A pair of father-son 2024 AFL Draft prospects led the way for their respective sides in Saturday morning's Future Stars game at the MCG as the leading names for next year's draft class put their skills on show.
Team Naitanui came away with a thrilling three-point win as part of a curtain-raiser to the day's grand final proceedings, holding off the opposing Team Selwood side - who kicked the final four goals of the game to bring the match down to the wire.
The best-on-ground honours were handed to Carlton father-son talent Ben Camporeale, who recorded a game-high 30 disposals on the flank to go with his eight marks, eight rebound-50s, and five inside-50s for Team Naitanui.
The son of 233-game ex-Carlton player Scott, Camporeale would be among several father-son names to show their value on the big stage over 12 months out from their National Draft.
Ben's twin brother Lucas would collect 19 disposals, nine marks, and five inside 50s for Team Selwood to be among his side's best performers.
Brisbane father-son prodigy Levi Ashcroft, son of Marcus and brother to Lions rookie Will, recorded a team-high 26 disposals and five inside 50s to go with a nice goal in the third term.
Ashcroft would be among the headline acts in midfield for the Future Stars game, with South Australian Sid Draper (25 disposals), Vic Country talent Finn O'Sullivan (21 disposals, six marks, five inside 50s), Oakleigh's Jagga Smith (21 disposals, three clearances) and Gold Coast Academy prospect Leonardo Lombard (24 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s) all impressing.
The win for captain Draper, Smith and Lombard would come six days on from the latter's VFL Grand Final win with the Suns as a 16-year-old.
The goals would be shared evenly across both sides, with Team Selwood forward and Essendon Next Generation Academy talent Isaac Kako booting two early goals to equal all goalkickers, with teammates Jonty Faull and Josh Murphy also picking up a pair each.
For Team Naitanui, Oakleigh's Tom Gross would be busy throughout to boot 2.3 as Sydney Academy prospect Joel Cochran equalled his feat with a brace.
Team Selwood and Leongatha defender Xavier Lindsay would be among his side's best across half-back, offering plenty of resistance before switching his side into attack lanes with his clean ball movement.
The Gippsland Power representative had 20 disposals and five rebounds-50s to counter Ben Camporeale's influence at the other end of the field.
Team Selwood's Malakai Champion would show glimpses of his agility and skill in the forward half that earned him an invite out of Subiaco, while Sandringham premiership player Murphy Reid would also feature among the losing side's best performers.
The aforementioned Smith was a bright spark in the engine room for Team Naitanui, with his evasiveness and contested work on full display, while Draper, the brother of second-year Collingwood player Arlo, offered run and strength in the middle to stand tall and lead his team to the narrow win.
Northern Knights midfielder Zak Johnson was impressive on the outside to end his performance with 14 disposals and a clean goal on the run in the final term in what would eventually be the deciding major of the match.
Eastern Ranges and Vic Metro star Josh Smillie would also be among Team Naitanui's best from midfield with 21 disposals and five marks, making his return to the field after missing last week's Coates Talent League Grand Final through injury.
