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Sport Nation
Draft watch: Potential No.1 picks steal the show in National Champs
Connor Scanlon • June 10th, 2025 2:53 pm
The future of AFL football was on full display over the weekend, with the Under-18 National Championships featuring two massive games: Western Australia vs Victoria Country, and South Australia vs Victoria Metro.
Western Australia edged out Vic Country by 3 points in a thriller, while South Australia demolished Vic Metro in wet conditions by a staggering 61 points.
With a host of father–son selections, NGA talents, and genuine No.1 pick contenders in action, here’s a breakdown of who starred:
WA (81) vs (78) Vic Country
Western Australia
Fred Rodriguez
WA’s captain and the state’s top midfield talent was immense, collecting 17 disposals, 6 tackles, 4 clearances and 2 crucial goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Hudson Walker
Hudson Walker was the match-winner for WA, sealing the victory with the last kick of the game. The rotational midfielder/forward finished with 16 disposals, 7 tackles and 4 clearances.
Toby Whan
Fremantle NGA prospect Toby Whan was among the best, and showed good balance between inside and outside midfield work with 18 disposals, 4 clearances and a goal.
Cody Curtin
The younger brother of Adelaide’s Dan Curtin, Cody stood tall as WA’s leading goal scorer. The 200cm key forward booted 3 goals, proving that he is a reliable target up forward.
Charlie Banfield
Son of former no.1 draft pick and West Coast legend Drew Banfield, Charlie impressed with 11 disposals, 7 marks and a goal. The Eagles father-son prospect highlighted his strong contested marking ability in a solid performance, proving that he could be a shrewd tall utility selection.
Benji Van Rooyen
The 203cm ruck/forward and younger brother of Melbourne’s Jacob Van Rooyen impressed early with 10 hit-outs, 3 clearances and 9 disposals before injury forced him off the ground.
Victoria Country
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
The potential top 15 pick was Vic Country’s most damaging forward, booting 4 goals and gathering 17 disposals in a best-on-ground performance.
Willem Duursma
The brother of Essendon’s Xavier and North Melbourne’s Zane continues to impress as a potential No.1 pick. He racked up 26 disposals, laid 4 tackles and showed off his aerial skills, taking a host of overhead marks.
Josh Lindsay
Elite midfielder and potential top 10 selection, Josh Lindsay topped the disposal count with 29 touches and took 8 marks, proving that he can win the ball in the contest and around the ground.
Jesse Mellor
Geelong NGA forward prospect, Jesse Mellor, had plenty of opportunities to have a massive game, finishing with 4 scoring shots but only converting one. Despite kicking 3 points, Mellor showed great presence inside 50 and has potential to be the best medium-sized forward from this year’s draft.
Harry Dean
The intercepting Carlton father-son prospect was rock solid down back yet again, taking a game-high 10 marks and reading the play superbly.
Callum Smith:
Grandson of Kevin Bartlett, Callum Smith led the games clearance count with 5 and kicked a stunning running goal from 45 out, showing his grit and composure through the midfield.
SA (100) vs (39) Vic Metro
South Australia
Dyson Sharp
Arguably the best midfielder in the draft pool right now, Sharp delivered a best on ground performance thanks to 32 disposals, 6 clearances and 2 goals in a dominant outing. Sharp is a real chance to go pick 1.
Sam Cumming
Another potential first-rounder, Cumming was tough in the contest and classy around goal. The midfielder racked up 20 disposals, 5 tackles and 2 majors.
Louis Kellaway
The Richmond father-son prospect, son of Duncan, was courageous in defence and composed in midfield. Kellaway spent the game rotating between midfield and defence, finishing with 19 disposals and several strong intercepts.
Aidan Schubert & Mitchell Marsh
After kicking 4 goals each last week, the tall forward pair continued to threaten. Aidan Schubert kicked 3 goals from 4 shots, while Mitchell Marsh had 4 scoring shots but finished with only 1 goal. If not for inaccurate kicking, they could’ve had 4 goals each again.
Zane Peucker
The electric small forward was lively throughout the game, gathering 13 disposals and slotting 2 goals in a dynamic display. If any club is searching for a small forward, this is the kid you want.
Sam Ainsworth
The 198cm ruckman matched potential number 1 draft pick Cooper Duff-Tytler in the ruck. Ainsworth held his own with 13 disposals and 14 hit-outs, making life difficult for Duff-Tytler in the contest.
Vic Metro
Oliver Greeves
The grandson of Geelong great Carji Greeves was best on ground for Vic Metro, collecting 27 disposals, 5 clearances and kicking one of Metro’s few goals. The 191cm big-bodied midfielder proved yet again why he should go very high in the draft.
Cooper Duff-Tytler
Despite facing some hardships, potential number 1 pick ruckman, Cooper Duff-Tytler was still a standout with 18 disposals, 21 hitouts and 6 tackles. Not only did he impose himself on the game physically, but he was able to find the ball around the ground, similar to how Max Gawn plays.
Kye Fincher
St Kilda NGA prospect Kye Fincher had 27 disposals and a game-high 19 kicks, showing that St Kilda could have a great midfield prospect on their hands, that they so desperately need.
Thomas McGuane
The Collingwood father-son hopeful was quieter than usual, finishing with 15 disposals in a subdued performance.
Jack Ison
Carlton NGA prospect, Jack Ison, made all his touch’s count, being directly involved in over half of his team’s goals. Ison proved that he has elite forward IQ, after making the most of Vic Metro’s limited inside 50s.
Hunter Holmes & Tyson Gresham:
AFL sibling pair Hunter Homes, the brother of Geelong superstar Max Holmes and Tyson Gresham, the brother of Essendon’s Jade Gresham, had quite games with only 12 and 8 disposals, respectively, struggling to influence in wet conditions.
2025 National Champoionshipos fixtures
Sun, June 15: South Australia v Western Australia, 12pm ACST, Alberton OvalSun, June 29: Vic Country v South Australia, 10.30am AEST, Venue TBC (Victoria)Sun, June 29: Allies v Western Australia, 1pm AEST, Venue TBC (Victoria)Sat, July 5: Allies v Vic Country, 12.15pm AEST, Ikon ParkSun, July 6: Western Australia v Vic Metro, 12pm AWST, Venue TBC (Western Australia)Sun, July 13: Allies v Vic Metro, 10.30am AEST, Brighton Hones ArenaSun, July 20: Vic Country v Vic Metro, 11am AEST, RSEA Park
Coates Talent League
Alongside the National Championship games, the Coates Talent League also featured a match between the Sandringham Dragons and the Oakleigh Chargers.
The Chargers, who were in the bottom four before this game, defeated the Dragons by 26 points, with Sandringham now having lost 4 of their last 5 matches.
Jack Dalton was Sandringham’s best player, finishing with 35 disposals, 6 inside 50s, and 4 tackles.
Richmond coach Adem Yze’s son, Noah Yze, also impressed for the Chargers once again, collecting 23 disposals, 6 tackles and a goal.
Below are the 5 best performers from Sandringham Dragons vs Oakleigh Chargers, based off fantasy points:
1 – Jack Dalton – 1172 – Jack Poustie – 1013 – Miles Tyrer – 994 – Noah Yze – 885 – Douglas Kerr – 88
