REPRESENTATIVE honours are in the offing for many budding prospects, while others will hope to press their cases for AFL Mid-Season Draft selection across a bumper weekend. In Victoria, Country hopefuls get one final audition against the Young Guns on Sunday, after Metro did so with a win last week.

>> Preview: Young Guns vs. Vic Country

Elsewhere, a 30-man squad of nation’s best and brightest talents will take part in the second of two AFL Academy showcase fixtures, this time against Carlton VFL on Saturday evening. The game at Marvel Stadium acts as a curtain raiser to the AFL clash between Carlton and Western Bulldogs.

>> Preview: AFL Academy vs. Carlton VFL

With no Coates Talent League action until next week, the remainder of Victoria’s crop is either taking part in school or community football around the state. In particular, there are plenty of Metro and Country-tied players poised to participate in the annual APS Pink Round.

>> Refresher: 2023 Coates Talent League Rounds 1-6

The impact of school football has also been felt in South and Western Australia, where very few draft age talents are running around at senior level. Even in the SANFL Under 18s and WAFL Colts, compounded by the Academy game, there has been plenty of rotation coming into the weekend.

Mid-Season Draft candidate Jack Buller will return for Claremont in Round 6 of the WAFL season, having missed the last fortnight. The 21-year-old forward started the year in hot form, averaging nearly 18 disposals, 10 marks and two goals per his three games.

Down the grades, the Tigers have named over-age forward Harry Cole in both their Reserves and Colts side, after he made his debut at the senior level in Round 1. Subiaco tall Luker Kentfield is in a similar boat, named on the extended League bench and at full forward for the Colts.

With AFL Academy gun Koltyn Tholstrup missing for the Lions, over-age small Robert Hansen Jr remains in attack as his side prepares to take on East Fremantle. The speedster is also part of Western Australia’s Under 18 squad this year, which was announced earlier in the month.

Speaking of state squad members, West Perth’s sole representative in big man Odin Jones slots straight back into the Falcons’ Colts side. After a 1-3 start, last year’s minor premiers will be keen to make a quick ascent up the ladder. They lock horns with Perth on Saturday morning.

Over in South Australia, the state’s Under 18 squad members are few and far between across the grades. Norwood’s pair of representatives will feature in the Reserves, with classy defender Logan Evans and ruck Alex van Wyk both named to face West Adelaide tonight.

There is set to be some junior talent running around in the QAFL Seniors. Suns Academy bottom-ager Leonardo Lombard looks like being one, having been named on the bench for Broadbeach ahead of its Round 7 clash with Labrador.

Having played a few VFL games, Lions Academy midfielder Owen Collins will hope to help Sherwood pick up its first points of the 2023 campaign, in a bottom of the table clash against Noosa. Collins also recently represented the Talent League Lions, collecting 27 polished disposals.

Wilston Grange is another side set to be buoyed by young talent, with talls Patrick Snell and Billy Richardson named alongside midfielder Jack Manly to take on Surfers Paradise. The Gorillas are on a four-game winning run, and have taken out their last three games handily.

Finally, the TSL will also have some juniors in the senior mix. A battle on the wing looms for Tasmania Devils teammates Connor Ling and Max Roney, when the pair do battle in the clash between Glenorchy and North Launceston. Elsewhere, top-ager Will Groom is an inclusion for North Hobart.