The 2024 National Championships get underway this Sunday, with AFL scouts and recruiters set to get an indication of this year's top bracket of talent.
The carnival sees the best draft stars from across the country looking to flex their value at the highest level in their draft campaign, with the National Championships a stage where the cream rises to the top.
The Allies enter the carnival as the reigning champions after a maiden title win in 2023, with the 'best of the rest' set to be a top contender again this year given their strong list of talent and emerging bottom-age prospects.
Each side has key players in all areas of the field, so we've looked to highlight the players to keep an eye on across this year's carnival, both eligible and bottom-age players.
Here are 56 prospects to watch from each side ahead of the 2024 National Championships...
5. Allies
Coming off a maiden National Championships title, the Allies have a good chance to make it successive carnival crowns given the strength of this year's squad of both eligible and bottom-age prospects.
Academy guns, those with family ties and glowing Tasmanians make up a large portion of this year's 'best of the rest' side, with none more promising than Gold Coast Academy midfielder Leonardo Lombard.
Lombard made headlines last year after breaking into the Suns' VFL side as a 16-year-old before holding his own at the level to play a part in a grand final win over Werribee last September.
The hard-nosed onballer is sure to follow in the footsteps of now ex-teammate Jake Rogers as the defensive-minded midfielder in Mitch Hahn's team, and he won't be short of assistance.
Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Sam Marshall is another first-round draft chance, while fellow AFL Academy selections Ricky Mentha, Jobe Shanahan, Oliver Dean and Joel Cochran add to an exciting Allies crop.
Shanahan is proving to be one of the better key forwards in the class of 2024, while Dean is arguably Tasmania's leading prospect and features among the best options.
Sandringham Dragons talent Nathaniel Sulzberger is another big name out of the island state, while over-ager and Mid-Season Draft chance Geordie Payne might not feature in the championships after this weekend if he earns an expected AFL chance.
Midfielder Cochran leads Sydney's Academy crop, while bottom-age assets Noah Chamberlain and Lachlan Carmichael are damaging in the forward and defensive ends respectively and also have ties to the Swans with great promise.
Gold Coast will be equally excited with their bottom-age Academy prospects as Kalani White, Zai Millane and Zeke Uwland each prepare to hold key roles for the Allies.
White, a rangy key defender at 198cm, is also tied to Melbourne as the son of Demons great Jeff White, while Uwland is the younger brother of current Sun Bodhi and Millane is the nephew of late Collingwood champion Darren.
GWS Academy ruckman Logan Smith is another large presence for the Allies, while the likes of Nick Andreacchio and Ben Kennedy each hold integral roles in defence.
The Allies open their season with a trip to South Australia this weekend.
