The national Under 18 championships return to Fox Footy this weekend with a Sunday double-header at Ikon Park, which will feature this year’s top draft prospects.

It comes in the wake of several academy and father-son prospects elevating their standing across the first two games of the carnival.

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EARLIER BIDS LOOM FOR ACADEMY GUNS

The Gold Coast Suns academy had two players attract top-10 bids in last year’s draft.

And there could be another early bid on a Suns academy graduate in November after Leo Lombard’s breathtaking start to the 2024 national championships.

After a whirlwind 2023 campaign – he represented the Allies, graced the MCG for the Under 17s AFL Grand Final curtain-raiser match and played in the Suns’ inaugural VFL premiership side as a 16-year-old – Lombard has surged into top-10 calculations off the back of two stunning, consecutive performances for the Allies.

Lombard (178cm) booted 1.1 from 27 disposals, 10 contested possessions, nine inside 50s, six clearances and 531m gained against South Australia in the carnival opener. Seven days later against Western Australia, he produced a best on ground display, booting two goals from 32 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight inside 50s and 482m gained.

While Lombard entered his draft year widely regarded as a first-round chance, his standout display for the Allies have recruiters suggesting he now sits among the top 10 prospects. Big games against Vic Metro and Vic Country would surely solidify that status.

Not only has he shown power and speed and speed at stoppages, he’s improved his disposal efficiency and had more impact on the outcome of games.

Lombard isn’t the only Suns academy player who’s turned heads for the Allies, with bottom-ager Zeke Uwland producing performances that have him in the first-round mix for the 2025 draft.

After a one-goal, 15-disposal outing against SA, Uwland was brilliant against WA on the weekend, kicking a terrific goal to go with 29 disposals, 10 intercepts, five marks and a whopping 702m gained.

One scout, when contacted by foxfooty.com.au, compared the 178cm Uwland to Sydney star Errol Gulden.

Uwland is the younger brother of Bodhi Uwland, who was the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 12 after his 19-disposal, 13-mark game for Gold Coast in the win over Essendon. So it was a big weekend for the family!

Asked cheekily who was the better player, Bodhi Uwland told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night: “That’s a great question. We’re very different players.

“My strength is my contest work and his strength is his outside running ability and foot skills.

“He’s tracking pretty well. He had a nice game on the weekend.”

The other Sun to track is bottom-ager Kalani White (198cm) – the son of ex-Demons ruck Jeff White – who played in the Allies’ first game against SA as a defender. White is also father-son eligible to Melbourne for next year’s draft.

Brisbane fans would also be liking academy prospect 185cm midfielder Sam Marshall’s excellent start to the champs, racking up 30 and 27 touches in his two matches. While scouts have always admired his consistency, workrate and ball-winning ability, they’ve been impressed by his ball use and decision making against SA and WA. He looks every bit a first-round prospect.

With father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft – who’ll play for Vic Metro in the national champs – set to receive a top-10 bid this season, rival clubs expected Brisbane’s natural first-rounder (currently Pick 6) to be up for grabs during the trade period as the Lions – under the current system – would need to bank an array of draft picks and points to match early bids. The AFL, though, is currently weighing up its draft bidding system, as part of a competitive balance review, and whether clubs need to pay a fairer price for father-son and academy prospects.

The Lions have got another academy star to watch for the top of next year’s draft pool in 183cm prospect Daniel Annable, who’s been the Allies’ No. 1 clearance player across their first two matches. Annable is strong over the ball and has an excellent workrate.

Elsewhere, the Sydney Swans would’ve been stoked with some of their academy prospects on the weekend, particularly defender Joel Cochran.

The athletic and versatile 195cm utility hadn’t had the most prominent start to his draft year, but impressed scouts on Sunday with his athleticism, dare and dash from the backline for the Allies, finishing with 21 disposals, five rebound 50s and 311m gained.

Cochran, as well as fellow Swans academy players Nick Andreacchio and Lachlan Carmichael, are key members of the Allies’ backline. Andreacchio has had 21 and 23 touches respectively in his first two national champs games, while bottom-ager Carmichael has looked assured with 17 and 18 disposals.

In terms of Allies in the open draft pool, there’s ample intrigue around 194cm Bendigo Pioneers prospect Jobe Shanahan. He was strong both in the air and at ground level against WA, booting 2.1 from 11 disposals, seven score involvements, four tackles and three contested marks. Some scouts think he’s a first-round pick – due to the lack of talls at the top of this year’s pool – while others want to see a bigger sample size or even see him play down back to test his competitiveness.

FATHER-SON GUN GOES BONKERS

Tyler Welsh made the most of his return to the SANFL Under 18s on the weekend, finishing with a mega goal haul in Woodville-West Torrens’ big 85-point win over Norwood.

Welsh, the son of four-time Adelaide leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, was signed by the Crows’ SANFL team for 2024. But he didn’t kick a goal from any of his three league outings across the first five rounds.

After a three-goal haul against the Allies in round one of the national champs, Welsh returned to original SANFL club the Eagles and thrived in the Under 18s, booting 8.1 from 17 disposals and 10 marks against the Redlegs. He booted three goals in the first half then five in the fourth term alone, including the last four of the match.

Adelaide is well placed to match an early bid for the 190cm Welsh – it holds its own first, second, third and fourth-rounders this year, as well as Melbourne’s second-rounder – but recruiters find it hard to put a draft range on him at this stage. But they have been impressed by his competitiveness in the air and speed, as well as his natural goal sense, this season.

Welsh isn’t the only father-son prospect on SA’s team attracting interest, with Glenelg’s Ben Camporeale and Lucas Camporeale continuing to churn out good performances at whatever level they play at.

Against the Allies, Ben (186cm) had 27 disposals and five clearances playing on the ball, while Lucas (185cm) finished with 23 disposals and six intercepts playing more behind the footy.

The twins are father-son eligible to Carlton as their dad is Blues premiership player and All-Australian Scott Camporeale. Ben is considered by most scouts as a first-round prospect, while Lucas is more likely to attract a bid later in the national draft, at this stage.

Elsewhere, scouts continue to track Central Districts key forward Charlie Nicholls closely. The 197cm forward kicked 1.1 from nine disposals and seven marks (two contested) against the Allies as he continues to improve with every game and show off his athleticism.

Top-10 chance Sid Draper is also warming into his season after missing the first few months of his draft year with a shin stress fracture. Draper had 19 disposals against the Allies – importantly eight of them turned into SA scores – before starring in his return to SANFL Under 18s for South Adelaide, racking up 31 disposals and nine inside 50s against North Adelaide.

Scouts are expecting Draper – a powerful yet speedy 180cm midfielder-forward with a terrific workrate – to step up in the second half of the season. Last year, he played with maturity beyond his years as a 16-year-old – he turned 17 after SA’s campaign had finished – taking out his state’s MVP award.

While Draper is expected to be at the pointy end of this year’s draft, Central District’s Dyson Sharp looms as an early pick in the 2025 draft. Sharp, like Draper last year, starred as a bottom-ager for SA, racking up 25 disposals, 14 contested possessions, nine clearances, seven tackles and six inside 50s. A 188cm big-bodied midfielder, Sharp’s grunt work and strength at the contest is a delight.

And keep an eye on Evan Bradley – a 174cm goalkicking small forward with high-end speed and X-factor. After booting 10 goals from seven SANFL Under 18s games for North Adelaide, Bradley kicked 3.2 against the Allies.

TOP WA PROSPECT SET TO RETURN

Western Australia was without arguably its top prospect last weekend against the Allies, with Bo Allen ruled out due to a back issue

However it’s understood it was a precautionary call – considering the long journey from WA to NSW – and that he’s expected to return for his state’s next carnival game against SA on June 16.

A 189cm defender from Peel Thunder who played all four Under 18s carnival games for his state last year, Allan is a great athlete with good footy nous.

Eagles NGA member Malakai Champion is also starting to show signs of his best. After a slow start to the season, Champion kicked three goals and averaged 16 disposals from his most recent two WAFL colts games for Subiaco before booting 2.2 from 10 touches for WA against the Allies.

An explosive and exciting 170cm forward, Champion could be on the brink of the Pick 40 NGA bidding threshold – should the rules stay the same – at season’s end.

Elsewhere, 190cm East Fremantle midfielder Luke Urquhart was WA’s best player against the Allies, finishing with 21 disposals, 13 contested possessions and seven tackles. He has ample power and competitiveness, but recruiters would like to see him improve his kicking efficiency and decision-making.

Cody Angove and William Hayes both kicked a goal for WA, too. They’re both on recruiters’ radars ahead of the draft later in the year, which will see the first round held on Wednesday November 20 followed by the remaining rounds on Thursday November 21.

VICS KICK OFF CAMPAIGNS

Both Victorian teams will play their first national carnival games on Sunday at Ikon Park.

The talent-stacked Vic Metro team will take on the Allies at 10.00am before Vic Country faces South Australia at 12.30pm, with both games to be broadcast live on Fox Footy – via Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

Metro will head into their campaign relatively injury-free, with early top-10 bolter Taj Hotton – a 182cm Sandringham Dragons prospect who’s dangerous and creative forward of centre – the biggest absentee after rupturing his ACL last month.

Metro has the deepest midfield by some margin. Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, 194cm big-bodied midfielder Josh Smillie and 181cm ball magnet Jagga Smith – all top-five pick contenders – loom as the likely top centre bounce combination for Vic Metro. Smith has been in absurd form at Coates Talent League level for the Oakleigh Chargers, racking up 40, 50, 33 and 33 disposals respectively from his past four matches.

But Christian Moraes (183cm) and Tom Gross (181cm) are also expected to spend some time in the engine room throughout the game. Nash King (181cm), Zak Johnson (185cm) and Murphy Reid (180cm) are other on-ball contenders, as well as Lucca Grego (183cm) and Jesse Dattoli (179cm) – although scouts expect the latter two play in the defensive and forward arcs respectively at times.

Koroit product Finn O’Sullivan – and Pick 1 contender – is unlikely to face SA as he continues to recover from a finger injury, while there’s also doubt over whether GWV Rebels star midfielder Sam Lalor will play the first game after an injury-interrupted 2024 campaign to date. O’Sullivan and Lalor are arguably the best two midfielders named in Country’s squad.

It means Dandenong Stingrays duo Cooper Hynes and Harvey Langford could get more on-ball time against SA. Hynes, the son of John Hynes who played four games for Carlton in the late ‘90s, has been an early-season standout for the Stingrays and is coming off a one-goal, 35-disposal Coates League performance.

Also keep an eye on 200cm Shepparton twins Jack and Matt Whitlock.

Considered a first-round prospect – possibly top 10 – by many scouts for a while, Jack Whitlock has started his 2024 campaign strongly, booting 10.11 and averaging 15.0 disposals and 5.2 marks from his first five Talent League games. His early draft prospects have been enhanced by an increase in size and strength, which has helped him become a more ominous presence close to goal.

Matt Whitlock has also caught the attention of on-lookers. With brother Jack sidelined for a Murray Bushrangers clash due to a finger injury, Matt was swung from defence into the forward line – and had a day out against the Giants Academy team, booting 5.3 from 14 disposals and seven marks. He’s added another eight goals to his tally from three games since. But recruiters expect Matt to return to the backline for Vic Country, particularly with Noah Mraz – a 198cm key defensive prospect from the Dandenong Stingrays – still sidelined with a foot issue.

GWV Rebels 195cm key forward Jonty Faull returned to the Coates League last weekend with a bang, booting 5.2 from 14 disposals. Whether Vic Country selectors throw him into the deep end straight away remains unclear, though.

Murray Bushrangers small forward Joe Berry is another one to watch. The 180cm prospect – who possesses top-end speed and creativity close to goal – has been a Coates Talent League standout to date, booting 21.10 and averaging 12.9 disposals from seven games to move into first-round calculations.

And there’s a fourth Duursma to track: Bottom-ager Willem Duursma. The 193cm Gippsland Power player, who looms as an early pick in next year’s draft, is expected to feature heavily for Vic Country over the next month.