AFL Draft 2023: Standouts from under-18 championships Vic Metro vs WA, Vic Country v Allies

32 disposals, eight clearances, two goals and 174 ranking points. This young gun had a day out in the Under-18 championships, and the similarities to the Dons skipper are very apparent.

Colby McKercher of the Allies in action during the 2023 AFL National Championships match between Vic Country and the Allies at RSEA Park on July 09, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The next wave of talent was on show again in the Under-18 championships over the weekend.

Recruiters are keeping a close eye on the young guns that could be joining their club on draft night this year.

Who stood out? Who struggled?

Find out in the scouting notes below.

VIC METRO V WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Logan Morris snagged four goals for Vic Metro. Picture: Getty Images

LOGAN MORRIS (VIC METRO)

16 disposals, 11 marks (5 contested), 12 score involvements, 4 goals 1 behind

The 192cm Western Jets product had played at the defensive end in Vic Metro’s first two matches of the championships but switched to his favoured position in attack against Western Australia and made a major impact. Morris is a skilful one-touch player and his overhead marking was a feature throughout the day, along with his accurate set shot goalkicking. Boasting a good vertical leap and strong athleticism, Morris has been likened to St Kilda’s Tim Membrey and is fast shooting up club draft boards.

NICK WATSON (VIC METRO)

13 disposals, 3 marks, 1 clearance, 12 score involvements, 5 goals 3 behinds

A 170cm small forward, Watson set this game alight in the first half with his nous around the goals. He booted three goals in the first quarter alone and had five majors from five kicks by halftime. Watson has shown his ability in multiple positions this year but is best used in attack, where he can show off plenty of tricks in his bag. The Eastern Ranges product looks up to Jack Ginnivan and Tom Papley and has now kicked 10 goals across three championships matches.

William Brown put on a damaging display from midfield. Picture: Getty Images

WILLIAM BROWN (VIC METRO)

22 disposals (10 contested), 3 marks, 5 clearances, 13 score involvements

Vic Metro’s captain had his best game of the championships so far with a strong performance through the midfield. A tall midfielder at 194cm, Brown was in the thick of the action throughout the day and was clean in traffic and showed a nice side step on multiple occasions. He missed three shots on goal but still managed to be damaging forward of centre and set up teammates for scores of their own.

DANIEL CURTIN (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

27 disposals (11 contested), 5 marks, 8 clearances, 7 tackles

A highly-rated key defender, Curtin has moved into a midfield role at stages this year and again impressed when he spent time onball against Vic Metro. He scored more than 100 ranking points for the fourth time in as many games in the championships on his way to securing Western Australia’s MVP award.

KOEN SANCHEZ (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

13 disposals (7 contested), 5 marks, 2 clearances, 3 goals 3 behinds

A 176cm small forward, Sanchez capped a strong national championships with three goals against Vic Metro. He showed good speed and forward nous and was a constant threat inside-50. He is another player who is climbing up draft boards.

VIC COUNTRY V ALLIES

Harley Reid was quieter than usual. Picture: Getty Images

HARLEY REID (VIC COUNTRY)

14 disposals, 7 inside-50s, 1 mark, 6 clearances, 2 score involvements

After racking up 26 disposals and two goals against Western Australia the previous week, Reid had a much quieter game against the Allies. Reid started in the midfield, before going on to rotate with Zane Duursma as a deep forward. The No. 1 draft pick fancy worked hard but struggled to impact the way he often has this year.

FINN O’SULLIVAN (VIC COUNTRY)

20 disposals (11 contested), 3 clearances, 5 score involvements, 3 tackles

A 181cm midfielder from the Oakleigh Chargers, O’Sullivan started his day with a first quarter hanger and went on to rack up 20 disposals and be Vic Country’s top-ranked player for the match. His ball use was clean and he pushed forward to kick a nice goal from a tight angle in the final quarter. A bottom-age player, O’Sullivan is not eligible to be drafted until 2024 but shapes as an exciting player to watch.

Colby McKercher was a standout for the Allies. Picture: Getty Images

COLBY MCKERCHER (ALLIES)

32 disposals (15 contested), 8 clearances, 2 marks, 8 score involvements, 2 goals

The classy Tasmanian midfielder was seemingly everywhere as he won the third-most disposals of any player on the ground. McKercher got it done on the inside and the outside, with his clearance work being particularly impressive and his ability to push forward and kick two lovely goals in the third quarter capping a big game. He has been likened to being a quicker version of Essendon’s Zach Merrett and the similarities are certainly visible.

JED WALTER (ALLIES)

11 disposals, 6 marks (1 contested), 7 score involvements, 2 goals 3 behinds

Talked about as a potential bolter to be the No. 1 draft pick, Walter had an almost day. The power key forward led well and took some strong marks, but managed only two goals from five shots. That said, it made for 11 goals for Walter from his four national championships games. The Gold Coast Suns look like snagging a very good player from their Academy in November’s national draft.

CAIDEN CLEARY (ALLIES)

36 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances, 7 tackles, 6 score involvements

Sydney is keeping a close eye on their Academy prospect, who looks like he could slot straight in at the Swans. Cleary is a tough bull in the contest but also works incredibly hard into space on the outside. Cleary had 14 of his touches in a monster third term, helping the Allies change their fortunes after they went into halftime trailing by six points.

VIC METRO V WESTERN AUSTRALIA RANKING POINTS

VIC COUNTRY V ALLIES RANKING POINTS

FIRST-ROUND DRAFT BOLTER MAKES HIS MOVE

Vic Metro small forward Nick Watson produced his best performance of the AFL under-18 national championships with a stunning five-goal haul against Western Australia on Sunday.

Recruiters watched on in awe at Moorabbin as Watson lit up the opening half of the match, with all five of his goals coming before the main break.

The 170cm small forward, who shapes as a top-five draft prospect this year, showed cat-like reflexes, an ability to read the ball well in the air and impressive goalkicking nous as he helped lead his side to an 81-point thumping of Western Australia.

Watson finished the match with 5.3 from 13 disposals, while also recording 12 score involvements and three marks.

The latest haul came after Watson had kicked five goals across his first two matches of the championships.

He was not the only player to impress in the Vic Metro forward line, with marking key forwards Logan Morris and Nate Caddy also starring.

Nick Watson kicked five goals for Vic Metro. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Morris, who had played in defence during Vic Metro’s first two matches, recorded 16 disposals, 11 marks and kicked four goals as he featured in attack throughout the match.

Caddy, the nephew of former Richmond premiership player Josh, logged 11 disposals and kicked three goals, with some of his overhead marking particularly catching the eye.

Key defender Daniel Curtin (27 disposals) was again among Western Australia’s best and took out his side’s MVP award following what was its last match of the championships.

Meanwhile, No. 1 draft fancy Harley Reid was unusually quiet as his Vic Country side fell to the Allies by 11 points on Sunday.

Logan Morris booted four goals on Sunday. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos

Nate Caddy stretches for a mark. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Reid rotated between the midfield and deep forward roles but finished with just 14 disposals.

Colby McKercher (32 disposals, eight clearances, two goals) was again prolific through the midfield for the Allies, while exciting key forward and Gold Coast Academy prospect Jed Walter kicked two goals to finish the championships with 11 majors from four matches.

The Allies went undefeated through the tournament, having previously never won more than one match in any other year.

Vic Metro and Vic Country will face off in the final match of the championships next Sunday at Princes Park.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Standouts from under-18 championships Vic Metro vs WA, Vic Country v Allies