On-ballers are set to make up a massive chunk of the first round of the 2024 AFL Draft.
Accumulating phenoms Sid Draper, Finn O'Sullivan and Jagga Smith announced themselves with powerful National Championships as bottom-agers, and there are family ties at the pointy end of the board including Levi Ashcroft, Tyler Welsh, and twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale.
Match simulations are in full swing across the country with the Coates Talent League kicking off from March 23rd, and clubs are honing in on the top talent available this year.
These are ESPN's top 10 AFL Draft prospects on the eve of the 2024 season.
1. Jagga Smith
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
MID, 181cm, 68kg
Talent League: 10 games, 28.2 disposals, 4.0 marks, 0.8 goals
Smith is a midfield maestro with his clean hands, classy sidestep and beautiful skills exiting stoppage. The Charger was called up to Vic Metro's side for two games and delivered 24 disposals per game in the Big V to stamp his credentials amongst the leading prospects in his class. His ability to accumulate and explode from contest is a wonderful combination to watch.
2. Finn O'Sullivan
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Country
MID, 181cm, 70kg
Talent League: 8 games, 22.1 disposals, 4.8 marks, 4.0 tackles
Beautifully balanced, classy off both feet and possessing the grit to complement his outside game, O'Sullivan has all the hallmarks of a top-tier midfielder. The cousin of Sam Walsh has had a terrific outside game but his stoppage ability came along in leaps and bounds last season for the Chargers. He can play above his size in the air, competes fiercely when the ball is up for grabs and works his opponents into the ground across four quarters.
3. Josh Smillie
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
MID/DEF, 194cm, 92kg
Talent League: 8 games, 26.3 disposals, 4.4 marks, 0.5 goals
Smillie is the modern day midfield prototype at six-foot-four, impacting with his size and aggression in the contest. He's also a terrific athlete that hasn't filled out his frame, showing off elite endurance around the ground plus a penchant to intercept in the back half. The Ranges star missed their Grand Final through injury, but returned as a defender in the Rising Stars match before the AFL Grand Final. Smillie has the traits and athletic profile to become the No. 1 pick with a big 2024 campaign.
4. Sid Draper
South Adelaide/South Australia
MID, 180cm, 72kg
SANFL U18s: 14 games, 21.6 disposals, 4.2 clearances, 0.6 goals
If you watched a South Australian champs game last year, you would be forgiven for thinking this blonde haired dynamo was a certain top 10 pick in 2023. Draper collected 25 possessions per outing on his way to being named his state's MVP, but he has had to wait another year to be draft eligible. The ferocious competitor boasts the outside class to match his appetite for the contest and is this draft's best kick going inside 50.
5. Levi Ashcroft
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
MID/FWD, 179cm, 75kg
Talent League: 11 games, 26.9, 3.4 marks, 1.2 goals
Ashcroft won Sandy's best and fairest in a premiership year, and entering his top-age year already has two Talent League flags to his name. Accolades don't come much better than that for the 17-year-old, who won't turn 18 until December. Ashcroft is a damaging forward-half midfielder that gets between contests well and racks up the ball by linking play together. He doesn't possess the same contested craft as his brother Will did at this age, but his ability to impact as a half forward and hit the scoreboard is ultra-impressive. Brisbane will expect Ashcroft to nominate as a father-son the closer we get to November.
6. Christian Moraes
Eastern Ranges
MID/FWD, 182cm, 74kg
Talent League: 16 games, 26.4 disposals, 4.1 marks, 0.6 goals
Choosing between footy and basketball has been a line-ball decision for Moraes, who starred in both throughout his junior years. With the Sherrin he's an evasive midfielder that can produce magic in the forward 50 with quick hands and a wicked sidestep. As he builds his body Moraes should become an elite inside ball-winner with his cleanliness and sharp instincts. He's the type of player that consistently makes something out of nothing.
7. Tyler Welsh
Adelaide SANFL/South Australia
FWD, 191cm, 83kg
SANFL U18s: 10 games, 9.1 disposals, 4.8 marks, 2.7 goals
The premier key position player heading into 2024 is Welsh, a Crows father-son goalkicker. He tore the champs apart for SA with seven goals across two games, and has found consistent success in the U18s as a traditional lead-up forward with a beautiful set shot routine. If Welsh grows two inches this year and becomes a modern day key forward size, clubs will consider bidding higher than this point.
8. Sam Lalor
GWV Rebels/Vic Country
MID, 187cm, 88kg
Talent League: 8 games, 20.3 disposals, 7.5 tackles, 0.8 goals
Lalor is a hulking figure in the contest, proficient at ripping the ball from stoppages and feeding outside runners. He's also a tackling machine and lays claim to having the best defensive intent amongst midfielders in the pool. Lalor spent stints forward and hit the scoreboard for the Rebels which further increased intrigue around his upside.
9. Leonardo Lombard
SUNS Academy/Allies
MID/FWD, 178cm, 76kg
Talent League: 5 games, 24.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, 0.8 goals
Lombard won a VFL premiership with Gold Coast as a 16-year-old in 2023. It's a remarkable feat, but reflects his epic rise this season which culminated with the flag and an exciting performance on the MCG before the AFL Grand Final. Lombard has a burst of pace and electrifying agility, ability to create time and space to either hit the scoreboard or pick out teammates. Lombard adds to the riches coming through the Gold Coast talent pathway.
10. Tom Gross
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
MID, 180cm, 70kg
Talent League: 10 games, 21.5 disposals, 4.3 marks, 0.8 goals
Gross plays like a bull to a red rag with incredible power and aggression at the coalface. His rough and tumble nature sees him amongst the contest at all times where he latches onto opponents and more often than not wins the battle. Gross is the third Charger midfielder in this group that was exposed to talent league on-ball time in 2023.
Coates Talent League start date: March 23rd
WAFL start date: March 28th
SANFL start date: March 29th