With the 2013 NAB AFL Draft done, we have taken a closer look at 10 players who are shaping as top prospects of next year.
Recruiters already view next year's draft as a stronger group than the 2013 crop particularly in the taller department, with the first round likely to be littered with key-position prospects.
Here are 10 names who you will hear a lot about next year.
Sam Durdin
West Adelaide/South Australia
6/6/96
196cm/87kg
Tall defender/ruckman
Durdin edged himself into South Australia's division-one winning under-18 side and played four games as a 17-year-old. The athletic ruckman, who is just as comfortable in attack, is an excellent overhead mark and reads the game well. Durdin is also versatile, able to switch to a number of positions and have an influence.
Hugh Goddard
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
24/8/96
195cm/92kg
Tall forward/defender
Goddard is a natural competitor who played four games for Vic Country during the national carnival. He fights for the ball in the air and on the ground, and although he has spent a lot of time in attack, he may be best suited to a key defensive post. The cousin of Bomber Brendon, Goddard marks well and has nice left-foot disposal.
Below: Left-footer Hugh Goddard in action for the Geelong Falcons. Picture: AFL Media
Tom Lamb
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
19/10/96
192cm/84kg
Tall forward
Lamb is an athletic tall who can use his aerobic base to run up and down the wing to attract the ball on the lead. He's strong overhead, and competes at ground level. Injury stopped him from participating in Vic Country's under-18 program but he has a lot of talent and can play at either end of the ground.
Jake Lever
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
5/3/96
191cm/82kg
Tall defender
Aggressive and tough key defender who thrives on stopping his opponent and crashing into a few bodies on the way through. Lever is physical and will often leave his opponent to run at the ball, take it in his stride and create a rebound. Vocal and constructive, Lever captained Vic Metro in one of its under-18 games this year as a bottom-aged player.
Patrick McCartin
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
19/4/96
192cm/90kg
Tall forward
McCartin is a leading and marking key forward who keeps on presenting at the ball, and a lot of the time ends up with it. He has the knack of finding space, and he marks strongly on the lead and in contested situations. McCartin kicked five goals for Vic Country in its loss to Western Australia at the under-18 championships, before going on to star for the Falcons in the TAC Cup.
Christian Petracca
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
4/1/96
185cm/96kg
Medium forward
A late inclusion to the AIS-AFL Academy on the back of his stellar finals series for the Eastern Ranges. A mid-sized forward, Petracca has some spring in his legs, he's strong over the ball and knows his way around goal. Petracca has tricks, and he adds life to games he's in, doing some unpredictable, riskier things that tend to come off.
Jarrod Pickett
South Fremantle/Western Australia
18/8/96
178cm/76kg
Small defender/forward
Pickett has brilliant pace, the essential part of his game. He loves to take things on, tuck the ball under his arm, and go for it. As a defender he can set up attack through that creativity and classy foot disposal, and near goal he's also smart and skillful. The indigenous West Australian was named Australia's best player at under-17 level against New Zealand earlier this year.
Clem Smith
Perth/Western Australia
3/2/96
177cm/67kg
Small defender
There's not much of Smith but that doesn't matter: he's a powerful, compact player who shapes games. The small defender loves to stream out of defence and use his lightning pace and fierce attack on the ball. He averaged 19 disposals during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, and was named an All Australian. Smith is tough and hard around the contests and can lay a solid bump.
Lachie Weller
Broadbeach/Gold Coast Academy/Queensland
23/2/96
180cm/71kg
Midfielder
The smooth midfielder did well at under-18 level this year and is expected to go even better next season. Weller is a neat kick, knows how play is going to unfold, and has time with the ball. The brother of former Gold Coast midfielder Mav Weller, the 17-year-old has played with Gold Coast's academy side but has not spent enough time in Queensland for the Suns to have priority access to him.
Peter Wright
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
8/9/96
201cm/94kg
Tall forward/ruckman
One of the standouts of next year's crop, Wright has the special blend of standing above 200cm and still being able to play as a marking, leading goalkicker. Around goal he is hard to stop, and he converts most opportunities, be it a set-shot or in general play. A back injury halted his development slightly but he remains one of the most impressive in the 2014 pool.
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
