Melbourne might well have improved significantly in 2014 and that improvement might continue over the rest of the season but the drafts and trading period at the end of the season will still be important as part of sustaining the benefits going into the future.

To that end the AFL Under 18 Championships which begin at the weekend will be a significant pointer to the type of player the club will be looking at in November. The first game is at Visy Park on Sunday morning.

The fixture -

DIVISION ONE

Round 1

Vic Country vs Vic Metro @ Visy Park May 18, 11am

South Australia vs Western Australia @ AAMI Stadium May 24, 12pm

Round 2

Western Australia vs Vic Metro @ Medibank Stadium May 31, 11am

South Australia vs Vic Country @ AAMI Stadium June 1, 11.30am

Round 3

Western Australia vs South Australia @ Medibank Stadium June 7, 11am

Vic Metro vs Vic Country @ Visy Park June 8, 11am

Round 4

South Australia vs Vic Metro @ AAMI Stadium June 14, 11am

Western Australia vs Vic Country @ Fremantle Oval June 15, 11am

Round 5

Vic Metro vs Western Australia @ Simonds Stadium June 27, 12.35pm

Vic Country vs South Australia @ Simonds Stadium June 27, 2.35pm

Round 6

Vic Country vs Western Australia @ Etihad Stadium July 2, 5.35pm

Vic Metro vs South Australia @ Simonds Stadium July 3, 1.15pm

DIVISION TWO

Round 1

Tasmania vs Queensland @ Blacktown June 21, 10.30am

NSW/ACT vs Northern Territory @ Blacktown June 21, 12.50pm

Round 2

Northern Territory vs Queensland @ Visy Park June 28, 12pm

NSW/ACT vs Tasmania @ Visy Park June 28, 2.15pm

Round 3

Queensland vs NSW/ACT @ Etihad Stadum July 2, 3.35pm

Northern Territory vs Tasmania @ Simonds Stadium July 3, 11am

Thanks WJ.

Just an update, Sunday's Metro v Country game has been moved to the Trevor Barker Oval due to issues w/ Visy Park.

Look forward to seeing the next crop.

Keep a look out for the NSW/ACT team this year - they knocked off Vic Country in a 'praccy match' a few weeks back impressive form in anyones languuage.