Vic Metro coach Lauren Morecroft has lauded the growth of top 10 AFL Draft prospect Ollie Greeves.
A big-bodied midfielder, Greeves took out his side's MVP, averaging a team-high 25 disposals and showing his full suite of tricks.
It followed an excellent start to 2025 for Eastern Ranges, where he has averaged 26 disposals, and he has also made an impact at the school level for Caulfield Grammar.
“He was Mr Consistent in a carnival that was tricky with team performance,” Morecroft said following the 1-3 campaign.
“He's had a really good year.
“His personal growth has been enormous and (he's been) super consistent with his stoppage stuff, and he can go forward and impact, but I've been really pleased with his stoppage power.”
He spent more time forward in the Ranges' most recent clash on Saturday, finishing with 1.3, and he also spent time in attack throughout the championships, proving a difficult matchup given his strength, marking and work rate.
“He's got his timing right with his leading and separation, which we saw at the carnival.
“I think (his kicking) is a great weapon for him as well.
“Not many can beat him at stoppage, but that kick opening up the corridor for us is really important and it's a great skill he's got.”
Morecroft also offered insight into ruck/forward duo Cooper Duff-Tytler and Zac McCarthy.
Duff-Tytler looms as a potential early pickup for West Coast, which is likely to go to the draft with two top-five picks and is in need of ruck and tall support up forward for first-year revelation Jobe Shanahan.
McCarthy, meanwhile, is a member of Collingwood's Next Generation Academy and looms as a selection later in the first round, having proven his capabilities as a marking forward who can get up the ground and pinch hit in the ruck in between separate hip and neck injuries.
“We all know the follow-up is elite for his size, and he had a really nice connection with the midfielders.
“He got challenged a fair bit against other rucks, but it was a really great carnival where we saw follow-up, running shots on goal for a big ruckman, which is rare to see, so he had some nice highlights.
“He's very competitive, wants to win and wanted to take the number one ruck title and really own that, and I appreciated that.”
“We played Zac ruck a bit early, and I think he's probably a genuine forward.
“He's clever, took some nice marks, set guys up, he's quite mobile for his size and was a great surprise packet for the carnival.”
Oakleigh defender Max Kondogiannis was another surprise packet.
The Carey Grammar captain missed his team's clash with Sandringham on the weekend with bronchitis, but has emerged as a second-round option for a club seeking a 190cm raw aerialist with strong defensive capabilities.
“He's a good intercept mark and has a really nice kick too that I thought opened up our offence, so it was good to see him grow in confidence across the carnival, taking the medium-talls,” Morecroft said.
