The U18s Boys National Championships kicked off on Sunday, with South Australia upsetting the Allies by seven points in a high-quality game of footy.

Meanwhile, there were several schoolboy standouts, while many Victorians will enter Vic Metro and Vic Country's first game of the carnival this weekend in hot form.

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Talls shine in game one of champs

South Australian pair Aidan Schubert and Mitch Marsh combined for 15 marks up one end, Taj Murray kicked four goals up the other and SA ruck Sam Ainsworth showed plenty of promise.

Schubert helped set up a 15-point half-time lead for the Croweaters, with three majors in the first half, before putting them in front for the final time early in the fourth quarter.

The 198cm forward-ruck took three contested marks and looked the most likely aerial threat all day.

His right-hand man was Marsh, whose early-season SANFL U18s form has caused plenty of discussion, finished with four goals of his own.

At 189cm, Marsh falls short of being a traditional key forward, but while he took eight marks, he also showed he could impact at ground level, helping him finish with a game-high nine score involvements.

Up the other end, Murray finished with four goals.

As well as some frighteningly promising leaps at the footy, Murray kicked a dribble goal in the third quarter, which was arguably the highlight of the entire afternoon.

Meanwhile, Murray's opposite number, Ainsworth, also showed plenty of promising signs to finish with a game-high 20 hitouts and equal team-high six clearances to go with 16 disposals.

Northern Academy midfielders continue shining

Gold Coast-tied trio Dylan Patterson, Koby Coulson and Beau Addinsall's stocks will continue rising following the first game of the U18s National Championships.

Patterson was electrifying on the wing, taking the game on with his usual dash and dare to finish with 23 disposals.

Coulson's Coates League form was rewarded with midfield minutes for the Allies, and he translated his early-season form onto the big stage, proving clinical in the clinches to finish with 25 touches.

Addinsall finished with a game-high seven clearances as his clean hands and work at stoppage came to the fore.

All three project as potential first-round selections.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Academy midfielder Dan Annable strengthened his case as a top-five talent, leading all comers with 26 disposals, to go with four tackles, winning plenty of contested ball and linking up well on the spread.

Other U18s National Championships game one standouts

Tasmanian Jack Miller proved his worth to the Allies outfit, finishing with 3.1 as the leading small forward on the ground.

Sydney-tied defender Lachy Carmichael was also prominent for the Allies, intercepting excellently to finish with 21 disposals and seven marks.

Ryder Corrigan played his best game of the season, working into the game well to finish with 17 disposals

For South Australia, half-back Luke Candy provided dash out of defence, while Jim Kelly, Noah Roberts-Thomson and Jack Cook were all lively.

Bottom-ager on a tear for Wesley College

Western Jets coach Christian Stagliano must wish he had access to his running man all year.

Lachie Hicks is yet to show his best at Coates League level, but scouts are well aware he has talent, having seen him take out the Vic Metro U16s MVP last year.

And he's showing it at school level.

Saturday's excellent effort against a much stronger and deeper Brighton Grammar outfit continued a long line of standout performances for Hicks at APS level this year.

Capable of playing as a clean, clearance-winning midfielder and marking forward, Hicks' ability to cover the ground is instrumental for his side which doesn't have the starpower of other schools.

Granted, there is a gulf in both standard and style between school and Coates League footy, but Hicks has plenty of transferrable traits.

Will Darcy continues building

The story is gaining momentum.

Will Darcy, the son of Western Bulldogs legend Luke and brother of current star Sam, started the season off a Coates League list and could end up drafted.

And it's off the back of strong form for APS side Scotch College.

He's far from the finished product, but is hard to outmark and has skills that belie his tall frame.

Playing in defence, he had a touch of class, with his read of the play helping him impact plenty of contests.

He was relatively quiet as a forward on Coates League debut last month but should be afforded further opportunities following the APS season.

Entering National Championships in form

Several of Victoria's best players will go into their first U18s National Championships game this weekend with some momentum behind them.

Carlton-tied Northern Knights small forward Tyson Gresham backed up a four-goal outing last weekend with a best afield performance for his team on Saturday, finding the footy 20 times.

Up the other end, fellow small Lachy Dovaston kicked 2.1 for Eastern Ranges, his third consecutive week kicking multiples.

Eastern Ranges defenders Xavier Taylor and Andrew Barker took an equal team-high six marks to stake their claim for selection in the first game.

Tom Burton had 35 disposals to cap off an excellent start to his Coates League season, while his right-hand man Tom McGuane had 28 touches and kicked 1.2.

Vic Country midfielder Callum Smith continued his strong form for Dandenong Stingrays, combining 21 disposals with an important last quarter goal.

Carlton father-son Harry Dean is set to lead the Vic Country backline and tuned up with 10 marks for the Murray Bushrangers.

Gippsland midfielder-forward Zach O'Keefe returned well from injury, scoring two goals, while Willem Duursma had 20 disposals and seven tackles

Meanwhile, in the APS competition, Archie Ludowyke was the dominant forward in Brighton Grammar's big win over Wesley, with Kye Fincher clinical in the midfield and Vic Country's Riley Onley was impressive for Scotch College.

Hussien El Achkar's brilliant debut

Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect Hussien El Achkar showed glimpses of his talent in his first VFL outing, finishing with three goals in a tight loss for Essendon.

The small forward booted a clutch set-shot goal from 30 early in stoppage time in the last quarter to give the Dons the lead, before Brisbane ultimately overran them.

After being kept without a touch in the first half, El Achkar kicked two in a minute in the third term before his important last quarter moment.

Felix Kneipp injured

Vic Metro half-back Felix Kneipp is set to miss the National Championships with a stress response in his back.

Kneipp was diagnosed a fortnight ago and is set for 8-12 weeks on the sidelines, so will hopefully return in time for Coates League finals.

It continues a frustrating year for Kneipp, who had to navigate an injury-interrupted pre-season, which limited his match fitness entering Round 1.

Despite that, he appeared to be building into form as a hard-running, crafty midfielder.

Elsewhere, Vic Metro train-on player Mitch Moate has heartbreakingly suffered a second ACL injury in 13 months, putting a full stop on his season.

Having worked diligently to return within 12 months and give himself the best chance in 2025, the midfielder managed just three full games for the Knights and two Vic Metro trial outings before suffering the setback against Sandringham last week.

As previously reported, Liam Hetherton, Jai Murray, Jevan Phillipou, Koby Evans and Cooper Ramsay are other big names set to miss the U18s National Championships through injury.