It is always easy to judge the drafting nous of recruiters through an exercise in revisionist history.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is no surprise that the exposed form of young potentialย AFLย draftees can often exaggerate or undersell their potential.

Here we look back on the 2018 Under-18 All-Australian side and see how the side has fared since.

Defenders

Four of the six defenders are still on an AFL list and one recently played in a preliminary final.

Isaac Quaynor is the most notable name on this list. The medium-sized defender was nothing but quality throughout the 2022 season for Collingwood as they made a surprising late finish to the year.

His ball use and defensive ability, as well as his pace, makes him a brilliant asset to any defence in the AFL.

Both Buku Khamis and Jacob Koschitzke are both still trying to find their feet at their respective clubs, with both also having some experience in being tried in the forward line.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Buku Khamis of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the round 11 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on May 28, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Jez McLennan was on the Gold Coast Suns' list for four seasons, but never debuted and was delisted and the conclusion of this season, whilst vice-captain Kyle Reid was never picked up by an AFL club.

The last player in the defence from the U18 AA team is Fremantle rebound defender Jordan Clark. Since 2018 he has developed into a brilliant run and carry defender and his ball use for Fremantle in 2022 was superb.

Midfielders

This midfield only has two A-grade names, with two others struggling for game time and another two not on an AFL list.

Both Sam Walsh and Bailey Smith are the standouts in the middle, with both men being leading names at their respective clubs.

Chayce Jones of Adelaide and Kieren Briggs of GWS are both still trying to reach their potential. Jones was a top 10 pick and found himself playing off half-back in 2022, whilst big man Briggs has been competing with Matt Flynn for the No.1 ruck spot at the Giants.

Bailey Smith during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

The remaining players in Luke Valente and Luke English both never played an AFL match and were delisted by Fremantle and Richmond respectively.

Forwards

All six forwards on this list remain in the AFL to this day.

The two most noticeable are key forward Ben King and small-forward Izak Rankine, who were both recruited to the Gold Coast.

King has been brilliant ever since being drafted but unfortunately succumbed to an ACL injury at the start of 2022 and missed the entire season. Rankine on the other hand had a breakout 2022 season for the Suns, but requested a trade back home to Adelaide at the end of the season.

King's brother Max saw his chances of an AA spot broken after suffering an ACL injury in his draft year.

Both Bailey Scott and Jack Lukosius have been somewhat transformed into defenders since entering the AFL, with Scott having a seriously impressive 2022 season off half-back for North Melbourne, finishing third in the club's best and fairest.

Lukosius on the other hand seems to rotate between forward and defence as the Suns still can't seem to find the position that suits the big man best.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 26: Jack Lukosius and Ben King during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session on November 26, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The remainder includes Adelaide midfielder Jackson Hately and the Bulldogs' Rhylee West.

Hately started his career at the Giants but could not get a game, therefore moving to Adelaide at the end of the 2020 season. Since moving, he has still struggled for game time.

West enjoyed a breakout 2022 season for the Dogs as a small forward and will be looking for an even bigger and better 2023.

Interchange

Only two players from the interchange bench remain on an AFL list, and they are Suns flanker Jeremy Sharp and the Swans' Will Gould.

Gould has not yet debuted for Sydney however is rumoured to be not far away after seriously impressing in the Swans' VFL side.

Sharp has also been struggling to get a good run of games going for the Suns and even assessed a trade to Fremantle at the conclusion of the 2022 season. That did not go through however and he remains on the Suns' list for at least next season.

Sydney Stack was unfortunately delisted from Richmond at the end of the 2022 season. The utility showed plenty of talent and promise but a string of off-field issues hampered his ability to play his best footy, ultimately resulting in his delisting.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03: Will Gould of South Australia handpasses the ball during the AFL 2019 U18 Championships match between South Australia and the Allies at Marvel Stadium on July 03, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The remaining two spots included Connor McFadyen and Mitch O'Neill.

McFadyen was with the Brisbane Lions for a number of years but was delisted at the end of 2022 without playing an AFL match.

O'Neill was drafted to the Eagles but was also delisted without playing a senior match.

Adding to the aforementioned Max King, Port Adelaide pair Connor Rozee and Zak Butters, North Melbourne's Tarryn Thomas and Sydney's Nick Blakey also failed to make the cut but still landed in the first round of the draft.

2018 U18 All-Australian Team

FB: Jez McLennan, Jacob Koschitzke, Isaac Quaynor
HB: Buku Khamis, Kyle Reid, Jordan Clark
C: Luke English, Bailey Smith, Luke Valente
F: Kieren Briggs, Sam Walsh, Chayce Jones
HF: Bailey Scott, Jack Lukosius, Jackson Hately
FF: Izak Rankine, Ben King, Rhylee West
INT: Sydney Stack, Connor McFadyen, Mitchell O'Neill, Will Gould, Jeremy Sharp