MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Finn O'Sullivan of Victoria Country in action during the 2022 National Development Championships U16 Boys match between Vic Metro and Vic Country at Ikon Park on June 11, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)
A total of 64 players were drafted in 2023, and while AFL scouts can soon kick up their feet, their attention will eventually turn to next year's crop of impressive teenagers.
26 players eligible for next year's draft have been named in the 2024 AFL Academy squad, many of whom featured in the annual Future Stars game at the MCG in December.
2023's draft was heavily impacted by father-son and Academy prospects, and 2024 looks to be no different as a number of top-rated players already have ties to AFL clubs.
The top-end of next year's draft is also skewed in favour of midfielders, with seven of the top eight names to consider likely to spend a majority of their draft campaigns in the middle of the field next year.
Here are the names to watch in 2024...
Would've ranked highly among the 2023 draft class, and with a further 12 months of development O'Sullivan is sure to be in contention for Pick 1.
The Oakleigh Chargers onballer was one of three bottom-age players selected in the U18 All-Australian team following a strong carnival for Vic Country, where he helped lead his team's engine room beside No.1 pick Harley Reid.
O'Sullivan took out the Kevin Sheehan Medal in 2022 as a standout at the U16s carnival and would reach new heights this year for Vic Country, averaging 16.7 disposals, 4.0 marks, 3.0 tackles and almost a goal per game from his three outings.
Is as clean in and under to retrieve the ball as he is bursting from stoppage, with O'Sullivan having no issue finding the Sherrin on his way to collecting 20 or more disposals in seven of his eight Talent League matches this year, where he would also earn Team of the Year honours.
The leading prospect out of South Australia, Draper is the younger brother of recently departed Collingwood youngster Arlo.
The young South Adelaide star capped off a brilliant bottom-age season in the Future Stars game, leading Team Naitanui to a win with 25 disposals.
Draper was selected in the U18 All-Australian team and would be recognised as South Australia's MVP despite being a bottom-ager, averaging 24.8 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 3.8 tackles across his four matches.
The 17-year-old would get an early look at senior experience in the SANFL as well, playing a trio of games for the Panthers this year and he wouldn't look out of place, averaging 14 disposals 3.0 marks, 3.0 inside 50s and 2.3 clearances per game.
A familiar surname for Lions fans, with Levi Ashcroft the latest from his household in line to become a Brisbane player.
The son of premiership play Marcus and brother to young Brisbane gun Will, Levi, much like his brother, is a headline prospect among his draft class after a premiership-winning season with the Sandringham Dragons.
The 17-year-old helped the Dragons to titles both last year and in 2023 and would make it three in a row if they go the distance next year.
Has similar traits to his brother with his cleanliness around the contest and his football smarts, which helped him claim the Dragons' best and fairest this year over the likes of Ryley Sanders or Will Brown, and also be selected in the U18 All-Australian side as a bottom-ager.
Ashcroft is set to train with the Lions over the coming pre-season alongside Brisbane Academy talent Sam Marshall, who could've also made this list.
The Suns Academy prospect was a VFL premiership player at just 16 years of age.
Lombard played three matches for Gold Coast's reserves this year, two of which came in their successful finals run, and the teenager amassed 10 touches in the club's 19-point flag-clinching win over Werribee.
He'd back up that performance the following week in the Future Stars game as one of Team Naitanui's leading ball-winners, collecting 24 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s while providing some run through the middle.
Represented the Allies this year in their clash with South Australia as well as earning a selection for Queensland's U17 meeting with Vic Country. Also represented the Suns' Academy in the Talent League on five occasions this year, averaging 24.8 disposals and 3.6 tackles against older prospects.
Is the latest big name out of the Suns' Academy following the club's haul of first-round quartet Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham.
The only non-midfielder on our list...
The son of former Crows forward Scott Welsh, Tyler is the leading key-forward prospect among the 2024 draft class and has links to Adelaide as a father-son prospect.
The 191cm attacker has made the move to Adelaide's SANFL side from Woodville-West Torrens for the 2024 season and will look to improve on his 27-goal campaign in the U18s competition.
Welsh's best performance would come at the National Championships this year away to Vic Country, where he booted five goals in a starring day out at Princes Park.
Averaged 29.8 disposals for Oakleigh in 2023 to rank second in the competition behind new Western Bulldogs recruit Ryley Sanders.
Never dropped below 25 touches per game for the Chargers and would amass a five-game run of 30 or more disposals - two of which included multiple goal hauls.
Played inside and outside midfield roles for Vic Metro as the bottom-agers led the charge, with Levi Ashcroft and Josh Smillie also taking on key roles in midfield.
Would also impress in the Future Stars game for Team Selwood, collecting 21 disposals and three clearances.
Along with twin brother Lucas, Ben Camporeale has ties to Carlton as a father-son prospect given their dad Scott - a member of the Blues' 1995 premiership team - played over 230 games for the club.
Ben flexed his inside-outside versatility in more of a wing role at the Future Stars game that saw him collect a game-high 30 disposals for Team Naitanui, as well as eight marks, eight rebound 50s and five inside 50s to be named best-afield.
Is able to play at the coalface and has shown an expansive range of skills for Glenelg this year on his way to averaging 25.3 disposals, 5.4 marks, 3.9 clearances, 4.1 inside 50s and 3.3 tackles from his 13 games in the U18s this year.
Both Ben and Lucas will train with Carlton during the summer before commitments with the AFL Academy, Glenelg and South Australia.
Was part of a lethal Eastern Ranges midfield that includes Caleb Windsor and fellow bottom-ager Christian Moraes, with Smillie helping set up a strong finish to the year before missing the finals campaign through injury.
Is a tall midfielder at 194cm and uses his size to his advantage at the contest and in the air, with Smillie averaging 26.3 disposals and 4.4 marks this year for the Ranges from his eight matches.
Played in two games for Vic Metro and collected 21 touches per game, while he'd bear further fruit at the Future Stars game with 21 disposals and five marks for Team Naitanui.