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...
8. Josh Smillie
Was part of a lethal Eastern Ranges midfield that includes Caleb Windsor and fellow bottom-ager Christian Moraes, with Smillie helping set up a strong finish to the year before missing the finals campaign through injury.
Is a tall midfielder at 194cm and uses his size to his advantage at the contest and in the air, with Smillie averaging 26.3 disposals and 4.4 marks this year for the Ranges from his eight matches.
Played in two games for Vic Metro and collected 21 touches per game, while he'd bear further fruit at the Future Stars game with 21 disposals and five marks for Team Naitanui.
