St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says a quartet of the club's youngest stars will emerge as star midfielders of the competition in due course.
Darcy Wilson, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mattaes Phillipou and Tobie Travaglia have all had bright starts to their careers, but have been played in multiple roles to ease the pressure on their development.
Following Wanganeen-Milera's move into the midfield and front half on Sunday against GWS, resulting in a career-best three goals and 24 disposals, Lyon is buoyed by the potential of the Saints' midfield in years to come.
The Moorabbin coach flagged the development of Brisbane premiership champions Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis, with the pair initially playing outside the midfield before enjoying success on ball.
"We'll keep moving him as he gets bigger and stronger," Lyon said of Wanganeen-Milera.
"He really lit us up.
"I saw (Nigel) Lappin and (Jason) Akermanis develop when I was at Brisbane. They started forward pocket, the back pocket, Brownlow medallist. Wingers, half-backs, champion insider.
"We think that's where Wilson will go. Nas will go. Travaglia will go. Phillipou will go."
Akermanis became a Brownlow medallist and four-time All-Australian, utilising his freakish skill and speed to terrorise opponents.
Lyon thinks, admittedly still early days, that Wanganeen-Milera could do the same.
"Talk is cheap, but he's shown pretty good signs at a young age," Lyon continued.
"He's very quick. He's very skillful. Aker could play anywhere. Speed, skill, courage. All those things.
"But Rome wasn't built in a day."
Phillipou is currently out of the side due to a leg injury, and is expected to miss another four weeks.
Veteran on-ballers Jack Steele and Jack Macrae currently occupy multiple midfield roles, but will likely take a backward seat as the youth materialise from Moorabbin.
The Saints have been the surprise packet of 2025 before running into a rampant Giants outfit to record three victories from the first five rounds.
They take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Easter Sunday.
