THEY are yet to learn whether they will actually make the AFL, but already they carry some of the most recognisable names in Australian football.

Teenagers Brad Ebert and Cyril Rioli, two of the stars of the current NAB AFL Under-18 Championships who will be up for grabs in this November's NAB AFL Draft, have the talent to suggest they will make the grade.

But for those who have watched their famous forebears in action, the expectations upon them will far exceed those on most juniors with AFL prospects.

Speedy Northern Territory defender Rioli could hardly come from more celebrated lineage, boasting both Richmond great Maurice Rioli and Essendon champion Michael Long as uncles.

"I've had a few people come up and ask me 'Are you going to be as good as them?'" he said of the two Norm Smith medallists.

"I can't really say that, but I'll try my best to be like them, just follow in their footsteps.

"Hopefully I can try to do what they've done in the past."

Mirroring their achievements is asking a lot, but Rioli says his family's history is more of an inspiration than a burden, although he notes it does draw the spotlight.

"It just really gets your attention," he said.

"People say 'He's related to Maurice, you want to watch out for him'."

Rioli is hoping to be picked up by Essendon, but says he is willing to play anywhere to fulfil his AFL dream.

Ebert, the South Australian captain, boasts a similarly impressive pedigree.

The son of former Port Adelaide Magpies player Craig Ebert, he is also a nephew of Russell Ebert, the AFL Hall of Fame member who played 391 games for the Magpies, winning a record four Magarey Medals.

Russell Ebert's son Brett is already carrying on the family's Port Adelaide tradition with the Power, where he was a father-son recruit.

Craig Ebert fell just short of notching the 200 games the Magpies needed to allow the Power to claim his son under the same rule.

"I do want to continue the family history at Port Power," Ebert said.

"But I know that personally I can continue the history playing at any other club as well, so it doesn't really matter."

The impressive midfielder-forward, who is already playing senior football with the Magpies in the SANFL, said having family members to tap for guidance helped him towards his AFL ambition.

"You get great coaching from your parents and your family as well," he said.

"It helps a lot having them there speaking to you and just improving your game."

But, for now, he says he is ignoring the raft of recruiters on the sidelines and just trying to play good team football.

"You know that they're all there, but I really put it out of my head and hopefully most of the boys in the team do too, because it can distract people, I suppose," Ebert said.

"It doesn't distract us, but you see them hanging around the huddles and that, they just want to see what you're like really."