Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.
As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.
Aside from the weekly wraps, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month and as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.
Player Focus
Kicking a combined 15 goals over his past four matches, Noah Gown has been the in-form key forward in the TAC Cup over the past month. Elevating Gippsland to second on the ladder in their win against Dandenong, Gown was Gippsland's most dangerous forward 50m target and his side's only multiple goal kicker. The 193cm, 91kg, key forward secured 14 disposals, nine contested possessions, five marks (three contested), three goals and four behinds.
It was his bodywork, taking one-on-one marks and his reading of the drop of the ball that made Gown so difficult to stop. The other notable strength to Gown's game is the way he runs and jumps up at the ball and attacks the ball in the air.
Importantly Gown is more than just a marking forward and has plenty of other ways he influences the game. His chase down tackle from behind for holding the ball in the first quarter was the tone setting tackle for the game. Gown plays a fearless brand of football and gave up his body with a rare smother from a kickout, running straight at a man, not flinching and sprinting straight towards the ball. His team-first play and football smarts deserves praise, bumping an opponent who was chasing the ball to set up an easy goal for a teammate. Gown almost snapped a freakish goal over his head, narrowly missing what might have been a creative goal out of nothing.
Earning a state combine invite, Gown is in the draft mix and had his form come sooner, he likely would have earned a national combine invite. His style of play is akin to Jack Gunston as a marking key forward with the scope to develop.
TAC Cup
Attacking the ball relentlessly at stoppages, Gippsland underager Riley Baldi was the driving force through the midfield. Baldi's most impressive moment was a display of courage when he ran forward, not taking his eyes off the ball in flight, before taking a mark without a thought of who might be coming at him from the other direction. Working hard throughout the match, Baldi amassed 31 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven marks, five tackles, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and one goal.
Winning the ball through the midfield and showing his class and an array of tricks, Gippsland captain Xavier Duursma played a complete game. Duursma was clean with his pickups off the bounce, timed his runs at the ball well, spun through traffic, provided run and showed football smarts. The classy midfielder collected 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six tackles, six inside 50s and one goal.
Demonstrating his class with ball in hand, Murray underager Jimmy Boyer broke the game open with his kicking. He hit inside 50m targets and directed the ball out in front of them to lead onto. On one kick, Boyer displayed impressive composure to execute and hit a target while being tackled. The 182cm, 70kg, midfielder managed 28 disposals, seven marks, six tackles, four clearances, six inside 50s and three score assists. This included a team-high 12 of 17 effective kicks.
Murray captain and brother of Collingwood's Sam Murray, Nicholas Murray impressed with his intercept marking. The 193cm, 89kg, defender gathered 18 disposals, five marks (two contested) and five tackles.
An intercept marking force in defence, Mathew Walker read the ball in flight and regularly worked into position to intercept. He also went for a run through the midfield where he showed he could win the football, moving effectively in traffic. Walker has the versatility to play back, midfield or forward, with a six-goal haul against Western his other notable performance. Named Murray's best, the 187cm, 76kg, utility contributed 18 disposals, seven marks (one contested), five tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s.
Continuing his strong work last week having concluded his school football commitments after an exciting performance in the AGSV vs. APS match, Sam Sturt, in his second TAC Cup game, starred in Dandenong's win against Geelong. He kicked two late goals in less than two minutes to extend the lead to an insurmountable 18 points in wet conditions. Sturt's reading of the ball in flight, marking, pickups off the bounce and finishing around goal were all highlights. The dangerous forward produced 14 disposals, four marks (one contested), four tackles and three goals.
Showing glimpses into why he is touted as a likely early draft chance for 2019, underager Hayden Young attacked the ball aggressively and displaying a physical edge throughout the contest. The 186cm, 79kg, Dandenong midfielder contributed 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions, nine tackles and five clearances.
Displaying his typical high work rate for Geelong, potential No. 1 selection Sam Walsh ran hard throughout the contest. The prolific ball winner collected 25 disposals, 10 contested possessions and two goals.
Playing an impressive all-around game, Oscar Brownless was one of Geelong's best midfield performers. Brownless used the ball effectively over a range of distances, finished from 45m on the move, provided gut running efforts between the flanks and played a hard brand of football. Looming as a probable father-son choice for Geelong, Brownless secured 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 10 tackles and one goal.
Earning best on ground honours for Oakleigh in their win against Sandringham, ball-winning midfielder Jack Ross posted 25 disposals, eight marks (one contested), six clearances, five inside 50s and one goal.
Underage midfielder Noah Anderson put forward another display for Oakleigh that made him look like an early draft choice in 2019. The exciting midfielder posted 22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five inside 50s, one goal and five score assists.
Leading Calder's midfield, Rhylee West was prolific for the Cannons in their win against Eastern. The Western Bulldogs father-son prospect gathered 22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight tackles, eight clearances and two score assists.
Earning top spot in the TAC Cup goalkicking, Charlie Wilson for Greater Western Victoria in their win against Bendigo was prolific. He posted 26 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s, two goals and two score assists.
In a powerful display, Bendigo's Brodie Kemp was prolific in their loss to Greater Western Victoria. The 193cm, 76kg, underager secured 26 disposals, 17 contested possessions, five marks (three contested), five tackles, eight clearances, four inside 50s and one goal for Bendigo.
For Northern in their win against Western, underager Adam Carafa starred through the midfield with 33 disposals, 20 contested possessions, five tackles, 10 clearances and two score assists.
SANFL
League
Contributing strongly for West Adelaide in a loss to Sturt, potential top-five selection Izak Rankine gathered 16 disposals, four tackles and four inside 50s.
Playing a central part for Central Districts in their win against Port Adelaide, likely first round choice Jackson Hately secured 18 disposals, six marks, seven tackles, four inside 50s and two goals.
Under 18s
Port Adelaide Next Generation midfielder Kai Pudney amassed a game high 42 disposals, five marks and six inside 50s for the Eagles in their win against Central Districts.
WAFL
League
In just his second League opportunity, speedy midfielder Sydney Stack secured 13 disposals and four tackles for Perth in a heavy loss to South Fremantle.
Reserves
Leading possession winner Rylie Morgan played a pivotal midfield role for Claremont in their win against Peel. The prolific accumulator gathered 32 disposals, seven marks, eight tackles and eight inside fifties.
NEAFL
For the Giants, in their loss to Sydney, GWS Academy star underage prospect Thomas Green was a shining light. The powerful midfielder posted 24 disposals, six tackles and 10 clearances.