JONTY Scharenberg, the younger brother of Collingwood's Matt, will be one of a number of young players strutting their stuff in the Grand Final curtain-raiser at the MCG on Saturday.
The NAB All-Stars match, broadcast live on AFL.com.au from 9.55am AEST, will also feature Sydney Swans academy midfielder Callum Mills – a player certain to attract a bid in the early stages on draft night.
Jonty Scharenberg, renowned as a stoppage specialist, will line up for the AFL Academy side alongside the best draft prospects from the 2016 draft.
The Glenelg midfielder told AFL.com.au he was eagerly anticipating the challenge of playing on the big stage.
"It's going to be pretty exciting. Not many people get the opportunity to play so I'm looking forward to it," Jonty Scharenberg said.
"I'm sure there'll be lots of people watching and the Allies have some good talent so I'm looking forward to it."
Matt Scharenberg, pick No.6 in the 2013 draft, said he and Jonty have contrasting game styles, although he believes his younger brother is well on track to being drafted.
"Being in Melbourne, I can't get down to as many of his games as I would like," Matt Scharenberg said.
"It's great to see how much he's improved in the last 12 months. His main strength is his ball winning ability. He's very much a contested player and if he can keep adding to that it looks very exciting for him."
Mills will play in just his fourth game of the season when he lines up for the Allies, a team made up of 2015 draft prospects from the division two teams – NSW/ACT, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Recruiters will be keeping an eager eye on Scharenberg and his Academy teammates with the introduction of the trading of future round picks.
AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan provided AFL.com.au with an insight into some of the players to look out for in the match.
The Allies
Eric Hipwood (Queensland)
Has developed enormously across the year. Kicked four goals in a quarter in one of the Championships games and played for Aspley in the NEAFL Grand Final. Plays a bit like Essendon's Joe Daniher and has the ability to play at both ends of the ground.
Kieran Lovell (Tasmania)
Showed an outstanding ability to win the ball throughout the Championships. He's got elite agility and a natural aerobic capacity. Can win the ball inside or outside the contest and has a few little tricks.
Callum Mills (NSW/ACT)
He's had setbacks with shin splints and plantar fasciitis but he's back playing. Has been talked about in the same breath as Sydney Swans young gun Isaac Heeney. He'll be dying to play and remind people how good a player he is at this level. Part of the Swans' academy.
Matthew Kennedy (NSW/ACT)
Last weekend he was playing for Collingullie in the Riverina region of New South Wales and will now be at the MCG on Saturday. Dislocated his knee and as a result failed to play in the Championships, so we're very keen to see how he performs. He is great overhead up forward and can also step into the midfield.
Australian Under-17s/AFL Academy
Ben Ainsworth (Vic Country)
Ben's a small forward in the same mould as Collingwood's Jamie Elliott. He's a jack-in-the-box with a great natural spring. He's brilliant at ground level too. He's a great kick for goal. He kicked 15 goals in the Under-18 championships and earned All Australian honours.
Jonty Scharenberg (South Australia)
Jonty's very different to his brother Matt. He's a stoppage star who gets his hand on the ball all the time and reads the ball better than most. He feeds the ball out really well with his hands. Has played senior football for Glenelg already.
Harrison Macreadie (NSW/ACT)
He's a striking athlete as a key defender. He has dash and exhibits AFL attributes when he accelerates from half back. Played exceptionally well for NSW/ACT in this year's Championships as a bottom-aged player. He will be one of the best tall defenders in the draft in 2016.
Will Brodie (Vic Country)
He's got plenty of class, whether it's his goalkicking up forward or his ability to step through traffic. He's a stoppage expert and a natural footballer. He uses the ball exceptionally well.
Match commentators: Daisy Pearce, David Rodan, Michelle Cowan and Kevin Sheehan