The brother of an NBL player headlines three inclusions for Vic Metro for their third game of the Under-18s National Championships.
Sam Devers, whose brother Tristan plays at Brisbane Bullets, will come into the lineup against South Australia at Marvel Stadium, alongside Baxter Sruk and Max Downes.
An Eastern Ranges product, Devers missed the first half of the season after a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season, returning at Talent League level on Saturday and finishing with 24 disposals as a half-back rotating into the midfield.
“He hasn't missed a beat with his training and rehab and looked sharp last week for a player who hasn't played since September," Eastern Ranges talent lead Danny Ryan told Zero Hanger.
"He started off halfback and went into the midfield late in the game and had some crucial clearances so we could get over the line. He was instrumental with his leg-speed and the way he was able to break lines. He hasn't lost any athleticism."
His inclusion after just one game underlines the excitement that surrounds Devers, who was part of Eastern Ranges' premiership side last year and has since gained significant strength.
“I think he's very good one-on-one, he's getting stronger in the air, so it's the ability to bring the ball to ground and when it's on the ground he can break lines and his ball use is pretty good," Ryan said.
"He's worked on the defensive side of the game, read the cues of the ball coming in and can defend back shoulder."
Sruk, meanwhile, comes in after 36 disposals for the Ranges and has been in sizzling form after missing the early part of the season with a toe injury.
He has averaged 28 disposals and five tackles in the Talent League and is viewed as one of the best 2027 prospects in the pool.
Like Devers, he is part of Vic Metro's train-on squad.
“Baxter is such a talent. His ball use and ability to win contested ball is such a weapon and he bobs up and kicks big goals," Ryan said.
"He's a match winner and obviously clubs are putting lots of time into him so it's great to see him get an opportunity as a bottom-ager. I think he'll add a bit of bite to the midfield as a bottom-ager."
Downes is a powerful and competitive forward/midfielder who was last week sidelined with a quad niggle after a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki has been overlooked, having only made his return from an ankle injury on Sunday, playing just over 50 per cent game time.
AFL Academy member Harry Chapman, North Melbourne father-son prospect Sam Harris and Jett Flower, the grandson of Melbourne great Robbie Flower, come out of the side.
Vic Metro has won its first two games of the Under-18s National Championships and takes on South Australia, which is 1-1, before the 1-0 Vic Country take on the 1-1 Western Australia.
