IT WAS half-time of Gippsland Power's qualifying final against the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League, and there was one name on the lips of every recruiter at Ikon Park.
Sam Flanders, in a quarter, had rocketed himself into top-five contention at this year's NAB AFL Draft.
>> The 2019 NAB AFL Draft runs from November 27-28. Follow all the latest news in the draft hub
The Gippsland Power midfielder had pieced together one of the standout terms of the under-18 season, booting four goals in a brilliant display.
Flanders' season was consistent, full of very good games. But this was its peak, particularly coming against the highly-touted Chargers, including likely No.1 and 2 picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
"That quarter would probably be the best quarter I've played in a couple of years. It made it a lot more special because it was against good opposition, but you're coming into the game and you hear about big match-ups so to perform was good," Flanders told AFL.com.au.
"To show what I could do against them was really good. It was one of those quarters where everything was happening for me and I couldn't really do anything wrong."
Gippsland lost that day in a tight contest, but Flanders was the talk of clubland.
"It was the great game we were waiting for from him," one recruiter said.
"He had a really good season, and he was more consistent, but perhaps he didn't have as many big highlights as he would've liked. That quarter really showed what he can do."
Consistency became Flanders' mantra in 2019. The 18-year-old played mainly as a half-forward last season, where his spring, power and nous in tight helped make an impact around goal.
This year saw him take those traits into the midfield and the former promising basketballer, who gave away that sport after playing for Victoria at under-16s level, flourished.
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He averaged 23 disposals and five tackles a game for Gippsland, and also won All Australian honours at the national carnival, after averaging 23 disposals and five clearances for Vic Country.
"I started off the carnival pretty slowly but to make the team at the end I was pretty rapt with that," he said.
"Moving more into the midfield was massive for me. Last year I played more as a forward so that consistency to be able to play more in the midfield and play better games was good."
Flanders is a player who enjoys being in the thick of the action. He's aggressive, combative and can be in the face of opposition.
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"I'm an explosive player, and sometimes I can play a little on the edge. There's pros and cons to that," he said.
"I probably get reported every now and then. Sometimes I can let my emotions get to me, so I'm just trying to control that the best I can.
"If I didn't play like that, and didn't have that emotion and care for the game and to play well, then I wouldn't be able to actually play consistently and go well."
His athletic blend is also of appeal to clubs, who are weighing up where he sits inside the first 10 picks on draft night.
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Flanders' performances at the Draft Combine highlighted his athletic appeal, and he finished in the top 10 for the standing vertical jump (69cm), running vertical jump (88cm), agility (8.206 seconds) and in the Yo-Yo endurance test (level 21.3).
But it is Flanders' knack of impacting a game – be it a high mark, a bullocking passage in the midfield, a fend-off and run, or a goal from nothing – that stacks up most.
"I have the ability to change a game off my own boot and I think that separates me from a lot of kids in the draft," he said.
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