A total of 64 players were drafted in 2023, and while AFL scouts can soon kick up their feet, their attention will eventually turn to next year's crop of impressive teenagers.
26 players eligible for next year's draft have been named in the 2024 AFL Academy squad, many of whom featured in the annual Future Stars game at the MCG in December.
2023's draft was heavily impacted by father-son and Academy prospects, and 2024 looks to be no different as a number of top-rated players already have ties to AFL clubs.
The top-end of next year's draft is also skewed in favour of midfielders, with seven of the top eight names to consider likely to spend a majority of their draft campaigns in the middle of the field next year.
Here are the names to watch in 2024...
3. Levi Ashcroft
A familiar surname for Lions fans, with Levi Ashcroft the latest from his household in line to become a Brisbane player.
The son of premiership play Marcus and brother to young Brisbane gun Will, Levi, much like his brother, is a headline prospect among his draft class after a premiership-winning season with the Sandringham Dragons.
The 17-year-old helped the Dragons to titles both last year and in 2023 and would make it three in a row if they go the distance next year.
Has similar traits to his brother with his cleanliness around the contest and his football smarts, which helped him claim the Dragons' best and fairest this year over the likes of Ryley Sanders or Will Brown, and also be selected in the U18 All-Australian side as a bottom-ager.
Ashcroft is set to train with the Lions over the coming pre-season alongside Brisbane Academy talent Sam Marshall, who could've also made this list.
