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...
4. Leonardo Lombard
The Suns Academy prospect was a VFL premiership player at just 16 years of age.
Lombard played three matches for Gold Coast's reserves this year, two of which came in their successful finals run, and the teenager amassed 10 touches in the club's 19-point flag-clinching win over Werribee.
He'd back up that performance the following week in the Future Stars game as one of Team Naitanui's leading ball-winners, collecting 24 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s while providing some run through the middle.
Represented the Allies this year in their clash with South Australia as well as earning a selection for Queensland's U17 meeting with Vic Country. Also represented the Suns' Academy in the Talent League on five occasions this year, averaging 24.8 disposals and 3.6 tackles against older prospects.
Is the latest big name out of the Suns' Academy following the club's haul of first-round quartet Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham.
