The AFL Academy fought gallantly in an open game of footy at a sun-soaked RSEA Park on Sunday, but went down 9.12 (66) to 12.7 (79).
Dan Annable took out best-on-ground honours, with the Queenslanders leading the way for the best across the country.
Below is a breakdown of each player's performance.
1) Tom Burton: Played off half-back, and was a particularly prominent distributor in the first half, mixing aggressive kicking with safer options, and applied important pressure on multiple occasions.
2) Beau Addinsall: The Gold Coast Academy prospect finds ways to rack up the footy, finishing as the highest possession winner with 28. Works to lots of contests and showed his willingness to win the hardball, while also providing an option on the spread.
3) Lachie Carmichael: Stats won't reflect it, but Carmichael did some impressive things in the second half. Neutralised plenty of one-on-ones against bigger bodies and his repeat efforts were critical.
4) Willem Duursma: A quieter day for the touted prospect, who played predominantly in defence. Always looked to get the game moving forward with his ball-use, but didn't find heaps of the footy and his execution was below the high benchmark he has set himself.
6) Josh Lindsay: A solid game from the Geelong co-captain. Having played as a midfielder so far this season at the Talent League level, Lindsay reprised his favoured half-back position, and was one of the better ball-users on the day, with his composure an important factor, and he intercepted expertly
7) Dylan Patterson: The player who most exceeded expectation, the Gold Coast Academy prospect was absolutely dynamic. Typically a midfielder, Patterson played off half-back and finished with 15 disposals, but that number belies his influence. Regularly crashed packs, was clean, quick and used his wicked sidestep to give himself plenty of time to dispose of the footy efficiently. Overshadowed for much of the past two years by his Gold Coast Academy teammates, Patterson has stood up at every level he has played. In 2023 he was an U16s All-Australian, before excellent performances in the Queensland U17s trial match and U17s futures matches last year, and had another brilliant outing on Sunday.
8) Ben Rongdit: The athletic interceptor pulled in some big marks and showcased his raw athleticism on multiple occasions in the back half. Seemed to make something happen every time he was around the footy. Impressively, given it has been a point of question, Rongdit took the game on by foot and hit his targets.
10) Wes Walley: Had an 'almost' first quarter, as a constant threat inside 50, but was a victim of both his team's lack of polish and the ball just not quite sitting for him. The West Coast NGA player got higher up the ground and spent time on the wing in the last quarter, when he kicked two behinds.
20) Dan Annable: The skipper was named best on ground for the AFL Academy, backing up his best afield performance in the U17s futures game in 2024. On an unseasonably hot Melbourne day, Annable was clearly the player that ran out the game the best after playing almost exclusively as an onballer. His grunt work was typically instrumental as his team sought to compete with the senior bodies, but his outside work was equally as impressive, highlighted by two goals. The first was a checkside on the run from 45, the second a running goal after effecting a turnover in traffic. He also repeatedly put it to teammates' advantage when kicking inside 50, and pulled down some strong overhead marks.
21) Harley Barker: Was the firestarter for the AFL Academy's best period of play in the third quarter. The South Australian outside player ran his lanes well and intercepted some important balls throughout.
22) Noah Chamberlain: A quieter day for the Sydney Swans Academy prospect, but he finished with a late goal when he got some separation on a lead and kicked truly from 40.
23) Sam Cumming: The South Australian midfielder got some centre bounce attendances and had some head-turning moments. Showed his air of composure when in tight spaces and used his contested possessions well.
24) Louis Emmett: Emmett split his time between the forward line and ruck and had a couple of moments in the first half, but was otherwise quiet. Kicked a fourth quarter goal out the back.
26) Ollie Greeves: Arguably the best player up to half-time, Greeves' contest work stood up to the senior Richmond VFL bodies. Won four clearances in the first quarter and was influential at the centre stoppage throughout the day, until he got moved forward in the second half. His goal kicking let him down as he finished with 0.4, while he was one of several AFL Academy players below their best with their disposal. Also spent time on former Eastern Ranges teammate Josh Smillie, with the pair getting stuck into each other late in the second quarter in a lighthearted moment.
27) Taj Murray: Competed very well in ruck contests against taller and stronger opponents, able to use his leap and athleticism to effect on several occasions. Grabbed the ball out of the ruck to win a couple of clearances.
28) Riley Onley: Covered the ground well and gained plenty of metres with his run and carry and penetrating kicking on multiple occasions, and was particularly prominent in the third quarter when the AFL Academy was at its best.
29) Fred Rodriguez: Started brightly and had his moments throughout the game. Worked hard post-contest to provide an option and made the right decisions with ball in hand.
30) Dyson Sharp: A quieter game for South Australia's top 2025 prospect but he still did enough to prove he's worth getting excited about. A couple of chiselling kicks into the front half, including one which drew forward Archie Ludowyke into open space, will help dispel questions over his ball-use, but he did float in and out of the contest.
31) Cody Curtin: After a flying start to the WAFL Colts competition up forward, Curtin started in defence for the AFL Academy and although he didn't win a heap of the footy, he was rarely caught out of position against bigger bodies and grabbed a big goalline contested mark. Effected one particularly impressive lunging spoil where he closed quickly, and then was swung forward late but was unable to impact.
34) Cooper Duff-Tytler: Provided arguably the highlight of the game, with a running goal from 55 after winning a hitout down to Greeves who got it back to him. Worked hard to provide an option around the ground and was probably the most prominent of the AFL Academy's three rucks in general play.
35) Jasper Hay: A quieter day for the Tasmanian but the moments he did have were impressive. Took two big contested intercept marks and showed composure when he got the ball on the last line of defence.
36) Liam Hetherton: Much like Walley, it was a 'nearly' day for Hetherton. He created a contest all day and was rarely outmarked against stronger bodies, showing more of the same as what he's done so far in 2025 for Murray, but he just didn't drag as many in as he typically does. The big contested mark he took resulted in him smashing it into the woodwork, while his follow-up was often dangerous without any result. He was eventually rewarded for his competitiveness with the last major of the day in the goalsquare.
37) Matt LeRay: He's the sort of player you notice when he wins the ball. Works exceptionally hard to cover the ground, and has a turn of speed, picking the ball up and bursting away on multiple occasions. Was busiest in the first quarter.
38) Archie Ludowyke: Impressively, despite probably having the rawest frame of the AFL Academy's key posts, Ludowyke was the most impressive. Finished with three goals from five shots on goal, taking marks with hit up leads where he sped away from opponents, and big contested grabs too. Finds pockets of space and protects the drop zone well.
39) Kalani White: Started forward and was then rotated into defence. Took a couple of marks and sent it to dangerous spots inside 50 and competed hard.
Richmond VFL
Lachie Wilson was named best afield with an energetic and tireless performance as an important asset in transition play.
Half-back Nick Collier continued his strong start to the season, providing overlap out of the backline. Forward Mohammed Yassine's dash and energy were exciting, while Sean Lai, the brother of Port Adelaide's Josh, started rapidly and used the footy well.
Sam Flockart was regularly targeted in the first half and finished with two goals, while Sam Toner worked into it after half-time and kicked 1.2.
Livewire Massimo Raso split his time between the midfield and forward line and kicked two goals, and was hard to tackle.
Tom Ferguson won plenty of the footy in the middle, and Tom McCarthy was charged with the kick-in duties and kept busy due to the Academy's inaccuracy, but also found plenty of the ball patrolling the backline.
Among the AFL-listed players, Josh Smillie was clearly the most productive in the first half, gathering 14 disposals before he was put on ice after halftime.
Liam Fawcett proved too big and strong for the young defenders, kicking three goals and helping himself to plenty of contested marks.
Noah Balta was promising, cutting off high balls in defence, but far from a standout as Richmond look to build his match fitness.
Other AFL Draft talking points
Tied talent shine
While Collingwood father-son Tom McGuane and Essendon Next Generation Academy prospects Hussien El Achkar and Adam Sweid both continued their excellent form, it was a trio of lesser-known club-tied prospects who shone on the weekend.
Bottom-aged Calder Cannons debutante Blake Justice kicked two excellent goals in a fine first outing where he was a constant threat inside 50.
The Essendon-tied prospect will rue a shot to tie the game just before the siren that shaved the post but was a big reason Calder got as close as it did.
For Oakleigh, small forward Jai Saxena took a step forward, with the dynamic 179cm forward finishing with five goals as he made things happen and pulled in some nice marks.
It takes the Pies Next Generation Academy prospect's season tally to nine.
He shared the forward line with Carlton-tied prospect Mingara Clark who was lively and generated plenty of scoring opportunities.
Athletic Fremantle defender-midfielder Toby Whan also had an enormous game on the weekend, gathering 35 disposals, to go with five tackles and two goals in the WAFL Colts competition.
Geelong Next Generation Academy forward-midfielder Jesse Mellor has quietly strung consecutive strong performances together as a strong presence around the footy and in the front half.
Meanwhile, McGuane got 28 disposals in a heavy Western Jets loss, fellow Pies NGA prospect Zac McCarthy continued his strong form, Hussien El Achkar kicked 3.5 in another impressive outing and Adam Sweid led Calder's midfield.
Smokey overager draws attention
Eastern Ranges defender Rod Ali backed up a promising debut with a best on ground performance in Round 3.
After missing his team's official practice match and Round 1 due to concussion, Ali's combativeness and athleticism caught the eye against Sandringham.
He was similarly aggressive on Saturday, and showed his aptitude for reading the play with his intercepting.
Ali comes from a basketball background, with the Ranges putting him on the map in pre-season as a smokey to watch, and his first two games have underlined the potential those within the program see in him.
Another little-known prospect to continue to push his case for higher honours was Gippsland interceptor Zac Walker, who patrolled the airways in defence, taking 10 marks, after a brilliant debut a fortnight ago, before missing last week with soreness.
Meanwhile, Bendigo utility Tom Evans gathered 44 disposals as an effective mover in the backline, while GWV tall Floyd Burmeister kicked 0.4, following 3.3 last week.
Murray tall Zac Harding is another whose first three weeks should have him in Young Guns calculations, averaging 18 disposals and 29 hitouts.
Sandringham v Oakleigh standouts
For the second time in three games, Ricky Theodoropoulos was among Sandringham's most influential as he hunts a Vic Metro trial.
The ankle-breaking 170cm small forward has done his best work when he gets up the ground, but would likely play deeper if he got representative honours.
Kye Fincher has been a quiet achiever off half-back with his skills and speed, averaging 23 disposals so far this season, while Xavier Bamert combined 24 disposals with two goals against Oakleigh in his best game of 2025 so far, and Rory Wright continued to stake his claim in the middle.
For the Chargers, Aaron Sharkie set the game up well, Sam Grlj made the most of his 24 disposals, Sam Allen was powerful, and Max Kondogiannis was an intercepting force with seven marks in the backline.
The Coates Talent League annual country triple header ventured to Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday, with a few players continuing to press their cases for nationals selection.
Vic Country summer hub member Hunter Wright was solid with 15 disposals and two goals, while teammate Jaidi Jackson-Leahy had a season-high 24 touches and is now averaging 22 across his first three games.
It follows a pre-season where the natural-winner was hyped by the region for his increased strength and fitness.
Gippsland's highly-regarded duo Tom Matthews and Brodie Atkins both missed the Vic Country summer hub, but continued their strong starts to the season.
Matthews kicked three goals and now has 6.3 for the season while Atkins combined 14 disposals with eight tackles, taking his tackle tally to 23 across the first three games - a league-high figure.
For Dandenong, Tairon Ah-Mu's pack-crashing strength was again a feature, though the key forward's kicking let him down as he booted 2.5.
Speedy GWV Vic Country member Archie Taylor built on his opening performance with a 20-disposal effort playing a new midfield role.
Mitch Moate plays confidence-booster
After a quiet return from an ACL injury on managed minutes last weekend, highly-regarded top-aged midfielder Mitch Moate took an important step back towards his best footy in Northern's tight win on Saturday.
Moate gathered 23 disposals, including three goal assists, and he was particularly influential late in the contest with his efficient ball use.
