Aaron Naughton, Peel Thunder

Arguably the pick of WA’s draft hopefuls this year, Naughton has catapulted into top-20 calculations in the past few months.

The key defender’s reputation shot through the roof with All-Australian selection in the under-18 championships before his seamless transition to senior WAFL ranks with Peel Thunder.

He racked up 16 disposals and seven marks on debut in the first of seven league appearances from the Dockers’ affiliate.

The Rockingham Rams product played in Peel’s qualifying final before getting squeezed out in favour of Fremantle-listed Luke Ryan.

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Camera Icon Defender Aaron Naughton has been a good addition to Peel Thunder’s senior side. Credit: The Sunday Times, Daniel Wilkins

Oscar Allen, West Perth

The 193cm key forward made a name for himself with the Black Swans at this year’s under-18 championships.

Allen co-captained the team and became the first West Australian since Dom Sheed in 2013 to win the Larke Medal as the carnival’s best player, booting 11 goals in four matches.

The under-18 All-Australian showed promise in two consecutive senior games at the Falcons after debuting in round 20 and should feature among the first-round draft selections.

Jake Patmore, Claremont

Patmore was considered one of the state’s leading draft prospects heading into 2017, but started the year slowly.

The talented midfielder kickstarted his season with a best-afield performance in WA’s under-18 championships victory over Vic Country, where he amassed 32 possessions.

While he didn’t make Claremont’s senior side this year, he has had a serious case of leather poisoning in the colts since returning from the national carnival.

In his last eight games, Patmore has averaged a touch under 32 disposals including a whopping 48 in round 22.

The national combine invitee has the chance to cap off the season with a colts premiership when his Tigers come up against East Fremantle in Sunday’s decider at Subiaco Oval.

Tim Kelly, South Fremantle

The Bulldogs star was rewarded for his dominant WAFL season with an invite to the AFL national draft combine.

Kelly, 23, was the only mature-aged product in the league to receive an invite after attracting interest from several clubs including Carlton, Brisbane, North Melbourne and West Coast.

In his seventh season in the seniors, the silky midfielder averaged a career-best 26 disposals.

His goal-kicking (26 majors) added another string to Kelly’s bow on his way to a runner-up finish in the Sandover Medal behind teammate Haiden Schloithe.

His best performance came in the round 11 derby against East Fremantle, where he booted seven majors with 35 possessions in the 145-point demolition.

Sam Taylor, Swan Districts

The AFL Academy graduate featured in all three grades at Swan Districts this season, started in the colts and playing a game in the reserves before making his senior WAFL debut in round 19.

The lock-down defender held his spot for the final seven games of the season including two finals appearances, playing with poise beyond his years.

Camera Icon Sam Taylor played with maturity beyond his years in the Swan Districts backline. Credit: The West Australian, Ian Munro

He acquitted himself well against West Perth key forward Tyler Keitel in the Swans’ elimination final win at Steel Blue Oval.

The 18-year-old also earned All-Australian selection after a stellar under-18 carnival down back for WA.

Liam Ryan, Subiaco

The high-flying Subiaco forward can’t do much more to get noticed by AFL recruiters.

In his second season in the WAFL, the Geraldton product has taken his game to another level to win the Bernie Naylor Medal.

He has 73 majors in 22 games this season and is a regular contender for the league’s goals and marks of the year.

A top-10 finisher in the Sandover Medal, the 20-year-old earned an invite to next month’s state draft combine.

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Subiaco coach and Port Adelaide premiership player Jarrad Schofield urged West Coast to add Ryan to their forward stocks in the draft.

Brayden Ainsworth, Subiaco

Another of WA’s All-Australian contingent, Ainsworth has been on the cusp of senior selection on several occasions for WAFL powerhouse Subiaco.

The Esperance-raised teen has been in good form for the Lions’ reserves since returning from the under-18 championships, finding plenty of the ball in the midfield.

He has been a good contributor in Subiaco’s finals series and had 18 disposals, seven tackles and four inside 50s in his side’s preliminary final win over Claremont on Sunday.

Haiden Schloithe, South Fremantle

A second chance beckons for the former Dockers rookie after capping off a dominant 2017 campaign at South Fremantle by winning the Sandover Medal.

The damaging midfielder won the league’s top honour by seven votes as the Bulldogs finished the home-and-away season four games clear in second spot.

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Schloithe averaged 28 disposals in 22 games this season to go with 30 goals.

The 24-year-old believes he’s matured a lot - as a footballer and a person - since his two-year stint in the AFL and still has a burning desire to make it at the top level.

Callan England, Claremont

The Claremont ball magnet was regularly among WA’s best in the under-18 championship.

And that form has continued in WAFL colts ranks, with the 181cm midfielder averaging 28 disposals and five marks per game.

His 26 possessions and two goals helped the Tigers get over the line in a hard-fought preliminary final against East Perth on Sunday.

He will join WA under-18s teammate and fellow national combine invitee Jake Patmore in Sunday’s colts decider.

Brandon Starcevich, East Perth

Starcevich isn’t the most highly-skilled draft prospect in the WAFL colts system, but what he lacks in that area he makes up for with grit and determination.

A contested-ball beast, the East Perth youngster made his mark at the championships with his work in the forward line, bobbing up when needed to throw his weight around.

His last game was easily his best, helping WA get to the line with 22 touches, eight tackles and five clearances.

If a club needs polish, he may not be their man. But Starcevich’s hunger for the contest, a key factor in many clubs’ recruiting strategies, cannot be denied.