WHILE much of the attention each year surrounds top-age AFL Draft prospects, under-age stars are also bursting onto the scene around the country. At this very early stage, there already looks to be a great variety of talls and smalls, while plenty of talent is coming out of the Northern Academies.

We highlight 20 2007-born players to monitor as they continue to thrive through the pathway, serving as an update to the list of players compiled during preseason. Note, this is by no means a formal top 20 ranking and is listed in alphabetical order. There will be a further update in our 2024 AFL Draft Guide.

>> 2024 Top 30: AFL Draft Power Rankings – July update

Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
Midfielder | 183cm | 05/04/2007

A combative midfielder with high work rate, Annable thrives in contested situations and is a prolific accumulator of possessions. He averaged 27.7 disposals and 6.3 tackles in the Coates Talent League this year before going on to play all four National Championships games with the Allies, averaging 19.5 touches and 4.3 clearances. The onballer, who is clean by hand, has been producing such consistent output since debuting for the Lions’ Under 18 side last year. He was also their 2023 Under 16 MVP.

Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 09/03/2007

Addinsall is one of the many Suns Academy youngsters getting an extended run at VFL level, averaging 10 disposals and five tackles per his handful of games this year. The freakishly talented and usually prolific midfielder-forward burst onto the scene last year to take out the Alan McLean Medal. He has also turned out for the Suns Academy’s Under 18 side for two years, and averaged 21 touches per game in the campaign gone by. He’s an athletic type who glides across the grass and can do serious damage on the attack, but was surprisingly overlooked for Allies honours this year.

Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy)
Defender | 183cm | 27/08/2007

Another top performer at last year’s Under 16 National Championships, Carmichael has gone on with it and was a consistent performer for the Allies recently. He averaged 18.8 disposals and 5.8 rebound 50s throughout a full four-game carnival, nailing down his role as a key distributor down back. While an asset in transition on the representative stage, his intercept prowess was on show in four games with the Swans Academy earlier this year, averaging 20.8 touches and six marks.

Noah Chamberlain (Swans Academy)
Tall Forward/Wing | 192cm | 21/03/2007

There is plenty of upside to Chamberlain’s game, and the Swans clearly rate him highly having debuted him in the Under 18 side during his 16th year. The mobile 192cm prospect presents as a dynamic marking target up forward but has also been exposed to the wing role, showcasing great versatility. He turned out twice for the Allies at this year’s National Championships, averaging 14.5 disposals and four marks – improvements on his numbers for the Swans Academy earlier in the season.

Cody Curtin (Claremont)
Key Defender | 197cm | 18/05/2007

Curtin had a breakout game in his final outing at this year’s National Championships, posting 17 disposals and four marks as a competitive key defender. Much like big brother Dan, who was drafted by Adelaide last year, Cody is comfortable with ball in hand but also capable of imposing himself aerially. He’s arguably less advanced than his elder sibling at the same age but has plenty of potential and will be better for having locked horns with some quality forwards on the representative stage.

Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)
Utility | 191cm | 21/06/2007

Yet another ‘brother-of’, Duursma has three siblings who have already been drafted in Xavier, Yasmin, and Zane. He projects as the tallest and perhaps most talented of the lot, able to play in virtually any position with outstanding athletic upside. Also a talented basketballer, he reads the play well, is composed, and has a clean set of hands overhead. Duursma has most often cut his teeth on the wing this year but was an All Australian defender last year. He averaged 13.7 disposals and 3.3 rebound 50s across three games at the recent Under 18 National Championships.

Louis Emmett (Oakleigh Chargers)
Ruck/Key Forward | 198cm | 23/03/2007

Emmett has begun to hit his straps as a bottom-ager, but was also a recognised talent last year having been named in the Under 16 All Australian side. He represented Vic Metro twice at the recent Under 18 National Championships and impressed on debut with 14 disposals, three marks and 25 hitouts. The mobile ruckman covers the ground well and is also a capable forward, having booted four goals in his most recent Coates Talent League outing with Oakleigh. Emmett is also a talented rower and has terrific upside as a prospect who only seems to get better with each game.

Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 191cm | 07/02/2007

A talented all-round sportsperson, Greeves has showcased his footballing prowess at representative level, for Caulfield Grammar, and the Eastern Ranges. He was an Under 16 All Australian last year and has played four Coates Talent League games this season, most recently teaming up in midfield with potential 2024 top pick Josh Smillie, who he holds some resemblance to. The 191cm prospect is quite agile for his size but uses that frame to his advantage in contested situations and can also swing forward to kick goals. His clean hands and efficient ball use by hand and foot are handy traits for a big-bodied mid.

Jasper Hay (Tasmania Devils)
Ruck | 198cm | 01/05/2007

A spring-heeled ruck who competes hard in the air and at ground level, Hay is arguably Tasmania’s leading talent for 2025. He was the state’s Under 16 MVP and has gone on to crack the Under 18 team alongside some talented elder talls. Hay is averaging 9.3 disposals, 3.9 tackles and 17.6 hitouts per game at Coates Talent League level this year, also being made to develop his versatility with time up forward. He was named in the Allies squad too, but with an array of ruck options to compete with, did not break through for an appearance at the National Championships.

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing/Forward | 185cm | 16/11/2007

Hibbins-Hargreaves took little time to break into Dandenong’s Under 18 outfit after representing Vic Country at Under 16 level last year, and has emerged as a clutch goalkicker in 2024. The versatile talent has booted multiple majors in six of nine outings for the Stingrays, including a best of four from 21 touches and seven marks in Round 14. He boasts good aerial range and handles the ball one-touch, while also possessing agility and slick skills by hand and foot. Inside 50 is where he thrives, presenting as a tough matchup, but he has also spent time on the wing recently and did so in his one game for Vic Country at the recent Under 18 National Championships.

Jai Murray (Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 09/03/2007

A smooth-moving type out of the prolific Suns Academy, Murray boasts plenty of class but is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He laid more tackles than anyone en route to All Australian honours at last year’s Under 16 National Championships, while proving creative and efficient with ball in hand. Murray was consistent for the Suns Academy across four games this year, averaging 23 disposals, six marks and a goal. He has since gone on to crack Gold Coast’s VFL side, making a handful of appearances to-date.

Taj Murray (North Adelaide/Northern Territory)
Ruck | 199cm | 05/02/2007

Another athletic and rangy tall, Murray’s vertical leap is a sight to behold at the centre bounces. While still quite lean, he competes hard in the air and at ground level, and was arguably the Northern Territory’s top performer in a two-game Coates Talent League stint. Having taken out MVP honours last year, he turned out once again for the NT’s Under 16 outfit in 2024 to showcase more of his upside. Murray also plays his footy for North Adelaide in the SANFL Under 18s and is the leading talent from the Top End.

Archie Ludowyke (Sandringham Dragons)
Key Forward | 195cm | 19/11/2007

Ludowyke has bucketloads of potential as an athletic key forward with a penchant for taking spectacular grabs. He is more often sighted getting separation on the lead and kicking goals, but offers moments of great flair as a tall. The high-flying talent made a single appearance at this year’s Under 18 National Championships, taking five marks and booting a goal on debut. He has also turned out for Sandringham Dragons between his school and representative commitments, booting eight majors in four games with an average 5.3 marks.

Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
Midfielder | 177cm | 27/08/2007

McGuane has already garnered plenty of fanfare for his performances at Coates Talent League level, particularly given his status as a Collingwood father-son prospect. The son of 152-game Pie, Mick has averaged 26.3 disposals, 4.7 marks and 4.2 inside 50s per his 11 games with the Western Jets this season. He debuted as a 16-year-old last year and has gone on to be a consistent performer, posting prolific numbers each week. The left-footer is a sharp ball user with clean hands and great decision making, capable of playing inside or outside while also impacting the scoreboard.

Dylan Patterson (Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 01/09/2007

Yet another product of the Gold Coast Academy, Patterson was one of five Suns who earned Under 16 All Australian honours last year. The speedy midfielder-forward thrives when taking the game on, capable of breaking the lines with his agile step and attacking instincts. He averaged 14.8 disposals and 3.3 inside 50s per his four games for the Suns Academy this year, and has gone on to earn a berth at VFL level. The 17-year-old has kicked a goal in three of his five matches thus far.

Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle)
Midfielder | 184cm | 10/07/2007

Somewhat of a surprise packet in the bottom-age crop this year, Rodriguez missed the 2023 Under 16 National Championships through injury but has quickly made up for lost time. After impressing at WAFL Colts level for South Fremantle, the midfielder played all for games for Western Australia at the recent Under 18 carnival, averaging 18.8 disposals. As a primary midfielder, he has clean hands on the inside but is capable of escaping to the outer with good run-and-carry, while also delivering the ball off both feet. He is averaging 22.2 disposals and 3.8 tackles per game at Colts level in 2024.

Ben Rongdit (Geelong Falcons)
Defender | 183cm | 10/05/2007

One to watch for Cats fans as a Next Generation Academy candidate, Rongdit is embedded in the Geelong region – also tied to the Falcons and Geelong Grammar. He catches the eye with an outrageously good vertical leap which he leans on to make intercepts and spoils. Rongdit competes just as hard at ground level and while still quite raw, has enormous upside as an athletic defender. He has spent time with the National Academy and is playing the majority of his football at APS level, but has made one Talent League appearance this year, gathering 11 disposals, four marks and four tackles.

Dyson Sharp (Central District)
Midfielder | 188cm | 23/05/2007

Regarded by many as a leading talent in the 2025 crop, Sharp took out last year’s Kevin Sheehan Medal as the star of the Under 16 National Championships. He was a two-time All Australian at that level and brought a hard edge to South Australia’s Under 18 side this year, averaging 17.8 disposals, 5.5 tackles and 6.5 clearances across the four games. Most recently, the big-bodied contested beast has turned out for Central District’s reserves, averaging 19.5 disposals and seven tackles in his two appearances to date. Few can match his ferocity on the inside, and he has also proven to be a capable defender.

Zeke Uwland (Suns Academy)
Defender/Midfielder | 178cm | 24/04/2007

Uwland will be a familiar name, particularly to Gold Coast fans, as the brother of current Sun Bodhi. While smaller in stature, he possesses similar weapons with a booming left-foot kick and relentless rebound ability off half-back. His running game is also outstanding, with the clever utility able to rack up possessions in a variety of roles. Uwland had a standout game for the Suns Academy earlier this year, posting 25 disposals and six goals, before going on to average 23 disposals, 4.8 marks, and six rebound 50s for the Allies. He is now gaining exposure in the Suns’ VFL side.

Kalani White (Suns Academy)
Key Defender | 198cm | 05/05/2007

White has an interesting decision on his hands next year, being tied to Gold Coast via its academy but also eligible to nominate under father-son rules for Melbourne. The son of former Dee and Docker, Jeff, Kalani is a developing tall talent capable of playing at either end of the ground. His mobility is impressive at 198cm and he seems to have found a home down back, where he was an Under 16 All Australian. White also featured once for the Allies this year, managing six touches and a mark, while averaging eight disposals and four marks for the Suns Academy earlier in the season.