The Mid-Season Draft is just over two weeks away and names of focus are starting to crystallise, while a West Coast-tied prospect pressed his claim for a state call-up.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of players who impressed in the Talent League.
All that and more in this week's AFL Draft Watch.
Mid-Season Draft latest
Clubs are set to ramp up their preparation and planning for the Mid-Season Draft which is just over a fortnight away.
As previously reported by this masthead, there is widespread expectation the intake will lean heavily towards mature-agers rather than Talent Leaguers.
Tasmania's Jaxon Artemis, North Melbourne's Xavier Bamert, Frankston's Jackson Voss and Sandringham Dragon Ollie Griffin are the players with the most widespread interest.
Artemis continued his strong form with a best afield outing in the Devils' draw with Werribee on Saturday.
Bamert, who has interest from Melbourne and the Roos, missed a second consecutive game on the weekend with a minor finger injury. Voss also has interest from Melbourne, as do tall pair Harrison Coe and James Tarrant and Calder Cannons defender Nick Staropoli.
Starapoli and Griffin made their VFL debuts for Essendon and Sandringham respectively on Sunday.
Richmond has shown interest in consistent Geelong VFL performer Marcus Herbert and star defender Mutaz El Nour from their own VFL program.
Coburg key defender Thomas Barnett is another to have courted interest, while Richmond VFL's Sam Toner is another clubs are tracking.
Video game numbers
Claremont midfielder Noah Braun broke the WAFL Colts disposals record on Saturday night, racking up a staggering 52 disposals to go with two goals and six tackles.
It's a statement game for Braun after missing Western Australia's squad for the Under-18s National Championships.
A West Coast father-son prospect, the son of Eagles 2006 premiership player Michael stepped up with state squad members absent due to a trial match.
Noted for his clean skills and athleticism, he helped Claremont to a 66-point win over Perth.
Western Jet continues fine form
Midfielder Lachie Hicks has continued his strong 2026, kicking four goals splitting his time between the midfield and forward line in a dominant Western Jets win over Murray Bushrangers.
Through the midfield, his clean skills and composure were on show but it was his trademark overhead and contested marking inside 50 that was most impressive and the source of most of his scores.
Despite having quiet patches throughout the game, star Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki still finished with 4.2.
Northern Knight capturing attention
Northern Knights forward Harrison Leeder let a day out go begging on Sunday, kicking 3.6 against Gold Coast Academy.
Regardless, he generated nine scores which continues a strong start to the season, highlighted by a promising Vic Metro trial match where his lead-up marking, speed and dynamism were on show.
A Jack Gunston-type, he has athleticism and upside and has caught the eye of several clubs.
Bottom-ager finding his feet
After being sidelined during the early part of the season with injury, Murray Bushrangers midfielder Lincoln Brand took a big step back to his best footy on Sunday.
A big-bodied brute who is on Tasmania's watchlist of talent to pre-select later this year, Brand does his best work at stoppage and covers the ground well, catching the eye with his ability to get from contest to contest.
He won the first two centre clearances of the day and has a knack of getting his hands on the footy at centre stoppages.
The captain of Vic Country at the Under-16s National Development Championships last year, Brand has a big role to play for a Bushrangers side which has yet to win a game.
Meanwhile, Western Jets winger Griffin Barker was an instrumental part of his side's victory, while Gippslander Oscar Henwood continued his strong
Both are alongside Brand as being among the best players in next year's crop.
Tasmanian rising
For the fifth time in six Talent League games this year, Hugh McCallum was named among his side's best players, and he's gaining the attention of AFL recruiters.
Playing his best footy as a disciplined winger who holds his shape and is most effective in transition, McCallum has been a central figure to his side's ball movement.
He complements his smooth skill with incredible running power and has been praised for his willingness to learn, which has him, in the view of some, as pushing into first round contention.
Meanwhile, his Tasmanian teammate Jess Bula is expected to return from a finger injury in the last weekend of May.
The North Melbourne father-son prospect showed his power and aggression in the first fortnight of the season before the setback.
That weekend is slated as an Allies trial match.
Ruck Ewan Dillon is 10-12 weeks away as he nurses an MCL injury, but he has avoided surgery.
Fixtures locked and loaded
The schedule for the Under-18s National Championships has been locked in.
It will be headlined by a double header at Marvel Stadium on Friday 3 July featuring Vic Metro vs South Australia and Vic Country vs Western Australia.
A clash between Western Australia and South Australia kicks off the carnival on June 13, before Vic Country and Vic Metro conclude it on July 19.
Touted name makes Talent League debut
Star Eastern Ranges bottom-ager Baxter Sruk made his Talent League debut on Saturday.
The midfielder, who shone for Vic Metro at last year's Under-16s National Championships, had a pre-season toe setback which has sidelined him so far this year.
He had 20 disposals and a goal, showcasing his trademark power and forward potency playing off half forward and through the midfield.
Famous names among Vic Metro pre-selections
A trio of club-tied prospects have been pre-selected for Vic Metro at the Under-16s National Development Championships, to kick off next month.
Lukas Koutoufides, the son of Anthony, tied to Carlton, Henry Thornton, the son of Bret, tied to Carlton and Ben Richardson, the son of Mark, tied to Collingwood, have all been informed they have made the squad and will not partake in the final trial game.
Koutoufides has been in strong form early in the APS football season.
Oakleigh's Finn O'Callaghan, a national track and field athlete viewed as one of the strongest in the crop, has also progressed straight through despite a shoulder injury.
