THE THREE leading candidates for this year's No.1 draft pick – Jack Lukosius, Max King and Sam Walsh – all impressed in the NAB AFL Academy's strong win over North Melbourne's VFL side on Saturday.
In the curtain raiser to the Roos and Demons clash at the MCG, the Academy, featuring players eligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft, outplayed their North counterparts to run out 43-point winners.
In a decade of playing against VFL opposition as part of the Academy program, the group has only won one match before, with the 17.12 (114) to 10.11 (71) win highlighting the talent available to clubs in this year's draft pool.
Walsh, the Academy's captain for the contest, furthered his claims as the standout midfielder in the 2018 crop by picking up 22 touches, nine marks, four clearances and also kicking the opening goal of the contest.
Lukosius started in defence and looked comfortable there before spending more time in attack in the second half, and he finished with 12 disposals and two goals, while King kicked 2.2 and flew for his marks against senior opposition.
They weren't the only prospects to make an impact in the victory, with potential Western bulldogs father-son pick Rhylee West, the son of champion midfielder Scott, racking up 16 disposals, nine tackles and five inside 50s in a typically competitive showing.
Isaac Quaynor (14 disposals) offered run from defence, Jackson Hately booted two goals from the midfield and Western Australia's best draft hopeful, Ian Hill, showed great class to kick two majors.
Nick Blakey's precise left-foot kicking, Ben King's work in defence, Chayce Jones' run and drive and Connor Rozee's spark in the forward line were other highlights in an even performance from the Academy under head coach Luke Power.
The Academy started its run with a five-goal first term and didn't let up against the Roos, opening a 15-point break at the main change and then a 22-point lead at three-quarter time. From there they weren't headed, with crafty forward Michael Mummery kicking two final-term goals to seal the comfortable win.
For the Roos, ruckman Braydon Preuss was physical and won the ruck battle as expected, gathering 14 disposals to go with his 31 hit-outs and five clearances, while Mitch Hibberd had 20 touches.
Forward Mason Wood kicked two goals from 15 disposals as he makes a bid to return to the Roos' senior side, first-round pick Ben McKay also showed some glimpses of his talent in the air and tall forward option Nick Larkey chipped in with two clever goals from the boundary line.
NAB AFL ACADEMY 5.3 9.6 12.10 17.12 (114)
NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 3.3 7.3 9.6 10.11 (71)
GOALS
NAB AFL Academy: Taylor 2, Hately 2, Thomas 2, Hill 2, Lukosius 2, Mummery 2, M.King 2, Walsh, Blakey, Rozee
North Melbourne VFL: Wood 2, Holmes 2, Larkey 2, Narrier, Zurhaar, Xerri, Baker
BEST
NAB AFL Academy: Walsh, West, Smith, Jones, B.King, Hately
North Melbourne VFL: Wright, Preuss, Hibberd, Larkey, McKay
