The AFL Academy and Victorian talent pathway trials headlined the Under-18s action this weekend.
A pair of North Melbourne players also impressed, while several South Australians are making waves.
All that and more in the latest AFL Draft watch.
Improved effort by AFL Academy
The AFL Academy put forward an improved performance against Richmond VFL, competing for three quarters before the Tigers got on top in a comprehensive last quarter.
Xavier Ladbrook was named best on ground, while Marlon Neocleous, Koby Lecras, Arki Butler and Tanner Armstrong also impressed.
AFL ACADEMY: PLAYER BY PLAYER NOTES
North Melbourne-tied duo impress
North Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect Archie Devine and father-son hopeful Sam Harris both played strong games on the weekend.
Devine had 37 disposals on Saturday playing for the Tasmania Devils, showcasing his blend of stoppage work and efficiency on the outside as a defender/midfielder.
Harris, meanwhile, was selected to represent Vic Metro in a talent showcase at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee.
He found plenty of the footy as a starting midfielder, with his clean skills, slick hands and contest work all features as he helped his side to a big victory
Both are currently viewed as more likely to be selected in the second half of the draft if they find AFL homes.
Bottom-ager starring
Oscar Henwood did not feature for Vic Country at the Under-16s National Championships last year - but make no mistake, he is viewed as one of the leading players in the 2027 crop.
A syndesmosis injury suffered in the Under-16s Talent League carnival sidelined him and kept him from a late season debut for Gippsland Power, but he has made up for lost time in 2026.
Clean, quick and competitive, Henwood has started like a rocket for Gippsland, looking a class above in a strong line-up, and was again impressive in a Vic Country trial on Sunday.
Playing a mix of midfield and forward, he found plenty of the footy and showed his talent and work rate.
The 2027 crop is viewed as a strong one and he's expected to be at the pointy end.
South Australian quartet on the map
Central Districts' Jake Eime, Glenelg duo Jacob McNicol and Harry Franz and Sturt's Lachie Werts have all captured attention early in the SANFL U18s competition.
Eime continued his strong form on Saturday with 24 disposals, unafraid to get high up the ground as a half-back and using his lethal kicking to launch dangerous attacks.
McNicol kicked 3.2 from 21 disposals on Saturday, bringing his goals tally to 13 from four games.
He is viewed by many as South Australia's leading prospect from outside the AFL Academy, with his agility, natural forward craft and ability to impact through the midfield making him a dangerous package.
Franz has caught the eye as a strong marking tall defender, competing hard aerially and averaging 15 disposals and five marks.
Werts' combination of athleticism, pressure and finishing makes him a handful for opposition defenders.
Famous name goes big
Percy Burgoyne, the son of former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide champion Shaun, kicked 4.3 for West Adelaide in South Australia's AAMI Talent League.
It was a breakthrough performance for Burgoyne, who represented South Australia at the Under-16s National Championships last year and is father-son eligible for both the Power and Hawks next year.
Victorian talent pathway trials standouts
Vic Metro faced off with Vic Country in a pair of talent pathway games on Sunday at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee.
It provided an opportunity for best Victorians from outside the AFL Academy to showcase their skillset in an exhibition game, with several names advancing their stocks.
Game 1
Vic Metro
Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons): Was the biggest standout across either game, with the tough and powerful midfielder winning plenty of the footy as a starting on-baller in the first half. Was most influential in the second quarter, helping Vic Metro pull away from Vic Country, with his speed, work rate to provide an option, both defensively and pushing forward to hit the scoreboard and class with the footy all standing out. Firmly a first round prospect, he missed the early rounds of the Talent League season with a foot injury, but had 20 disposals and two goals in his return game last week and was again clinical on Sunday. Taken out of the midfield after halftime, seemingly an indication he'd done enough to impress.
Angus Brown (Sandringham Dragons): Faded a touch after the main break, but his best was compelling. Has great vision, spatial awareness and skills, consistently finding space and hitting targets. The highlight of his day was a third quarter front and centre crumbing goal where he was clean, quick and accurate in traffic. The bottom-ager spent time on the wing and in the midfield and has plenty of tools to work with.
Jordan Knapp (Eastern Ranges): One of the most consistently high output players in the state, Knapp spent time in the midfield and off half-back and found plenty of the footy as always. Distributed well in the midfield, with his trademark clean hands setting up attacking play and helping his side get on top.
Harrison Leeder (Northern Knights): Projects as a perfect third tall type and was lively all day for Vic Metro. Consistently got separation on the lead and hit up high to provide both a linking option and the last piece in the chain, earning plenty of shots on goal. The athletic Northern Knights prospect was regularly targeted as he commanded the footy, and could have had a massive ay had he kicked straighter. Regardless, proved his capability at the level.
Ollie Griffin (Sandringham Dragons): Like Leeder, his set shot goal kicking let him down, kicking 2.3, but he reinforced his credentials as a bona fide Mid-Season Draft prospect. Took marks inside 50 on the lead, at full stretch and floating in from the side, reading the ball early and using his body to protect the drop zone. He was also clean at ground level and pressured well.
Harvie Cooke (Northern Knights): Was potent when he went into the midfield after halftime, hunting the ball with purpose and shrugging tacklers at will. Worked hard to cover the ground and provide an option as a small tough nut. Started as a deep forward and was not overly involved but has shown his aptitude in the role for Northern Knights.
Judd Lemon (Sandringham Dragons): Was perhaps a surprise candidate to get as many midfield minutes as he did but it's a reflection of how well he has started the season for Sandringham. Well built, he used his frame to burst forward from stoppage and provided run and gun through the corridor across the day. Put himself in dangerous spots and set up several dangerous forward thrusts.
Vic Country
Charlie Hanegraaf (Geelong Falcons): When Vic Country won clearances, it was generally via the Geelong Falcons prospect. Strong and powerful, he looked to gain metreage with his drive and kicking penetration and leant on his strong stoppage game to impact and worked hard even as Vic Metro got on top.
Clancy Stuart (Dandenong Stingrays): The well built Dandenong Stingrays prospect used his frame to outbody opponents and regularly put his head over the footy, winning plenty of contested possessions. Competed hard all day and was quite clean and quick with his hands, and also spent time forward where his strength made him a tough matchup.
Klay Nicholls (GWV Rebels): Perhaps the most notable key defender, Nicholls took several strong intercepts and got some important fists in as he stood well and positioned himself in smart spots to cut off inside 50 kicks.
Keenan Boi (Gippsland Power): It was a tough day for Vic Country forwards given just five goals were kicked, but Boi was involved in three, and finished with 2.1. Was particularly prominent in the first quarter, when Vic Country was at its best, taking three marks inside 50, kicking his team's first goal via a snap and proving damaging with and without the ball at ground level.
Thomas McMillan (Gippsland Power): Built into the game well off half-back, reading the play and intercepting well and confidently and taking the game on by foot when the opportunity presented and prioritising ball security when necessary.
*Clancy Snell (Gippsland Power) vs Jake Miller (Western Jets): Arguably the best key defender in the 2026 crop against the best key forward - and arguably top prospect - in the 2027 class was a captivating watch - and it's tough to say who won. Miller did not have his usual scoreboard impact, with Snell keeping him honest and going with him in an effective lockdown role. But the younger player did present on several occasions throughout the day and was overlooked or bypassed by teammates working hard to find space to lead in to. What stood out about Snell was how little room he gave Miller compared to his fellow defenders, with the starpower of Miller prohibiting Snell from peeling off and having his usual aerial impact. Call it a nil-all draw? Worth noting - Snell was swung forward in the third quarter and had limited impact from limited supply.
Game 2
Vic Metro
Lachie Hicks (Western Jets): Clearly Vic Metro's best. Finished with 3.1 and racked up a stack of possessions, as he proved he could play midfield at the level, having taken on significant responsibility on the ball for Wesley College last year in the APS competition. Has added offensive weapons to his game to complement his marking and ground coverage which has always been strong. Was generally efficient and also showed defensive hustle.
Sam Harris (Calder Cannons): As referenced above, found plenty of the footy, was clean, assessed his options well and tended to hit targets. Was arguably the most consistent midfielder for his side, giving them stoppage dominance by winning plenty of contested possession and not panicking in the clinches.
Noah McMenamin (Western Jets): Took intercept marks for fun. Has athleticism, can launch for the footy and competed hard all day - admittedly against a forward line with limited tall timber. Used his size to his advantage to access high balls and took some big contested marks. His early season form has put the over-ager on the map for the Mid-Season Draft.
George Dimer (Sandringham Dragons): Perhaps floated out of it later in the game but his small forward skillset is so well rounded as he proved in the first half. Zigs and zags his way in and out of traffic, never fumbles, has an innate knowledge of where teammates - and the goals - are inside 50 and the execution to match. At 173cm, needs to be elite on the ground, have athleticism, be able to kick goals and provide energy both offensively and defensively; all of which he does.
Lochie Burrows (Sandringham Dragons): Showed good burst speed and fundamental skills when he played in the midfield, winning some clearances and playing with good craft. Also spent time forward where he worked his direct opponent over and was proactive.
Mitch Gillan (Eastern Ranges): After an injury-interrupted start to the year, it was good to see Gillan take a step back towards his best. Was largely efficient by foot, looked to open the game up and had some important defensive acts playing off half-back.
Vic Country
Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power): Stamped himself as a bona fide first round contender in a starring first half in Vic Country's midfield. Has uncanny ball-winning nous, won clearances, made smart decisions and used it well. Also worked hard to provide an option and get involved in uncontested chains. After what felt like about 20 disposals before halftime, he played deep forward in the third quarter, and rotated back into the midfield in the last term, but had already done the damage and proven his capability at the level early.
Max Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers): Continued to establish himself as among the very best 2027 prospects. Racked up the footy at will, was classy by foot, kicking to players' advantage and drawing them into dangerous space. A snap from 30 in typical Thompson fashion was the highlight of his day.
Wil Antrobus (Dandenong Stingrays): The standout Vic Country defender in game two, he won the ball back on several occasions with his hard work defensively and then got to work starting dangerous rebound. Used his scintillating kick to his team's advantage. Daring decision-making and had the execution to match.
Jett Elek (Geelong Falcons): Clearly Vic Country's best tall, the overaged Geelong Falcons player carried a big load forward of the footy, competing hard all day, taking marks inside 50 and was rewarded with some goals. Follows a strong start to the season at Talent League level.
Archie Daffy (Geelong Falcons): More of a moments game from the Richmond father-son prospect who won some clearances with brute strength and wasn't afraid to get down and dirty. Kicked a goal and showed he could power through opponents. Played with tenacity and a hard edge and found ways to stay involved.
