The 2007 NAB AFLUnder-18 Championships are being played from June 23 to July 11.
Throughout the event,afl.com.au will highlight the 10 players that stood out after each block ofmatches.
These assessments aremade purely on their performance in the carnival – regardless of their draftingprospects and eligibility in 2007. This block has been assessed after matcheswere played in Geelong and Carlton.
On Thursday, DivisionTwo matches were played in sloppy and wet conditions at Skilled Stadium in Geelong. Northern Territory easily accounted for Tasmaniaby 45 points, while NSW/ACT thrashed Queenslandby 62 points.
On Friday, the DivisionOne matches were transferred to MC Labour Park, due to heavy ground conditionsat Skilled Stadium. Western Australiacontinued its winning ways with a 43-point win over Vic Metro, while VicCountry opened its account with a 26-point victory over South Australia.
Player ratings:
1 – Rhys Palmer – Western Australia
Born: 13 February 1989, Height: 180cm, Weight: 76kg, Club: East Fremantle
Palmer has been unbelievable in Western Australia's two wins and wasbest-on-ground again against Vic Country. The dashing midfielder won 36disposals and booted a goal, while 11 times he sent the ball inside 50. He isthe red-hot favourite for the Larke Medal.
2 – Chris Masten – Western Australia
Born: 2 May 1989, Height: 179cm, 78kg, Club: East Fremantle
Masten has now won 55 disposals in two matches, afterracking up 29 touches against Vic Country in yet another outstandingperformance. A highly touted prospect come November, his run through the middlewas again on show for the Sandgropers.
3 – Cale Morton – Western Australia
Born: 18 January 1990, Height: 192cm, Weight: 75kg, Club: Claremont
Impressed yet again, winning another 24 disposals – the sameas his effort against Vic Metro – while he also took 10 marks and sent the ballinside 50 on six occasions against Country. The winger also chipped in with twogoals in heavy conditions.
4 – Mitchell Farmer –Vic Metro
Born: 4 January 1989, Height: 179cm, Weight: 76kg, Club:Calder Cannons
Farmer shone as a small rebounding defender in Vic Metro'sfirst win of the championships. He sent the ball out of the back half eighttimes, while he collected 20 touches for the match. He also plucked seven marksand gained seven loose-ball gets.
5 – Cyril Rioli – Northern Territory
Born: 14 June 1989, Height: 178cm, Weight: 74kg, Club: StMarys
The nephew of the great Maurice Rioli and Michael Long, CyrilRioli is the Northern Territory'sfinest talent in this year's draft pool and looms as a high pick. Despite justrecently returning from a collarbone injury, 'Junior' shone in midfield against Tasmania.
6 – David Myers – WesternAustralia
Born: 30 June 1989, Height: 190cm, Weight: 85kg, Club: Perth
One of the most impressive defenders so far in this year'schampionships, Myers provided plenty of rebound and drive against Vic Country.He finished with 31 disposals – second only to Palmer – while he also laid fivetackles.
7 – Tayte Pears – WesternAustralia
Born: 24 March 1990, Height: 192cm, Weight: 90kg, Club: East Perth
Like teammate Myers, Pears again caught the eye with hisstrong performance out of defence. He backed up his efforts against Vic Metroto claim 17 touches and seven marks against Country. He also had four reboundsfrom defensive 50.
8 – Luke Potts – Vic Metro
Born: 25 February 1989, Height: 177cm, Weight: 68kg, Club:Dandenong Stingrays
Lightly built, the small forward reveled in the wetconditions, booting four goals – the best effort by any division one player on Friday. He sent the ball inside 50 on seven occasions and finished with 18possessions in an impressive display.
9 – Daniel Rich – WesternAustralia
Born: 7 June 1990, Height: 185cm, 77kg, Club: Subiaco
Although ineligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft, Rich willbe one to watch out for in 2008. A beautiful kicker of the ball, the talentedmidfielder/flanker again showed his class, winning 19 touches and laying seventackles against Vic Country.
10 – Ranga Ediriwickrama – NSW/ACT
Born: 10 August 1990, Height: 179cm, Weight: 71kg, Club:Pennant Hills
Still only 16 years old, the midfielder/forward of SriLankan origin was one of NSW/ACT's best in sloppy conditions at SkilledStadium, yet it was appropriate he shone at the Cattery, considering he is ascholarship holder with Geelong.
