AS THE AFLW finished up and the AFL season kicked off, the country’s premier Under 18 competition — the TAC Cup — also began.

And with that, hundreds of teenagers commenced their final year of underage footy with the hope of enhancing their draft chances.

This year’s crop is headlined by three father-son guns, two Tasmanians and a pair of identical twins.

There’s also a Hill that’s just as exciting as his Freo-based cousins.

But unlike previous years, many of the top prospects will come from South Australia.

Finals Week 1

In our first edition of Draft Watch for 2017, foxfooty.com.au and Champion Data highlights the top 25 prospects of this year’s draft class.

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CHAMPION DATA’S TOP 25 PROSPECTS

Nick Blakey

Club: Sydney Swans Academy, NSW/ACT

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 194cm, 75kg

Champion Data player comparison: Gary Rohan

foxfooty.com.au says: A smooth-moving utility with lovely foot skills, Blakey is perfectly placed to attack his draft year, with a whopping four draft options for him come season’s end. As the son of John Blakey, he’s eligible to be taken by either North Melbourne or the Brisbane Lions as a father-son selection. But Blakey is also tied to the academy at the Sydney Swans — the club where his dad is currently an assistant coach at. If neither of those three options take his fancy, he could also nominate for the open draft. But at this stage, the Swans loom as his most likely option.

Nick Blakey could end up at three clubs. Source: News Corp Australia

Zak Butters

Club: Western Jets, Vic Metro

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 178cm, 70kg

Champion Data player comparison: Dean Towers

foxfooty.com.au says: A predominantly outside midfielder, but Butters’ excellent workrate and zip allows him to constantly provide an option for his teammates. Despite being a bottom-ager last year, Butters was one of the Jets’ most consistent players, booting 10 goals and averaging 17 disposals from his 17 games.

Jack Bytel

Club: Calder Cannons, Vic Metro

Position: Midfielder

Size: 188cm, 82kg

Champion Data player comparison: Brad Crouch

foxfooty.com.au says: One of the Cannons’ co-captains for 2018 and a member of the AFL Academy, Bytel is a gun inside midfielder who impressed in his bottom-age season. In the TAC Cup last year, Bytel was ranked third in the competition for disposals (27.7) and contested possessions (14.2), while he was ranked fourth for clearances (6.7). Not only can he win the footy, he can also hit he scoreboard, highlighted by his seven goals from 10 games in 2017.

Jye Caldwell

Club: Bendigo Pioneers, Vic Country

Position: Midfielder

Size: 184cm, 78kg

Champion Data player comparison: Dom Tyson

foxfooty.com.au says: A star junior that claimed Vic Country’s MVP at the Under 16 national championships, Caldwell is a skilful midfielder that excels around stoppages. He’s linked with the Bendigo Pioneers, but will spend most of the season playing for Geelong Grammar.

Jye Caldwell (left) plays like Dom Tyson. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT Source: News Corp Australia

Luke English

Club: Perth, Western Australia

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 181cm, 78kg

Champion Data player comparison: Trent Cotchin

foxfooty.com.au says: Few players in this year’s draft class have a more insatiable appetite to run on a footy field than English, who had an outstanding 2017 campaign. He was crowned the WAFL colts’ best player last year, winning the Jack Clarke medal after booting 13 goals and averaging 25 disposals and six tackles. Incredibly, English had 30-plus disposals in eight games last year.

Hudson Garoni

Club: Murray Bushrangers, Vic Country

Position: Key Forward

Size: 195cm, 91kg

Champion Data player comparison: Jake Stringer

foxfooty.com.au says: This AFL Academy member already has AFL-like size, but his mobility will make him a dangerous proposition for opponents in 2018. While Garoni is predominantly a forward — and a darn good one at that, highlighted by his 15 goals from 14 TAC Cup games in his bottom-age season — he also has the ability to play in any position on the field. Don’t be surprised to see him have a run around in the ruck this year. Needs to work on his kicking efficiency though.

Jackson Hately

Club: Central Districts, South Australia

Position: Midfielder

Size: 190cm, 80kg

Champion Data player comparison: Jordan Lewis

foxfooty.com.au says: A tall, classy midfielder that can also push into either arc, Hately is another gun South Australian draft prospect. He showed a glimpse of his potential in SA’s big Under 18 champs win over the Allies last year, racking up 27 disposals, including 19 uncontested possessions, as a bottom-ager. There’s every chance Hately could land inside the top 10 come draft time.

Ian Hill

Club: Perth, Western Australia

Position: General Forward

Size: 174cm, 66kg

Champion Data player comparison: Michael Walters

foxfooty.com.au says: Simply known as ‘Bobby’, Hill possesses all the talent, class, poise, agility and speed that his cousins Bradley and Stephen Hill possess. As a bottom-ager, Hill was electric for WA in last year’s Under 18 championships, booting three goals and averaging 15 disposals per game. He doesn’t win a lot of the ball, but when he gets the pill he makes maximum impact. If he can continue to improve in 2018, Hill looms as a top-10 pick, perhaps even top-five, come draft time.

Chayce Jones (right). Source: News Corp Australia

Chayce Jones

Club: Launceston, Tasmania

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 179cm, 73kg

Champion Data player comparison: Andrew Gaff

foxfooty.com.au says: Blessed with excellent aerobic capacity and ample dash, Jones is one of two players from Tassie that could go high in the draft. After starring for Tasmania in last year’s Academy Under 18 series, Jones was sidelined for the majority of 2018 due to a serious ankle injury. But the hard-working midfielder has had an excellent rehabilitation program and will again lead Tassie in this year’s Academy champs.

Tom Joyce

Club: East Fremantle, Western Australia

Position: Midfielder

Size: 180cm, 68kg

Champion Data player comparison: Josh Kennedy (Sydney)

foxfooty.com.au says: There mightn’t be a lot of Joyce at first glance, but the midfielder’s ability to win the inside ball — despite his light frame — has impressed onlookers throughout his footy journey to date. A member of the AFL Academy, Joyce starred for WA as a bottom-ager in last year’s Under 18 championships, averaging 21 disposals per outing — ranked third for his state.

Ben King

Club: Sandringham, Vic Metro

Position: Key Defender

Size: 201cm, 85kg

Champion Data player comparison: Tom Lonergan

foxfooty.com.au says: One of the star identical twins that could go in the top five — and he might be the first of the two to be picked. While he’s got the height and size to make an early impact in the AFL, King is a star key defender with strong one-on-one ability, as well as excellent intercept skills. That intercept ability was on display in last year’s TAC Cup preliminary final for the Dragons, finishing with 20 disposals and 10 marks, of which eight were intercept grabs.

Max King

Club: Sandringham Dragons, Vic Metro

Position: Key Forward

Size: 201cm, 86kg

Champion Data player comparison: Rory Lobb

foxfooty.com.au says: The other King twin is a prototype, modern-day big forward-ruck. In his bottom-age year, King booted 10 goals from seven games for the Dragons, including at least one major in all three of the Dragons’ three finals. The 201cm big man moves and plays very similarly to Giants big man Rory Lobb.

Tom Lewis

Club: Sturt, South Australia

Position: Midfielder

Size: 179cm, 80kg

Champion Data player comparison: Andrew Swallow

foxfooty.com.au says: Another South Australian prospect that could be taken within the first round of the draft. With a ready-made AFL frame, Lewis had a big influence during a recent SA trial game, winning ample contested possessions and clearances while laying a whopping 17 tackles. He was also a ball magnet at SA Under 18s level last year, constantly finishing with at least 20 disposals per outing.

Jack Lukosius

Club: Woodville West-Torrens, South Australia

Position: Key Forward

Size: 196cm, 86kg

Champion Data player comparison: Jack Riewoldt

foxfooty.com.au says: At this stage of the year, Lukosius is the Pick 1 favourite — and rightly so. As a bottom-ager, the athletic key forward booted five goals from four games in last year’s Under 18 national carnival, before stunning onlookers with a four-goal haul on senior SANFL debut — in a preliminary final, if you don’t mind. Then earlier this month, he starred down back in an SA trial game, finishing with 25 disposals and 14 marks. Blessed with great aerobic capacity and a graceful kick, Lukosius is a star in the making.

Ed McHenry if from the Geelong Falcons footy factoy. Photo: Pat Scala Source: News Corp Australia

Ed McHenry

Club: Geelong Falcons, Vic Country

Position: General Defender

Size: 176cm, 71kg

Champion Data player comparison: Lachie Weller

foxfooty.com.au says: We’re one round into the TAC Cup season and already McHenry has announced himself as a player to follow this season. The Falcons gun and AFL Academy member, who’s simply known as ‘Ned’, was a beast against the Stingrays last weekend, finishing with 26 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 11 clearances in a promising display. McHenry is also an outstanding athlete, becoming the first Falcons player in 2016 to break the six-minute barrier in the 2km time trial, while his best beep test score is beyond level 16.

Izak Rankine

Club: West Adelaide, South Australia

Position: General Forward

Size: 178cm, 74kg

Champion Data player comparison: Michael Walters

foxfooty.com.au says: So impressive was Rankine in his bottom-age year in 2017 that onlookers claimed he could’ve been playing senior AFL footy as a 17-year-old. One of the most gifted and talented players of the draft class, Rankine put on a masterclass during several national carnival games for South Australia last year, booting six goals and averaging 19 disposals. His final quarter against Vic Country was scintillating, showing off his pace, agility, unselfishness, class and finishing skills. Rankine was the sole bottom-ager picked in the 2017 All-Australian side.

Connor Rozee

Club: North Adelaide, South Australia

Position: Midfielder

Size: 185cm, 72g

Champion Data player comparison: Rory Sloane

foxfooty.com.au says: An exciting yet versatile player, Rozee is another South Australian that looms as a high pick come November’s national draft. The AFL Academy member turned heads as a bottom-ager for his state at last year’s Under 18 national carnival, averaging seven tackles per game. But it was his final outing against Vic Country that was most impressive, booting three goals from 20 disposals and 11 contested possessions. Rozee’s clean hands, both above his head and at ground level, are a big feature of his game.

Bailey Scott

Club: Gold Coast Academy, Queensland

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 184cm, 70kg

Champion Data player comparison: Tom Lynch (Adelaide)

foxfooty.com.au says: Like Nick Blakey, Scott has four options come this year’s national draft. As the son of Robert Scott, he’s eligible to be drafted as a father-son pick by either North Melbourne or Geelong. But he’s also tied to the Gold Coast Suns academy — a program he’s been part of for several years. Or, Scott — a smart and hard-working mid-forward — could nominate for the open draft. At this stage, he’s likely to nominate the Suns as his preferred destination.

Bailey Smith

Club: Sandringham Dragons, Vic Metro

Position: General Defender

Size: 184cm, 79kg

Champion Data player comparison: Jarrad McVeigh

foxfooty.com.au says: The Dragons have produced a beauty in Smith, who is equally damaging in defence or in the midfield. Sandringham’s captain for 2018 and an AFL Academy member, Smith racked up some enormous numbers as a bottom-ager in 2017, averaging 24 disposals from 11 games, including a whopping 44 against the Jets last July. And Smith started 2018 with a bang on the weekend, racking up 37 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 12 clearances and eight inside 50s in a colossal performance that left onlookers stunned. Expect him to develop into a more permanent midfielder this year and push into top-10 calculations.

Bailey Smith. Photo: Quinn Rooney/AFL Media/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Sydney Stack

Club: Perth, Western Australia

Position: Midfielder-Forward

Size: 176cm, 72kg

Champion Data player comparison: Levi Greenwood

foxfooty.com.au says: What Stack lacks in height he makes up for in intensity. Stack featured in all four of Western Australia’s Under 18 carnival game last year, booting two goals and averaging 10 disposals. In the WAFL colts last year, Stack averaged 18 touches per game, while he laid six or more tackles on five occasions.

Tarryn Thomas

Club: North Launceston, Tasmania

Position: Midfielder

Size: 188cm, 72kg

Champion Data player comparison: Elliot Yeo

foxfooty.com.au says: Tasmania’s best product for 2018 could be snapped up within the top 10 — but North Melbourne will ensure he doesn’t slip to another club. Thomas, who rose to prominence after winning Tassie’s MVP award for both the Under 18 and Under 16 national championships in 2016, is tied to the Kangaroos’ Next Generation Academy, meaning the Roos will match any bid placed on the star on-baller. Blessed with clean hands and excellent ball use ability, Thomas will play most of his footy in the guts but has the size to play in multiple positions.

Sam Walsh

Club: Geelong Falcons, Vic Country

Position: Midfielder

Size: 183cm, 74kg

Champion Data player comparison: Dan Hannebery

foxfooty.com.au says: In terms of pure midfielders, Walsh is the best of this year’s draft class at this stage. Voted in as the Falcons’ captain for 2018, Walsh’s outstanding workrate allows him to rack up massive disposal numbers, highlighted by his average of 29 disposals per TAC Cup game last year as a bottom-ager — ranked No. 1 in the competition. A composed ball user and smooth mover, Walsh is arguably the most complete on-baller.

Sam Walsh (right) has a massive tank. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source: News Corp Australia

Rhylee West

Club: Calder Cannons, Vic Metro

Position: Midfielder

Size: 180cm, 81kg

Champion Data player comparison: Trent Cotchin

foxfooty.com.au says: There are several father-son prospects in the 2018 draft class, but West — the son of Western Bulldogs champion Scott West — is among the top of the crop, alongside Nick Blakey. And like his dad, West is a hard, in-and-under player that racks up plenty of the footy and lays lots of tackles. The Western Bulldogs have had plenty of father-son success in recent years — and West could be another hit.

Bailey Williams

Club: Dandenong Stingrays, Vic Country

Position: Ruck

Size: 198cm, 95kg

Champion Data player comparison: Brodie Grundy

foxfooty.com.au says: An AFL Academy member, Williams is arguably the best ruck prospect of the 2018 draft class. The Stingrays product looked comfortable as a bottom-ager during last year’s Under 18 national carnival, but it was in the TAC Cup where he impressed most, booting 15 goals and averaging 17 hit-outs per game. Williams already has a well-developed frame, but his mobility and ground level game has already impressed onlookers.

Boyd Woodcock

Club: North Adelaide, South Australia

Position: Midfielder

Size: 180cm, 71kg

Champion Data player comparison: Dustin Martin

foxfooty.com.au says: Anyone who gets compared to Dustin Martin is worth keeping an eye on. And coincidentally, Woodcock already has a league individual honour to his name after he claimed the SANFL Under 18s best and fairest medal last year, consistently racking up big disposal and clearance numbers. Woodcock has already impressed in 2018, slotting four goals in a SANFL reserves trial game earlier this month.