COLLINGWOOD fans have reason to be excited after the completion of the first round of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships at the weekend with scholarship holder Jarrod Witts putting in an eye-catching performance for the NSW/ACT Rams.

The Pies signed Witts, who turns 19 in September, to a New South Wales scholarship as a 15-year-old.

He just kept growing and growing since then and AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan was impressed with his performance in a team well beaten by Vic Metro in Blacktown on Saturday.

"You couldn't miss the giant, left-footed ruckman," Sheehan said.

"The 207cm lad is a well-proportioned 107kg and at just 18 years of age is fast learning the art of ruckwork.

"Witts had 24 hitouts for the Rams, 12 disposals and grabbed five marks, which certainly would have pleased not just Rams' coach Nick Stevens, but also Collingwood…he seems certain to join them next year.

"After only three years in the game…basketball, rugby and cricket made way for a shot at the AFL.

"Witts first played at St Ives in Sydney in 2008 and is a player to watch."

The first round of the Championships saw division one teams pitted against division two rivals in games that will not count toward the eventual divisional results.

South Australia easily accounted for Queensland by 57 points, but Vic Country and Western Australia were made to work hard for their victories over Tasmania and the Northern Territory respectively.

"A star for WA was medium midfielder Jaeger O'Meara, wearing No.8, who finished with 26 disposals, kicked a terrific team-lifting goal and had a game-high eight tackles for his side," Sheehan said.
   
"The 183cm O'Meara showed a terrific combination of poise and toughness in winning the contested ball as well as leadership for a bottom-aged player in his team's victory, winning best-on-ground honours.

"This young player has got raw vision, awareness and athletic ability and looms as a trade incentive for Greater Western Sydney."

O'Meara was born in the first four months of 1994 which makes him eligible to be drafted then on-traded to another AFL club by GWS at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.