Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Cooper Hynes has continued to rise up the ranks in 2024, with the talented teenager among Vic Country's best in Saturday's win over Western Australia.
The Bonbeach product booted two second-half goals against the Sandgropers and finished his morning with 20 disposals, three tackles and three clearances in his second match at this year's U18s National Championships.
Vic Country claimed an 11-point win in Claremont to continue their perfect start for the 2024 carnival, with Hynes' second major of the day being his side's final goal before the 18-year-old missed another late chance to add to a stellar performance against WA.
Including a 19-disposal effort against South Australia earlier this month in Vic Country's season opener, Hynes has continued to build a strong draft campaign ahead of November's National Draft.
At the Talent League level, Hynes is averaging a team-high 26.5 disposals per game and has kicked 14 goals from his eight appearances for the Stingrays - including three games with at least 23 disposals and three goals.
The attacking midfield threat is seeing his stocks soar across the course of 2024, with Dandenong and Vic Country teammate Harvey Langford placed on a similar path.
Langford has collected 53 disposals across his two National Championships appearances, with his latest outing seeing the AFL Academy member also amass five clearances, four tackles, eight marks, six inside 50s and eight contested possessions.
Langford and Hynes are filling the void left by sidelined potential Pick 1 selection Finn O'Sullivan, with the likes of Sam Lalor, Xavier Lindsay and Xavier Ivisic also adding to Vic Country's engine room unit.
The travelling side found some resistance from Western Australia captain Bo Allan at Revo Fitness Stadium, with the Peel Thunder talent collecting 22 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances to further strengthen his chances as a top 10 prospect.
East Fremantle's Luke Urquhart was aggressive through the middle with six clearances and a game-high 11 contested possessions from his 17 disposals.
Medium-sized Claremont forward Hamish Davis led all goalkickers with three majors for the morning, with teammate Wesley Walley WA's only other multiple goalkicker.
Murray Bushrangers livewire Joe Berry brought his season tally to five goals from two games for Vic Country after booting two more goals and adding to his sensational 2024 season so far across commitments at the national and Talent League levels.
Jasper Alger also came away with two goals, while GWV Rebels star Jonty Faull kicked the opening goal of the day in his first game of the carnival.
The win for Paul Corrigan's side comes in the first leg of a three-week run for Vic Country, who will face the Allies next Sunday before finishing the National Championships against Vic Metro the week after at Princes Park.
Western Australia's carnival has come to an end, with the Black Ducks recording one win and three defeats in an up-and-down month at the top level.