Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.
As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.
Aside from the weekly wrap, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month.
And as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.
Player Focus
The tallest player in the TAC Cup, Oakleigh overage ruckman and key forward Ned Reeves, was one of the weekend's surprise packets. Through the ruck, the 207cm, 96kg bigman was occasionally overpowered body-on-body by the more powerful, overage ruckman Lloyd Meek, who stands at an imposing 202cm, 104kg. But Reeves in his own right proved effective with his reach and ability to tap the ball down to the advantage of his teammates.
While capable through the ruck, what was most noteworthy with Reeves was his work as a key forward. In exceptionally windy conditions, Reeves timed his leads well and regularly read the drop of the ball which other forwards struggled to do in the conditions. He also showed the capacity to take marks overhead at full stretch, which was impressive.
One unexpected but pleasing play from Reeves was a tackle which seconds later he recovered from, before smothering an opponent's kick.
With 16 disposals, 15 contested possessions, four marks (three contested), 21 hit-outs, four clearances and two goals, the signs are there to suggest scope to develop. While only currently a draft smokey, Reeves' stocks are improving and he's an outside chance to land on an AFL list come November.
TAC Cup
The big news is the decision of projected top five pick, 195cm key forward Will Sutherland, to pursue a cricket career.
Fellow possible top-five draft pick, midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke, had team highs of 21 disposals and 14 contested possessions for Dandenong in their win. He also took four marks (two contested) to go with three clearances and two goals.
Earning best-on-ground honours, key defender Oscar Clavarino, continues to go from strength to strength. He collected 20 disposals and 11 marks (three contested). If Clavarino continues to build on his recent form, he may enter the first-round mix.
While he will need to continue to work on his kicking, with only nine of his 23 kicks effective, James Worpel was one of Geelong's most impactful midfielders with 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six tackles, four clearances, six inside 50s and one score assist.
Cassidy Parish was Geelong's other dominant midfielder with 33 disposals, 16 contested possessions, five marks (one contested), five tackles, eight clearances, one goal and one score assist.
Lachlan Noble, 171cm, 68kg, was impactful up forward for Geelong with 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven marks (one contested), four goals and four score assists.
Luke Dahlhaus lookalike Gryan Miers was the other difference maker up forward for Geelong with 21 disposals, 12 marks (two contested), five inside 50s, five goals and one score assist.
Lachlan Fogarty was Western's best with his play through the midfield. He accumulated 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, five tackles, four clearances, 10 inside 50s and one score assist.
Named Eastern's best, projected top 10 selection Adam Cerra was exceptional with 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 10 marks (three contested) and three goals, although he was wasteful with five behinds. With eight scoring shots, it's something to get excited about and an encouraging sign from the ball-winning midfielder.
Impressing with his all-around midfield play, Aidan Domic, 185cm, 81kg used the ball efficiently and was clean at ground level. He contributed 21 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven marks and one goal.
After some forgettable moments early on, Jordan Johnston worked his way into the match to become one of Greater Western Victoria's best players. Johnston had an impact each time he was near the ball. He gathered 21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven marks (three contested), five tackles, four clearances and one goal.
Impressing with his evasiveness and tackling, underager Thomas Berry was one of Greater Western Victoria's more influential players with 20 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five tackles and two goals.
Intercepting well and using the ball efficiently with 11 of his 12 kicks effective, Flynn Appleby, 186cm, 80kg, was impressive in blustery conditions. He collected 17 disposals, nine contested possessions, five marks, five tackles and five rebound 50s.
Overage ruckman Lloyd Meek was at his imposing best, both at ruck contests and in marking contests. He gathered 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, six marks (one contested), 23 hit-outs, five clearances, four inside 50s and two score assists.
Looking a class above skill-wise and winning the ball at the coalface, Jack Higgins, started as a forward before shifting up through the midfield. He collected 30 disposals, 20 contested possessions, seven tackles, 11 clearances, two goals and three score assists.
Having an impact when he pushed through the midfield with his contested-ball winning, Toby Wooller, who is just as capable as a key forward, playing predominantly through the midfield. He gathered, 26 disposals, 17 contested possessions, five tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and two score assists.
Named Oakleigh's best, Ed Richards, 184cm, 77kg, showed several terrific signs through the midfield. Richards gathered 21 disposals, 11 contested possessions and five tackles. His pace, clean hands and evasiveness in traffic were highlights.
Impacting the game up forward with his ground-ball winning, Charlie Thompson, each time he had the ball felt like a threat to hit the scoreboard. He collected 21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five inside 50s, two goals and three score assists.
Underager Daniel Scala, 174cm, 76kg, was named one of Oakleigh's best despite only winning seven disposals. His eight contested possessions, six tackles and five goals were important. Time and time again, in contests around goal, Scala won the ball when in dispute, kicking each of his goals from around the tip of the goal square. Key forward man mountain Daniel Johnston was at his imposing best up forward with 15 disposals, six marks (three contested), 15 hit-outs and six goals.
After a consistent showing during the AFL Under-18 Championships, overager Ben Paton, 185cm, 78kg, continued his strong form. Against Calder he gathered 23 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five marks and five tackles running off half-back. Paton is one of this year's appealing rebounding defenders with his run from defence and clean skills features of his game.
Earning best-on-ground honours, versatile key position player Noah Balta collected a whopping 31 disposals, 17 contested possessions, seven marks (two contested), eight hitouts, four clearances, 10 inside 50s, three behinds and four score assists.
Charlie Constable's draft stocks are rising on the back of a 29 disposal, 14 contested possession, seven mark, 11 clearance and three goal performance. The 190cm, 83kg, midfielder was a consistent performer through the Under-18 Championships and has shown this year that he can find the football and use it effectively. The key takeaway from this game was his impact at stoppages. If he has more games where he wins a lot of the ball in contested situations and keeps winning clearances, Constable can be a first-round choice at seasons end.
Continuing his consistent midfield play, Andrew Brayshaw accumulated 25 disposals, 16 contested possessions, eight tackles, six clearances, six inside 50s, one goal and four score assists.
Talented both as a forward and midfielder, Brent Daniels was arguably Bendigo's most prolific at stoppages with 26 disposals, nine contested possessions, seven clearances, four inside 50s and one score assist.
SANFL
League
Underage midfielder Izak Rankine looks like South Australia's most ready-to-go prospect. He collected 16 disposals, four marks and five inside 50s against Adelaide. Rankine is one prospect clubs will have to wait until the 2018 draft to select. Signs suggest he will be worth the wait.
Reserves
Midfielder accumulator Stefan Giro continued his consistent play with 25 disposals and six tackles.
Key defender Harry Petty, following on from a promising Under-18 Championships, gathered 15 disposals and eight marks.
Powerful midfielder Mitch Crowden again performed strongly with 25 disposals, five tackles, five inside 50s and one goal.
Tall utility Charlie Ballard gathered 16 disposals, six marks, four inside 50s and one goal.
Under-18s
Jakob Heitmann, 185cm, 81kg, was ultra-impressive through the West Adelaide midfield with 34 disposals, 11 marks, six tackles, eight inside 50s and two goals.
Adam Trenorden, 175cm, 66kg, accumulated with 37 disposals, 10 marks, six tackles and seven rebound 50s.
WAFL
League
In his first league game, key defender Aaron Naughton didn't look out of place. He gathered 16 disposals and seven marks.
Reserves
Overage midfielder Brayden Ainsworth again performed strongly with 25 disposals, five marks, five tackles, five inside 50s and one goal.
Colts
Bettering his 39 disposals in Round 16, Jake Patmore backed that performance up with 42 disposals, five marks and seven inside 50s.
Callan England continued his consistent midfield play with 29 disposals, eight inside 50s and two goals.
NEAFL
Gold Coast Academy midfielder Jacob Dawson, 182cm, 80kg, fit in well for Gold Coast with 27 disposals, 11 marks and two clearances.
Contributing well for GWS, Nicholas Shipley, 190cm, 90kg, from the GWS Academy was solid through the midfield with 20 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles, three clearances and one goal.