas Wootton and Rylee McHenry both competed hard to lead the Tasmania Devils to their first win of the season, while Jack Miller had moments up forward.
In the WAFL Colts, Blake Kelly, one of the state's most highly regarded midfielders, was the standout player, combining 30 disposals with three goals for Swan Districts.
Sam Swadling pushed his case to get some on-ball minutes in a strong WA engine room at the National Championships with a 40-disposal effort for West Perth, while fellow state squad member Jacob Farrow complemented him well with 30 touches.
Toby Whan continued his strong form with 27 touches, while Lucas Robinson was hard-nosed with 23 touches, and Ryda Luke backed up his eight goals last weekend with three on Saturday.
In the SANFL, Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway continued his hot start to the season with 31 disposals and a goal, while Port Adelaide-linked Ben Francou had 21 disposals and three goals.
