The National AFL Under 18 Championships – one of the most important annual events for aspiring AFL players as part of their draft campaigns – is done, with the star-studded Allies team creating history and claiming their first ever carnival title.

There’s a lot to unpack from the 10 games, with several players boosting their prospects, while more question marks still linger on others.

Foxfooty.com.au assesses the draft landscape after the completion of most champs games.

TOP OF THE CLASS

Harley Reid has been touted as the top AFL draft prospect all year. And while the gap to second has somewhat closed in recent weeks, most clubs still believe he’s the Pick 1 favourite after an excellent national carnival.

Reid showed off his versatility and power for Vic Country across four matches, booting 5.6 and averaging 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions and a competition-high seven clearances.

His best game came against WA amid ample fanfare – he was ‘papped’ at Perth airport then was signing Eagles gear post-game – as he kicked 2.3 from a game-high 26 disposals, 15 contested possessions and 10 marks.

“I’m just out there to have fun, really,” Reid told Fox Footy after his side’s win over Vic Metro on Sunday. “At the end of the day, that’s why I play footy and to meet new people.

“I’m pretty laid back. It’s good having the balance of where I come from. It’s pretty good. I’m just a normal Harley. It always stays in my heart where I come from and where I am at the moment.”

The Bendigo Pioneers star headlines a list of around 11 players that, at this stage, are considered highly likely first-round draft prospects. But the chasm between Reid and No. 2 isn’t as big as what it was a few months back.

In fact for some clubs, Gold Coast Suns academy star Jed Walter is above Reid on their draft boards after the former’s breathtaking, eye-catching carnival for the Allies.

Walter (195cm) was influential in all four games to boot 11.10, with his competitiveness in the air and willingness to apply relentless defensive pressure outstanding. One recruiter told foxfooty.com.au seeing Walter chase an opponent was like “watching a lion chase a zebra”. After beating up on a few lower-ranked Coates Talent League teams earlier in the year, scouts were pleased to see Walter show his wares on the most important stage in his draft year.

Fellow Suns academy prospectsEthan Read and Jake Rogers also did their top-10 chances no harm.

Some believe athletic 200cm ruck Read – who averaged 22 disposals, three clearances, three tackles and 13 hit-outs for the Allies – is now worthy of a top-five pick, for he has insane skills and elite aerobic capacity for a player of his size. One recruiter told foxfooty.com.au Read was “a bit of a freak” on the field, while his coach Mark McVeigh last week said he could play a Mark Blicavs-style role at AFL level and fill chasms wherever needed.

A dynamic, speedy midfielder, Rogers showed off his uncanny knack of keeping his head over the ball and being first to it, as well as clean execution, during the champs as he averaged 23 disposals and six clearances per game.

Allies teammates – and dynamic Tasmanian duo – Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders both boosted their top-five prospects, averaging 33 and 36 disposals respectively. Sanders, who could soon be officially linked to the Kangaroos via their Next Generation Academy, took out the Larke Medal for the best player of the carnival, with McKercher finishing second.

But while Sanders has showcased metronomic consistency this year, McKercher is ranked higher by most clubs due to his game-breaking ability, which was personified in the Allies’ win over Vic Country where he kicked two telling third-quarter goals to swing the game. His Coates Talent League performance for Tasmania on the weekend – 2.3 from 41 disposals, 12 marks and eight inside 50s – reinforced just how good a form he’s in.

The other Allies prospect in the top-10 conversation is versatile 198cm Murray Bushrangers prospect Connor O’Sullivan, who was named the Allies’ MVP after averaging 18 disposals and competition-high eight marks during the champs. Playing primarily as a defender, O’Sullivan showed he knows when to stay on his man or run off to intercept – and he’s equally good at both arts when it comes to execution. He’s in the top-10 mix.

Claremont’s Daniel Curtin also proved why most consider him WA’s top prospect, showing off great versatility across the four games to win his state’s MVP award and average 24 disposals, nine contested possessions and five tackles while going at 82 per cent by foot. Most clubs see him as a tall defender at 195cm at AFL level, but he impressed in two games where he played exclusively as a tall midfielder and covered the ground like Marcus Bontempelli. He’s in the top-five conversation.

Dynamic Gippsland Power forward Zane Duursma on Sunday reminded scouts why he deserves to be taken at the pointy end of this year’s draft, inspiring Vic Country to victory over Vic Metro with four goals from 22 disposals, 10 marks and five inside 50s. Duursma – the brother of Port Adelaide AFL/AFLW duo Xavier and Yasmin Duursma – booted three of those four goals in the third quarter to swing the game in his team’s favour in a performance recruiters were stoked to witness after an indifferent previous three champs games.

Eastern Ranges goalsneak Nick Watson finished as the leading goalkicker of the carnival, booting 14.6 as he showed off his unbelievable goal sense, finishing ability and cleanliness at ground level. Watson was more impressive than fellow Vic Metro forward Nate Caddy, who slid slightly in some recruiters’ eyes but still showed good competitiveness and booted six goals from three games.

Athletic 200cm key forward – and 2023 Western Bulldogs father-son prospect – Jordan Croft booted four goals from three champs games and has lots of fans, while Murray Bushrangers midfielder Darcy Wilson kicked 4.3 and averaged 16 disposals and four inside 50s for Vic Country to push his first-round chances.

Peel Thunder ruck Mitch Edwards is still highly rated by some clubs but, for the moment, has cooled regarding top-10 calculations. While he didn’t have great luck during the carnival — he copped a knock against South Australia then suffered a concussion against Vic Country, which meant he missed WA’s last game against Vic Metro – clubs would like to see an improvement in his aerobic capacity across the back-end of the season.

THE CHAMPS ‘BOLTERS’

If he wasn’t already, Sandringham 200cm defender Ollie Murphy is now in the mid first-round mix after claiming Vic Metro’s MVP award. Murphy is lightly built and framed for now, but when he’s ready to go at AFL level, watch out – for he’s got great size and athletic ability, as well as a pinpoint left-foot kick.

There’s also growing excitement around exciting GWV Rebels defender Luamon Lual, who got better with every champs game he played and finished on a high with a spectacular performance against Vic Metro, including a breathtaking third-quarter goal. A speedy and balanced 181cm prospect who provides explosive run off half-back yet is just as adept defending one-on-one, Lual looms as an ideal mid-sized backman for AFL clubs.

The Western Bulldogs, who are linked to Lual via their Next Generation Academy, are hoping that club will be them. But they’ll only be able to match a bid on him if it comes within the top 40 picks — and considering the post-champs hype around Lual from clubs, it seems highly unlikely he’ll still be on the board by then.

Lual’s Rebels teammate George Stevens was another standout for Vic Country, averaging 19 disposals, nine contested possessions and six tackles. A powerfully-built 189cm prospect, Stevens spent some time in defence, but clubs preferred seeing him as a midfielder where he showed off his cleanliness, decision-making skills and natural ball-winning ability. He plays with presence when he goes on the ball.

East Fremantle’s Koen Sanchez (176cm) pushed up a few draft boards, booting 6.8 and averaging 18 disposals and nine contested possessions. He played in the midfield for two games and inside 50 for the other two – and clubs were particularly thrilled by Sanchez’s output when he played closer to goal as he showed off his powerful kick, goal sense, speed and agility.

Sanchez’s WA teammate Clay Hall also has more AFL clubs interested in him after his consistent carnival where he averaged 27 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s. He returned to WAFL league level on the weekend and impressed with 23 disposals and six marks for Peel Thunder playing alongside Fremantle-listed players. At 188cm, Hall – the son of former Eagles and Cats forward Derek Hall – is an appealing midfielder for AFL clubs considering his size (188cm) and outstanding aerobic capacity.

Western Jets’ Logan Morris is now in the top 20 mix for some clubs after showing off his versatility for Vic Metro. The 192cm prospect played the first two games down back before being swung forward for the final two games. Morris against WA kicked 4.1 from 16 disposals, while he also plucked 11 marks (five contested) as he showed off his elite hands and improved his aerobic capacity. He was well held against Vic Country, but it was a rare slip-up after a strong body of work over the past 18 months.

Northern Knights 204cm ruck Will Green elevated his standing, too, after an excellent carnival for Vic Metro where he showed off his running power and competitiveness. His best game came against Ethan Read and the Allies, working himself into the game and finishing with 11 disposals, four clearances and a game-high 30 hit-outs.

If the Swans are keen on academy prospect Caiden Cleary, they might now have to match a bid in the national draft after the tough inside midfielder starred for the Allies. Cleary thrived alongside McKercher, Sanders and Rogers in the midfield to produce a consistent champs campaign where he increased his disposal count with every game – 24, 28, 29 and 36 – and showed he has big upside.

Other players that scouts thought boosted their prospects were Eastern Ranges winger Caleb Windsor, Stingrays midfielder-defender Harry DeMattia and lively Murray Bushrangers forward Phoenix Gothard, while South Adelaide’s Jack Delean was a constant threat inside 50 — despite South Australia’s poor carnival — to finish with 9.3.

THE LINGERING QUESTIONS

While South Australia (1-3, 72.2%) didn’t officially finish on the bottom of the ladder – WA (1-3, 57.7%) did – there are questions around some of their top prospects.

This time last year, Glenelg’s Ashton Moir was being talked about as a top-five prospect. But it simply has clicked for the exciting and prodigiously talented forward at any level this year, including during the champs where he kicked three goals and averaged 10 disposals from his four games.

Moir has been hindered by a hip issue this year, while some clubs also believe his cause hasn’t been helped by spending so much time deep inside 50. But the reality is Moir now needs a big back-end to his draft year if he wants to remain in the first-round – maybe even second-round – mix.

West Adelaide 193cm defender Will Patton was solid across the carnival as SA’s captain, averaging 17 disposals, six rebound 50s and five marks while going at a tidy 89 per cent efficiency by foot. He entered the year as a possible first-round prospect, but some clubs now believe he could sit outside the top 30.

Scouts said they would also like to see more from North Adelaide midfielder Kane McAuliffe and even Glenelg defender Bodie Ryan over the coming months, despite Ryan being named among SA’s best players in its last two games.

Two Victorian prospects with the same initials are polarising AFL clubs – but for different reasons: Archer Reid and Archie Roberts.

Reid – the brother of Essendon’s Zach Reid – is a tantalising 203cm prospect from the Gippsland Power. He entered this season as a possible top-10 pick but showed inconsistent form at Coates Talent League level heading into the champs. Then after two quiet games against SA and WA, he booted 1.1 from 11 disposals and six marks against the Allies before giving Ollie Murphy and Vic Metro a few headaches on Sunday with two goals from eight disposals and seven marks. He remains in the late first to early second-round mix.

Recruiters are also wrestling with Roberts – a 184cm prospect from the Sandringham Dragons who played as a rebounding defender for Vic Metro. After starring for the AFL Academy against Carlton in May, Roberts found plenty of the ball during the recent national carnival, averaging 21 disposals and six rebound 50s while going at 75 per cent by foot. But some scouts wanted to see him show more defensive accountability.

Foxfooty.com.au understands Roberts wanted to spend some time in the midfield for Metro but ultimately didn’t get the chance due to the team’s on-ball depth. But AFL clubs could see Roberts play on the ball for his school, Haileybury, in the coming weeks.

Subiaco Koltyn Tholstrup also remains a polarising prospect for clubs. He reminded the footy world why he’s in the first-round mix with 1.1 from 20 disposals, eight marks and four inside 50s against SA. It was a strong display across half-forward where he showed off his toughness, power and competitiveness.

But scouts were hoping to see him play more on the ball during the carnival — and that didn’t come to fruition as often. Therefore clubs’ biggest question surrounding Tholstrup remains somewhat unanswered: Where is his best position on the field?

WA captain Riley Hardeman – a speedy, hard-running defender with an improving intercept game from Swan Districts – had some good outings, most notably against SA where he racked up 23 disposals, nine marks and eight rebound 50s. But his 14-disposal outing against Vic Metro, which also saw him go at 55 per cent by foot, also had recruiters questioning whether he’s still in the first-round mix.

Elsewhere, clubs were hoping to see a little bit more out of exciting Rebels prospect Joel Freijah, who kicked three goals and averaged 12 disposals from four games.

And Subiaco’s 179cm forward Lance Collard, who might be WA’s most talented prospect this year, had just the one standout performance – 2.2 against Vic Country – although clubs were sympathetic to the fact Collard had asked to spend more time with his family across recent weeks. Collard is tied to the Eagles via their Next Generation Academy, although West Coast can only match a bid on Collard if it lands outside the top 40 picks.

GET EXCITED FOR THE 2024 CROP

As always, the bottom-agers during the national championships gave the footy world an exciting glimpse into next year’s draft.

South Adelaide’s Sid Draper 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 as he averaged 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven inside 50s and four clearances across four games.

Vic Metro will occupy a lot of the top-end of next year’s draft. Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons/Lions father-son), Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) and Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) found plenty of the footy when they got a chance against the big boys, while the glimpses Nash King (Calder Cannons), Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons), Tom Gross (Oakleigh Chargers), Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) and Luke Trainor (Sandringham Dragons) were exciting.

For Vic Country, GWV Rebels’ Sam Lalor and Oakleigh Chargers’ Finn O’Sullivan gave their team a spark when they were injected onto the field later in the carnival. O’Sullivan, in particular, was eye-catching, booting 2.1 and averaging 17 disposals, eight contested possessions and four inside 50s from three games.