Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre 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 wraps, 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
Transitioning from promising young basketballer to footballer, potential Carlton father-son choice Archi Manton (son of Glenn) was the focal point up forward for Western in their hard-fought win against Northern.
Manton, formerly part of the Melbourne Tigers Under-18 basketball program, has demonstrated substantial development over his 17 NAB League games. Manton has become an imposing presence few can physically compete against and has hit top form in recent weeks, kicking 16 goals over his past four outings.
Against Northern, Manton managed nine disposals and kicked four goals. More a forward at this stage, Manton's physical profile and his strengths give him a feel not dissimilar to Adelaide's Hugh Greenwood. Like the Crow, Manton is a powerful ground ball winner and unmovable when his head is over the ball. He's also difficult to contain inside the forward 50 with his body-on-body strength and high vertical leap.
It would not be unreasonable to think Manton can develop the capability to rotate through the midfield. Still a raw prospect, Manton is most likely to feature late draft or as a rookie if picked. The major question marks at this stage are around his speed and endurance. At this stage he lacks mobility or the capability to cover the ground to the standard of his more highly touted peers.
NAB League
Hitting ground balls at speed, Josh D'Intinosante was Northern's most dangerous player inside forward 50. It felt like he made something happen each time he had ball in hand. The lively forward produced 13 disposals, nine contested possessions and kicked five goals.
Playing just three games in 2018 before missing the remainder of the season with a back injury, Essendon father-son prospect Mason Fletcher (son of Dustin) led up effectively at the football and set up targets in better position. The Calder overager secured 10 disposals, six marks and two score assists, but was wasteful in front of goal with five behinds.
Breaking the lines and moving the ball on aggressively by foot, Dandenong underager Will Bravo provided significant X-factor and won the ball at speed. The damaging midfielder secured 20 disposals, nine contested possessions, seven clearances and seven inside 50s.
St Kilda Next-Generation Academy prospect Bigoa Nyuon continued his strong vein of form for Dandenong. The ruckman did some rare things for someone of his height, moved smoothly, was involved in general play around the ground, gathered the ball cleanly at ground level, ran in support and blocked for teammates. This was all in addition to his reading of the drop of the ball and intercept marking. The versatile tall managed 14 disposals, six marks, 15 hitouts, five inside 50s and one goal. Nyuon is certainly one of this year's most intriguing prospects.
Breaking the lines, demonstrating the speed and agility to get by opponents, winning loose balls and bursting away, Dandenong underager Kobi George was one of his side's most exciting. Playing a high impact per possession game, his kicking and composure with ball in hand was notable. The damaging forward produced 12 disposals and kicked a goal.
Winning first possession, hitting inside 50m targets and providing run with ball in hand, Ryan Byrnes was one of the few who got the ball moving forward with pace for Sandringham in their surprise loss to Eastern. The talented ball winner amassed 28 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six clearances, 11 inside 50s and three score assists.
In an industrious performance, Matthew Rowell played a pivotal role for Oakleigh, particularly during their second half come from behind victory against Gippsland. It was his ability to win first possession apply pressure on the opposition that stood out most. The potential number one selection racked up 29 disposals, 19 contested possessions, eight tackles and seven clearances.
Will Phillips was impressive for Oakleigh, winning first possession at stoppages, crumbing up forward and taking the ball one-touch at ground level. His agility and evasion was also notable. The Oakleigh underager collected 29 disposals, nine contested possessions, five clearances, six inside 50s and one goal.
Oakleigh underager Bailey Laurie played with effort and energy, was evasive with ball in hand, provided second and third tackle efforts and lowered his eyes hitting inside 50m targets. The talented forward managed 16 disposals, seven marks, two goals and two score assists.
High flying underager Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, in customary fashion, flew for everything and was lively around goal. His forward pressure was impressive as was his tackling. The talented forward produced 13 disposals, six marks, three goals and two score assists.
Reminding onlookers that he is one of this year's most damaging players when used forward, Sam Flanders performed to a standard that may have recruiters reconsidering whether he should be among the first few picked in this year's draft. It was his four goal second quarter, giving Gippsland a commanding lead heading into half-time that had everyone talking. Flanders created separation on the lead, read the drop of the ball, was strong overhead and made the most of his opportunities when isolated close to goal. Through the midfield, Flanders was dangerous each time he won possession and burst away explosively from stoppages. The likely top-10 choice produced 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven marks (three contested), seven tackles, nine clearances and kicked four goals.
SANFL
League
Contributing strongly for Norwood in their tightly fought win against Sturt, Dylan Stephens managed 14 disposals, six inside 50s and one goal.
Reserves
Underager Corey Durdin impressed in the forward line for Central Districts in their win over Glenelg with 10 disposals, two goals and nine tackles.
NEAFL
Sydney Academy underager Errol Gulden was one of the Swans' best in their win against Sydney University. He finished with 18 disposals and six tackles.