THE FIRST weekend of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships saw two tight games and many division one players boost their draft stocks.
Soon, players from the division two teams will get their chance to do the same, with their carnival kicking off on Saturday, June 20.
Here are some prospects to study during the three-game division two championships involving New South Wales-ACT, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.
Vic Country stuns with after-the-siren win
Several players from division two (Callum Mills, Matthew Kennedy, Jacob Hopper and Ben Keays) were already featured in AFL.com.au's recent piece profiling 20 players to watch in the under-18s.
NSW-ACT
Comments by talent manager Darren Denneman
Jock Cornell
2/4/97
187cm/82kg
Mangoplah/GWS academy
Jock is Joe Daniher's cousin, so he has a strong footy background. He has been played as a permanent forward as a youngster and has developed into a utility type who can play through the midfield and then push forward and kick goals. We've seen that in the TAC Cup thus far, and he recently had 29 disposals and 15 inside-50s for us against Oakleigh. He has been much more consistent this year.
Ryan Hebron
3/5/97
186cm/81kg
North Shore/Sydney Swans academy
Ryan's an athletic mid-sized type who can play off half-back and really runs off his opponents. He can play on guys who are a bit taller than him, and can use the ball quite creatively. He's had to play on some bigger opponents, but he's handled himself quite well and has good closing speed which can see him spoil quite hard and he does like to initiate contact. He's got some upside.
Harrison Himmelberg
8/5/96
192cm/84kg
Eastlake/GWS academy
We've got a big group of 19-year-olds in our squad, so we can only play three of them in each game. Harrison had some injuries last year but has relocated across to Canberra to play in the NEAFL with Eastlake, and has presented himself really well. He has elite running and endurance ability, and he catches out his opponents with his repeat efforts in the forward line.
Matthew Flynn
13/9/97
200cm/99kg
Narrandera/GWS academy
Matthew's a developing ruckman. There's no doubt he's going to take some time, but he has a really strong attitude, he competes hard and shows genuine courage in the contest. His agility and movement is really good in close, which is probably highlighted by his high-level basketball background in some instances. We've been using him in the ruck, but I think he could play as a key forward, and he has kicked goals for us.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Comments by talent manager Wally Gallio
Davin Ferrira 15/9/96
174cm/68kg
Wanderers
Davin played in the Wanderers' NTFL premiership this year and has also played some reserves football at Norwood. He's probably best suited as an inside midfielder who can push forward and finishes well in front of goal. For a guy his size he's really athletic – he has a good leap and he kicks the ball pretty well on both feet.
Michael Hagan
5/11/97
177cm/67kg
Darwin
Michael was a member of the level one academy squad but did not make the level two group. He can be played in a range of roles, including as a rebounding small defender, a midfielder and even near goal where he can use his pace and smarts. He is better as an outside player at this stage but is working hard on his game.
Ryan Nhyuis
6/9/96
181cm/82kg
Nightcliff
He is one of our overage players but didn't play last year because he concentrated on year 12. He's come into our group this year and is a mid-sized defender, and is generally a lockdown option. He can probably get a bit more offensive run into his game but he has also played in the midfield for Nightcliff and had a run-with role there.
Daniel Rioli
16/4/97
179cm/65kg
St Marys/North Ballarat Rebels
I'm really excited about Daniel and can't wait to see him play in the championships. Daniel's got that knack of being able to play as a defender and up forward and be really smart at both ends. Two weeks ago he kicked three goals in his first TAC Cup game for the North Ballarat Rebels and turned the game. He is Cyril Rioli's cousin.
QUEENSLAND
Comments by coach Adrian Fletcher
Mabior Chol
29/1/97
198cm/79kg
Yeronga/Brisbane Lions academy
I think people will be keeping an eye on him. He's AFL standard; he's just got to be consistent. That's the key with Mabior and we're working with him on that and he's starting to realise what it's all about. He's started taking contested marks, he's a beautiful left-foot kick and has cat-like attributes playing as a third tall forward. He has a Sudanese background."
Eric Hipwood
13/9/97
200cm/82kg
Aspley/Brisbane Lions academy
His ability to take the ball at his highest point when he's marking is a real strength. He launches himself at it and at times he may miss one but he does that every time he goes to the contest. He's a left-footer, has speed and great agility for a guy his size. He's just got to fill out. We used him at centre half-back recently and he had 22 disposals and seven marks. We're going to play him at both ends during the championships.
Corey Wagner
23/3/97
180cm/71kg
Aspley/Brisbane Lions academy
Corey fits in perfectly with the modern game with his running. He does not slow in his speed at any time of the game. He is always up and about. He's been in our best players in the first four games of the TAC Cup season and has been very consistent playing through the season. We're starting to see him win his own ball inside and he's got speed to get on the outside.
Connor West
30/12/97
184cm/77kg
Southport/Gold Coast academy
He's in our leadership group and recently kicked four goals for Southport in the NEAFL. He's got speed and he loves to hunt the tackle. A left-footer, he can be used on the wing and is also able to play off half-back, and he'll go well in the championships.
TASMANIA
Comments by coach Adam Sanders
Jordan Hayden
26/5/97
185cm/78kg
Glenorchy
Jordan is our captain this year after playing some pretty good footy last year as a bottom-ager. He's had a bit of a restricted pre-season after having both his hips operated on. I think he'll get better as the championships and games go on as he gets a bit more match fitness. He's got good speed, runs the lines and uses the ball well.
Mitchell Hibberd
23/9/96
191cm/85kg
Clarence
Mitchell played his first game in nearly 18 months recently and was really good. He had 29 disposals and it was a really good effort to come back and fit back in seamlessly on the wing and half-back. He had a knee reconstruction at the end of 2013 and didn't play any footy and then as he was coming back he needed a shoulder reconstruction. He'll be one to generate a bit of interest.
Kieran Lovell
16/5/97
174cm/80kg
Kingston Tigers
He's obviously a small guy, but he's pretty rounded in all areas. He has good speed and great agility, and has some power. He recently picked up 43 disposals (and 10 clearances) in the TAC Cup and got his hands on the ball at ground level about 16 times. That's an area where he's much improved. At his size you can't have too many gaps in your game and he is determined to be more and more rounded.
Logan Reynolds
19/10/97
180cm/67kg
North Launceston
Logan certainly had a good bottom-age year in 2014, and has been more solid than outstanding this year. We've been pushing him up the ground into the wing and those sorts of roles, but he's more comfortable off half-back as a small defender. We're encouraging Logan to give us some more offensive and attacking run. He has good speed and when he does run and carry he looks very good.