One of the best runners in this year’s pool is set to be one of the most-watched players in the Under-18 carnival as he continues to surge up draft boards.
But some teams have already played two matches in the championships, with a number of players putting their names up in lights.
Here is all the latest AFL Draft news from around the country.
REID READY FOR RETURN
Expected No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid will play his first game in more than a month this weekend as Vic Country begins its campaign in the AFL under-18 national championships.
Reid has not played since suffering a concussion when he copped an accidental knee during an exhibition match for the AFL Academy side on May 13.
The 18-year-old had planned to return for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League a fortnight ago but was held back to further rest and recover after a busy start to the season which saw him play games for the Pioneers, AFL Academy and Carlton’s VFL side.
Vic Country will meet South Australia in its first game of the championships at Princes Park on Sunday.
“He can’t wait to get out there,” Vic Country coach Paul Corrigan said of Reid.
“What he was able to do last year was super important as a bottom-ager and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do as a top-ager.”
Reid was named on a halfback flank in the under-18 All-Australian team last year after playing for Vic Country as a 17-year-old in last year’s championships.
However, he is likely to spend more time in the front half of the ground for Vic Country this year.
“He could play a bit of everywhere because he is so versatile,” Corrigan said.
“We’ll use him in a range of different positions. We probably see him playing midfield-forward but he did play down back a little bit last year for us a bottom-ager. So he does have adaptability to play in multiple positions.”
The match will be broadcast on Fox Footy from 10.30am on Sunday, available through Foxtel and Kayo.
Likely No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid has not played a game in over a month. Picture: Michael Klein
SANDERS STARRING
A Tasmanian midfielder has made a dazzling start to the under-18 national championships, playing a starring role in each of the Allies’ first two matches.
Ryley Sanders, who is described as a “midfield bull”, was best afield in the Allies’ first match against South Australian with 35 disposals and two goals and backed up that performance with 39 disposals and one goal against Western Australia last weekend.
Originally from Launceston, Sanders moved to Melbourne last year to attend school at Melbourne Grammar and has been playing for Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League.
He lists Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver as a player he looks up to.
“Everyone sees the volume of disposals he gets but the way he gets his ball and his running patterns have just improved enormously through this year,” Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding said.
“I think he’s always been a ball magnet. He’s always found a way to do it. But even from round 1 to his games now, he’s playing an AFL standard for contest work and midfield running patterns.
“He’s worked hard on his fitness. He’s ultra-professional, Riley. You’d struggle to find a more professional player in the Coates League.
“He’s a midfield bull, but he’s a nice kick when he gets out in some space and he brings his teammates in the game really well. He’s quite selfless player.”
Ryley Sanders is a midfield bull who originally hails from Tasmania. Picture: Getty Images
DASHING DARCY
A running machine who has been racking up plenty of touches this season is fast firming as a top-end draft selection.
Murray Bushrangers midfielder Darcy Wilson has impressed at every turn this season and recruiters will be eagerly watching what he can do for Vic Country in the under-18 national championships.
Across six games for the Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League, Wilson has averaged 22.7 disposals, 3.7 clearances, 5.7 score involvements and 1.7 goals.
He also played a key role in the AFL Academy’s two games in April and May, logging 19 disposals against Port Adelaide’s SANFL side and backing it up with 12 disposals and a goal against Carlton’s VFL team.
Wilson finished ninth in the Yo-Yo test during pre-season Victorian testing, clocking a level of 21.08.
“He’s a super athlete in how he runs and works up the ground and gets back as a high half-forward or playing on a wing,” Vic Country coach Paul Corrigan said.
“He uses the ball really well and what we like about him too is he does finish his work in front of goal. So I’m looking forward to seeing him clock up the kilometres throughout the carnival. He’s been really impressive all through the year and when he’s played for the AFL Academy as well.”
Darcy Wilson is a running machine on a wing or across half-forward. Picture: Michael Klein
SUNS SET TO HIT JACKPOT
Gold Coast will have priority access to two of the top talls in the country in this year’s draft, with key forward Jed Walter and mobile ruckman Ethan Read quickly climbing up the draft boards of recruiters.
Walter has firmed as a top-five draft prospect after a bumper first two games of the under-18 national championships with the Allies, while Read is also firmly in the first-round mix after producing some equally impressive performances in the same team.
Both are members of the Gold Coast Suns Academy.
A strong and powerful 195cm forward who crashes packs and has drawn comparisons to Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon, Walter has averaged 13.5 disposals and has kicked six goals across his first two matches for the Allies.
Read – who has been likened to former AFL ruckman Paddy Ryder – has averaged 19.5 disposals, 7.5 marks, 12 hit-outs and 0.5 goals in his first two matches of the championships.
Allies coach Mark McVeigh last week predicted Walter would be playing in the AFL by this time next year.
“Jed is clearly an exciting talent,” McVeigh said.
“I don’t like putting a number on it but he is a top-five (draft pick) in my mind.
“Teams will be out there saying ‘Gee I’d love to get him’ because he can lead the way for a long time but the Suns won’t let that happen.”
Jed Walter has made a huge start to the national championships. Picture: Getty Images
ADAPTABLE GEORGE
One of the best-performed players in the Coates Talent League this season is ready for his chance to shine on the national stage this weekend.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels midfielder George Stevens will play for Vic Country in the under-18 national championships as he looks to continue what has been a stunning season so far.
After missing the entire 2022 season with an ACL injury, Stevens has not missed a beat this year and has averaged 150 SuperCoach ranking points across his six matches in the Coates Talent League – the seventh-highest average of any player in the competition.
He also featured for Geelong in one VFL match in round 6 and did not look out of place as he racked up 16 disposals and three clearances.
While he is primarily a big-bodied midfielder, Stevens has also spent time across halfback this season and is likely to play in both positions during the championships.
“He’s adaptable,” Vic Country coach Paul Corrigan said.
“He’s one that can be really strong for us in the contested side of things winning clearances as an inside midfielder, but he can also give you stability across the halfback line as well with the way he controls and he reads the play really well as well. He can really set your offence up from behind the ball so we’ll use him in a number of positions as well.”
Hailing from the Victorian town of Warrnambool, Stevens is the younger brother of Carlton VFL player Archie Stevens.