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
Winning best-on-ground honours in Norwood's 48-point win against Adelaide, 18-year-old Jackson Callow played like a man among boys in the SANFL and may be the first key forward taken in this year's mid-season draft.
Following a three-goal performance, which included seven contested marks in wet conditions in his previous match, Callow stepped up a level this week securing 24 disposals (18 contested possessions), 11 marks (7 contested), three goals and seven behinds. While Callow was hitting the scoreboard and providing a focal point inside-50m, he was assisting on scores and unselfishly involving teammates.
Callow does everything you could ask of a key forward. He attacks the ball aerially and on the lead. He's an expert one-on-one who uses his body as well as anyone outside the AFL, shows genuine football smarts, reads the drop of the ball, watches the ball in flight until he swallows up marks, and uses his long reach and big hands to advantage. There is a genuine fear from rival defenders matching up against Callow when isolated one-on-one, which sees him draw free kicks. When Callow is not in position to mark, he crashes packs and brings the ball to ground. His field kicking and vision are both excellent, and while his conversion in front of goal was poor on the weekend, his kicking action is sound and suggests his conversion should improve.
Adelaide was forced to rotate through four key defenders over the course of the match, with Fischer McAsey starting the day on him before triying Josh Worrell, SANFL listed Matthew Merrett, and eventually settling on James Borlase late. Due to Callow's first half dominance, he forced Adelaide to double and triple team him to slow him down.
Callow is an interesting case having dominated in the NAB League representing Tasmania in 2019 as a key forward, before shifting into defence in the TSL last year, where he dominated, only to return to play forward again this year. There is a Brian Lake vibe to Callow's game as someone who isn't the most athletic or agile but is so special one-on-one that he turns a one-on-one contest routinely into a mark. With his combination of attributes, while Callow looks great as a key forward, he's every bit as appealing as a key defender and could become a future star in defence if life as a forward doesn't work out for him.
The Gold Coast Academy product who clubs should consider
Impressing for Gold Coast in their 29-point loss to Dandenong in the NAB League, Bodhi Uwland announced himself as a player to watch with 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven marks (one contested), seven inside 50s and two goals.
His long-distance kicking was impressive, displaying penetration out to 60m. He displayed vision and placed kicks nicely to the advantage side of his targets. He kicked one of his goals from 55m after receiving a handball from a teammate. Uwland routinely found his own ball, shrugging or evading tackles and displaying the strength to stand up through tackles when he did get caught. He displays the smarts, sound decision making and skill execution in traffic under pressure to find his targets. There is an aggression and physical edge with Uwland which immediately catches the eye.
A Gold Coast Academy product, if Uwland can build upon this performance and keep improving, he can press for first round selection in this year's draft.
Mid-season draft watch
VFL
Impressing with the drive and intercepting he provided across half-back, Angus Baker was one of the few shining lights for Essendon in their surprise loss to North Melbourne, with 31 disposals and eight marks. Baker looms as a plug and play option for clubs looking to add to their defence.
Following 20 disposals and one goal last week on debut, talented forward Max Pescud backed up this strong performance with 21 disposals and six tackles in Gold Coast's 83-point loss to Southport. The athletic goalsneak was unlucky to be overlooked in 2020 and should remain on club radars this season.
NAB LEAGUE
Returning from his stint from Collingwood's VFL side, Ned Moyle was in control through the ruck for Oakleigh with 19 disposals, 15 contested possessions, six tackles, 23 hitouts and eight clearances. Moyle looks likely to be one of the first players picked in the mid-season draft given the strength of his play, competitiveness through the ruck and progression during these early stages of the season.
Key stats
NAB LEAGUE
Possessing rare evasion and agility for a 189cm midfielder, Finn Callaghan, who has spent the season playing on the outside, showed promise spending more time around the ball with 31 disposals, 10 contested possessions, six tackles and seven clearances for Sandringham. If Callaghan can continue to develop the contested side to his game, he has the scope to become a problem for opposition teams given how well he operates in traffic.
Continuing to set new high standards, Nick Daicos starred for Oakleigh. Amassing 44 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and one goal, the Collingwood father-son prospect did his pick one chances no harm in the process.
SANFL
Performing strongly for South Adelaide in their 40-point loss to Glenelg, pick one contender Jason Horne gathered 17 disposals, seven marks and kicked a goal.
Port Adelaide father-son hopeful Jase Burgoyne for the second successive round has played at league level and held his own. In an eight-point win against North Adelaide, Burgoyne secured 16 disposals.
WAFL
On return from glandular fever, athletic key forward Jacob Van Rooyen managed three goals for Claremont's Under 18s. A first-round contender, Van Rooyen, being at the back end of his illness, will be eased back in before returning to WAFL League play.