The National U18's is starting later this month and considering we'll most likely end up with a top 4 pick I thought it would be a good idea to start thread about it and just wanted to put our collective heads together and find out who are the ones to watch from each state. Feel free to add any players I've missed worthy of discussion because I am by no means an expert in this field.

Once again the Vic teams look like they'll be the teams to beat, metro looking stronger.

Vic Metro

Kreuzer - Big, agile ruckman who can go forward. Considered by many to be the best ruckman for many years.

Cotchin - Quick, great skills, capable of getting the pill himself. Touted as the best midfield in the draft and up their with Gibbs, Murphy etc.

Grimes - Big bodied workhorse type midfielder (similiar to McLean I guess)

Bongetti - Can play forward or back

Vic Country

Henderson - Quality CHF but I think is injured and may not play

Tarrant - Big bodied CHF

McEvoy - Athletic ruckman, can go forward and kick goals

SA

Greenwood - Tough, strong, skillful and can get his own ball. Currently playing for Port's first team and being named in the best.

Ebert - Don't know much about him, but others have said he's very good.

WA

Sampey - Quick and a good mark

Masten - Very good mid, possibly top 3 mids in the draft, but is 179cm. Fast.

Tas

Bellchambers - Very strong overhead mark, kicks lots of goals.

Kreuzer - Big, agile ruckman who can go forward. Considered by many to be the best ruckman for many years.

I know very little about it, but I reckon that's what the experts said about Leuenberger last year.

I know very little about it, but I reckon that's what the experts said about Leuenberger last year.

haha, very true. Kreuzer however, has alot of people saying he could very easily be the first pick, not quite the same situation as Leuenberger. Just depends who has the first pick and what they need most.

We will probably end up with pick 3-4 (seeing as carlton will win 5 games this year)...

if Kruiser is still available by our pick, then we simply must take him. While White has been very good this year, he only has 2 seasons left in him. P.Johnson has proved a very good 2nd ruckman, with his pinch hit ability in the ruck, and his good ability aorund the ground...however i dont see him as ever becoming a number1 ruck. He will always be a very good backup ruckman who can play around the ground... Neaves is still learning and could be anything and Jamar is GAWN.

i think atm we are [censored] after white retires, and picking up Kruiser will just be the perfect remedy. he is 200cm, meaning he isnt too tall. He is still agile enough to become a great key position player. And at 200cm he is a good height for a ruckman. His rucking still are considered top notch...

Honestly we wil not get a better opportunity to find a replacement 10 year ruckman for White, and Kruiser will become a champ.

youd have to think the Tiges will have 1st look...and they need a ruck.. ( amongst other things..lol )

At this stage I want Cotchin with our first pick, regardless of where we end up. This kid is all class, there's alto of depth for KPP's in this draft, concentrate on them with our other picks.

The U/18's started this weekend with Div 2 kicking things off. Tassie beat Qld and NSW defeated NT.

Tasmania 17.14 (116) defeated Queensland 13.13 (91)

Goals: TAS: Bowden 5, Cornelius 5, Joseph, Collier, Bellchambers, Mihocek, O'Garey, Murphy, Grima.QLD: Stewart 5, Zorko 2, Savage, Rolfe, Davis, Enright, Mulligan, Jones.

Best: TAS: Bowden, O'Brien, Bellchambers, Grima, Williams, Cornelius. QLD: Gibson, Stewart, Headland, Whitecross, Daye.

Venue: SCG

NSW/ACT 20.11- (131) defeated Northern Territory 12.11 (83)

Goals: NSW/ACT: Walker 5, McGregor 4, McIntyre 3, Colvin 2, Davis 2, Cleaver, Terlich, Drum, Davies.NT: Rolfe 3, Oliver, Fittock, Stokes, C. Rioli, Motlop, Campbell, Farmer, Calma-Holt, Shannon Rioli.

Best: NSW/ACT: McGregor, Bird, Wilson, Woods, Davis, Overs. NT: Fittock, Oliver, Sharples, C Rioli, Snowdon, Stokes.

Hopefully we'll have alot of good picks with this draft, very strong for ruckman and midfielders.

youd have to think the Tiges will have 1st look...

BB59, even the most ardent of optimists would suggest you may have to think again.

The problem we have every year with this sort of discussion is that some people form opinions from what they read on the various websites and suddenly, the reputations of some young prospects get blown out of all proportion. I think it's preferable that we get our information from people who have seen the players in question rather than rely on second and third hand opinions.

Here's an article from the AFL site by AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan who runs through some of the players most likely to catch the eye of spectators and clubs alike - FOOTY STARS OF THE FUTURE.

Have coached juniors against cotchin ABSOLUTE GUN>

The problem we have every year with this sort of discussion is that some people form opinions from what they read on the various websites and suddenly, the reputations of some young prospects get blown out of all proportion. I think it's preferable that we get our information from people who have seen the players in question rather than rely on second and third hand opinions.

Here's an article from the AFL site by AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan who runs through some of the players most likely to catch the eye of spectators and clubs alike - FOOTY STARS OF THE FUTURE.

It's rare that a player gains underserved big wraps.

we need #1 ruckman to develop

#2 pacey midfielder

#3 maybe another big kpp in defence

We really need another ruckman, we are still unsure about neaves and the rest of our rucks aren't top notch.