TWO OF the competition's leading recruiters are hopeful No.1 pick contenders Jack Lukosius and Ben King will be pitted against each other when their sides clash in the final round of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Lukosius' South Australia will face off against King's Vic Metro on Wednesday, July 4 in round five of the carnival, in a clash that could decide the division one title if both sides remain unbeaten in their upcoming contests.
Lukosius has kicked seven goals in two games so far this championships, while King kicked five in Metro's win over Western Australia before booting the match-winner against the Allies last week.
But both of the talented talls can also play in defence, and Sydney's general manager of recruiting and list strategy Kinnear Beatson said it was the optimal chance for the match-up to take place.
"If we're meant to be making comparisons and think these guys could be the next Nick Riewoldt or so on, let's see them come up against each other," Beatson told AFL.com.au.
"This is the perfect opportunity to do it. One could play forward for a half and one back and then they could both swap ends together. It makes sense and I'm sure the industry would like to see it happen.
"It's all beneficial for the boys as well, as they are more closely able to monitor where they're at with their own development too."
The AFL's talent department oversees the national championships but does not generally advise the competing clubs on team selection or match-ups.
There was a similar potential match-up that didn't come to fruition in 2015, when the eventual No.1 and No.2 draft choices – defender Jacob Weitering and forward Josh Schache – played in a TAC Cup contest featuring the Dandenong Stingrays and Murray Bushrangers.
However, the pair barely played on each other in that game, with now Western Bulldogs and then Stingray backman Kieran Collins instead taking on Schache.
Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine would also support a Lukosius and King match-up, saying it offers recruiters valuable insights on the top talents.
"I reckon it'd be great and not just for us as clubs but also from a marketing tool as well for the public. If that was communicated out there before the game so people could get along I think it would add an extra element to the game," Hine said.
"It's great to see the better players play on better players, it gives more scope for us to assess each of them against the best."
Lukosius and Vic Country midfielder Sam Walsh are considered the leading candidates for the No.1 pick, but the King twins – Ben and injured brother Max – are also in the mix for the prized selection.
Vic Metro will be aiming to continue its winning run on Sunday, when it faces Vic Country at the MCG in a curtain-raiser to the Collingwood and Carlton clash that afternoon.
