TOP West Adelaide draft prospect Harry Lemmey is set to return to SANFL action this weekend, after being named in the Bloods’ side to face Norwood on Sunday. The pick one contender has only played one of his side’s three League games thus far, missing Rounds 1 and 3 through health and safety protocols.

In between those weeks off, Lemmey booted two goals from nine disposals and five marks in a 20-point loss to Central District. The 199cm talent has drawn comparisons to St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt for his blonde mop, contested marking ability and leading patterns, as he contends for top pick favouritism.

We may well see Westies blood even more youth this season given how a number of prospects are faring at Under 18s level. Lemmey’s fellow key forward Tom Scully is on fire with 24 goals in his last four games, while midfielder Kobe Ryan is also proving a class above, averaging 29 disposals. Watch out for Harry Barnett too, another key position player on the rise.

While South Australia’s top talent is back in his state’s big leagues, Western Australia’s leading draft hopeful is set to run out at Colts level despite a promising senior debut. That player, of course, is Elijah Hewett. The Swan Districts midfielder is hard at it and laid five tackles in his top flight unfurling, but is the Swans’ only change this week after a four-point loss to East Perth.

On the flip-side, fellow Round 1 League debutant Reuben Ginbey will be hoping to retain his spot in the Royals’ lineup having contributed eight touches and a couple of tackles to the win. At Colts level, and in both SA and Victoria, school football seasons will soon see plenty of prospects mix their time between competitions.

The NAB League season rolls into Round 4 this weekend, with a massive nine games set to showcase talent across six states and territories as the competition goes national. There will be games held in the Northern Territory and Queensland, with Northern Academies making their final appearances for the year.

The Round 4 cut-off is typically now where the season shifts in terms of available talent, as the APS season kicks back into gear and over-age players make a decision on whether to continue in the talent pathway or try their luck in the state league system, should they be signed to a club.

Kicking off last night as Murray Bushrangers defeated the Northern Knights, a pair of double-headers on Sunday will provide much of the weekend’s great action. The two NSW/ACT-based academies are set to face Victorian Country-based opposition in Craigieburn, while the Queensland academies will host Metro competitors at South Pine.

In other draft news around the country, the 2022 Under 16 and Under 18 National Championship fixtures were released, with the respective competitions set to take place across June and July. Clashes between Vic Country and Metro will bookend the championships as a whole, as the Under 16s open the show on June 11, while the Under 18s close it with a standalone fixture on September 23.