The Under-18s National Championships kicked off across the weekend, with Western Australia defeating South Australia ad Vic Country getting the better of the Allies.
The Black Swans' win was a big upset, with co-captains Leo Steed and George Gale at the forefront of it, while Vic Country got the chocolates despite arguably their two biggest names failing to play out the game.
There was also some players who put in some noteworthy performances at club level.
All the latest in this week's AFL Draft watch.
U18s National Championships standouts
Western Australia
Axel Walsh
It was not a high production game by any means for Walsh, but he took a couple of marks inside where he plucked the ball at its highest point, using his reach to take marks over his defenders.
Benji Van Rooyen
It was perhaps a surprise to see South Australia utilise Jobe Janeway as the main ruck rather than the more hyped Ethan Herbert and Van Rooyen had no trouble influencing against his bigger 206cm opponent. He waxed well with the midfield group, particularly in the first quarter when Western Australia set up a commanding lead, following up well by using his big body to crash and bash around contest.
Frazer Rickson
A great story of an overager who kept persisting, Rickson's competitiveness inside 50 on Saturday was rewarded with two goals. It was an unfamiliar position for the Subiaco product, who last season was a key defender and this year has been playing senior footy as a ruck. He used his mature frame to take some contested marks and bring the ball to ground, bringing Western Australia's small forwards into the game with predictable ball drops in marking contests.
Maxim Collins
One that is flying under many people's radars, Collins has emerged as one of the best 2027 prospects after a strong start to the year for West Perth and showed some of those glimpses for Western Australia. Read the ball well and intercepted some rushed footy coming into South Australia's attacking zone and applied pressure at ground level.
Fynn Tomasini
Like Collins, Tomasini's aerial presence was on show for all to see, moving around his direct opponent to access the ball expertly on a couple of occasions. Competes hard and drove some counterattack. Another bottom-aged defender with plenty of scope.
George Gale
Continues producing, maintaining his strong form in the trial games in the first game of the carnival. Was arguably only bettered by his co-captain Leo Steed, roaming the wings effortlessly and linking up well, as a high metres-gained player. Executed well by foot and also competed well in the air, taking the seven marks alongside his 26 disposals.
Lucas Robinson (Fremantle Next Generation Academy)
It was a very Robinson-style game from the Fremantle Next Generation Academy prospect, getting down and dirty to win plenty of hardball and help drive Western Australia's midfield supremacy. He finished with 25 disposals, of which just three were kicks, instead tending to opt out by feeding to his more accomplished and speedy runners. Had no issue asserting himself physically having come from the cut and thrust of WAFL senior footy, laid some crunching tackles and was clean and quick with his hands; the next step remains showcasing greater balance and impact on the outside.
James Artemis
The 2025 Under-16s All Australian took no time adjusting to the level of Under-18s National Championships, kicking a goal in the first quarter and assisting another. Playing a high forward role, he had the most score involvements in the ground, working hard up and back and making the right decisions. Is the cousin of Essendon Mid-Season Draftee, Jaxon.
Heath Mellody
Used his brilliant kicking to great effect, finishing with 21 disposals and always looking to go in board or take on dangerous options by foot which opened the game up and gave his team's forwards a good look. Despite his slight frame, he also had some important moments where he showed his strength playing across half-back.
Lachie McGlade
Close to a complete small forward's game for the East Perth product. Quick and dynamic, he finished with two goals and always looked lively when the ball hit the deck for Western Australia inside 50. His five tackles also underlined his willingness to defend, with some of those tackles leading to repeat stoppages inside 50.
Cam Maynard
Just the seven disposals for the South Fremantle goalsneak, but finished with two goals, including the first one of the game which was particularly eye-catching. Closed quickly on a loose ball inside 50, gathered it cleanly and dribbled it home which set the tone for Western Australia. Continued to look dangerous throughout the afternoon.
Leo Steed
Was at the forefront of Western Australia's dominance and significantly enhanced his stocks with an impressive midfield showing. Had 21 of his disposals to halftime, with a classy goal late in the first quarter the icing on the cake of a rampant start. Continued running all game and impressed with ability to surge from stoppage, and was clean all day which bought him time. Undersized a touch, perhaps, his willingness to fight hard and use his clean skills helped Western Australia stay in the driver's seat across the morning.
South Australia
Sam Tassone
The North Adelaide prospect who hails from Irymple in the Sunraysia region of North Western Victoria continued his strong form early in 2026. With South Australia forced to absorb plenty of Western Australia attacking, he was one they looked at to try to kick-start counter-attack. He drove out of the backline with his running power and had some moments where he showed his defensive capability too.
Jake Eime
Was arguably South Australia's best on the day, breaking the game open with his speed and ball-use off half-back. Looked potent and always had a plan when he got the ball, changing the angles and backing himself to get things going even when it was all going against South Australia. Was particularly influential in the first half.
Harvey Croker
Had 15 disposals in the first half when things weren't going South Australia's way, often looking for the handball receive to use his drive to advance the ball forward and open the game up. A polished game overall.
Ethan Herbert
One of the form junior players in the country, it was a surprise to see him start inside 50, but perhaps a nod to his likely position at the next level as there is a school of thought he is unlikely to be a ruck. Regardless, he was not able to get heavily involved in a first half where South Australian opportunities were scarce, before being moved into the ruck in the second half. Three third quarter clearances helped turn the game and he competed well in the ruck, connecting with his midfield group and grabbing it out of the ruck at times to help change the momentum of the game.
Anthony Long (Adelaide Next Generation Academy)
Perhaps the surprise packet for South Australia, the Adelaide Next Generation Academy member kicked 3.3, with his leading lanes on point throughout the contest. Most of his scoring shots were a result of him taking marks in front of him, using craft to work into space and providing an option for his side.
Memphis Webb
A powerful contested beast who missed his bottom-aged season with an ACL injury, the North Adelaide prospect worked hard around the contest and helped shift the momentum through the middle of the game. Had some important pressure acts throughout, tackling and corralling and was increasingly rewarded as the game went on with more of the footy.
Vic Country
Keenan Boi (Hawthorn Next Generation Academy)
After showing potency in the Vic Country trial game last week, it was his defensive work and repeat efforts which stood out early as a linking high half forward. Looked as though he came into the game with a focus on his pressure, laying four tackles in the first quarter and a half, and was generally clean and made the right decisions by foot. Kicked two goals, the second where he powered through a tackler and finished in the goal square, showing a blend of endurance running up and down the ground, athleticism, forward nous and grit throughout the day.
Tanner Armstrong (Richmond Next Generation Academy)
The Richmond-tied prospect worked hard for four quarters playing off half-back. Having played mainly through the midfield at every level this year, he reprised the position he got exposure in as a bottom-ager and showed some of that natural reading of the play and dogged competitiveness. Took some of the kick outs for Vic Country and while his ball use was not always precise, his intent was always positive and he hit some important targets which set up attacking phases.
Darcy Szerszyn
His moments really stood out. In just his second game of the season, the Dandenong Stingrays defender showed on several occasions that he has the capacity to hit the ball at speed, gather it cleanly and keep running, breaking the lines with his drive. He also tended to find his targets or put the footy in dangerous territory and although credited with only the three marks, he showed that overhead ability was a clear feature of his game, alongside his willingness to compete.
Wil Malady
One of the most impressive players on the day, Malady's forward craft was excellent, timing his leads well and getting separation on the lead, while showing his strong pair of hands overhead. Finished with the 2.3 with his set shot goal kicking the only thing that stopped it from being a real statement game, but regardless it was yet another strong performance at a high level for Malady. As well as being a lively presence inside 50, he got back and took an intercept mark as a spare defender in the dying stages, having played a similar role at school level a fortnight ago.
Marlon Neocleous
It was a trademark Neocleous performance, with the diminutive forward's vision when going inside 50 and decision-making as a high forward helping his side capitalise on its midfield dominance. Worked his opponent over by getting high up the ground and looked dangerous inside 50, kicking a snap goal.
Jackson Phillips
Did not record a disposal in the first term, but worked his way into it and was a beneficiary of the unfortunate Cody Walker injury, getting midfield minutes as a result after starting on the wing. He kicked two goals from range, both which showed class, while his running power, clean skills and transition work all helped Vic Country after halftime.
Ethan Drever
Arguably Vic Country's best, Drever finished with 21 disposals and was influential in transition play and around the contest, with his burst of power and ability to link and get multiple possessions in a chain making him hard to go with. The only knock on the afternoon was that he couldn't round out his day with a goal, kicking four behinds, but his field kicking was excellent and his aerobic power gave him plenty of possession in space.
Clancy Snell
It was not necessarily a day for key defenders, but Snell was at his reliable best behind the footy, taking three strong intercept marks and looking impenetrable as the anchor of the backline. He also applied pressure, at one stage turning the footy over before immediately making amends by winning a holding the ball free kick. A more than solid foundation to build on for the rest of the carnival for the top 10 prospect.
Cody Walker (Carlton father-son prospect)
Playing as a starting midfielder, the Carlton father-son prospect was clean fundamentally and worked hard as always. Among the leading disposal getters at half-time, his ball-use was not always perfect and he missed a pair of shots from 50, but still had a couple of moments of class. His day was cut short by a shoulder injury.
Noah Williams
Like Walker, he failed to play the game out due to a hamstring injury. Played as a starting midfielder and threw himself into the contest and had some strong hard ball wins as well as a couple of nice intercept possessions.
Allies
Ethan Matthews (GWS Academy)
It was the GWS Academy product's kicking which was most impressive, continually finding targets inside 50 to set up dangerous attacking launches as he put himself to receive the ball in transition. Playing as a permanent midfielder, he was clean and showed his ability to breakaway from traffic at stoppage and was wonderfully balanced. Everything he did seemed to turn to gold and he continued to fight all day.
Henry Meaney (Sydney Academy)
Formed a potent one-two punch throughout the afternoon with Matthews, he stepped through traffic well, summed up his options quickly and showed a good balance of contested and uncontested acumen. Consistently found the footy with his clean hands and navigated his way through traffic expertly to take it up to a formidable Vic Country outfit.
Ben Pignatelli (Sydney Academy prospect)
The standout forward for his side, Pignatelli kicked three goals and his contested marking was a feature throughout the game. He was particularly prominent in the first half, showing the bravery to stand under high balls and put himself in positions to get first hands on the footy in marking contests and was generally clean which allowed him to hold his marks.
Caylen Murray (Brisbane Academy)
Brisbane star Jason Akermanis quipped to Zero Hanger last week that the Lions Acadey, where he coaches, needs three of Murray, such is his importance. He showed that spark on Sunday, with his speed making him dangerous in a high-octane game, getting plenty of handball receives and advancing the ball forward with vigour.
Brynley Ryan (GWS Academy)
A lively small forward who kicked a pair of goals when his moments arrived, with his second a classy finish from 50 to keep the Allies in the match midway through the last quarter. Others had higher production, but when he got the footy, things seemed to happen, with the bottom-aged 176cm talent able to dance through traffic well.
Other talent pathway tidbits
Essendon-tied prospect Blake Justice played his first game of 2026, having missed the first half of the season with a hamstring injury. The Vic Metro squad member was one of his team's most influential in the first half with his skill execution and athleticism on show. He finished with 18 disposals in his first game for 259 days.
Fellow Essendon-tied prospect Moustafa Darwish continued his strong form. The 2027 draft prospect had 27 disposals, 12 tackles and one goal, showing his toughness and acceleration as a full-time midfielder.
Overlooked for selection in the first state game, West Adelaide's Lincoln Pitt made his senior debut against Port Adelaide. The ruck finished with a team-high 12 hitouts to go with eight disposals against a Port Adeliade line-up which contained Dante Visentini.
Bottom-aged Collingwood Next Generation Academy prospect Eli Kravic was recast to half-back for Oakleigh and was one of his team's most influential in a heavy loss. Kravic, who represented Vic Metro's Under-16s last year but has not reached the same heights this year at Talent League level, was strong and classy with the footy, finishing with 25 disposals in arguably his best game at the level.
Top-five prospect Arki Butler kicked a whopping 8.6 in Brighton Grammar's big win over Melbourne Grammar on Saturday. The skipper also had two direct goal assists and played a significant chunk of the game through the midfield. It was a fair tune up ahead of Vic Metro's first game next weekend.
