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AFL Draft Wrap: Hayward-clone Sturt rising rapidly

Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.

As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.

Aside from the weekly wraps, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month and as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.

Player Focus

In just his third TAC Cup game, Sam Sturt performed an instrumental role for Dandenong in their win against Sandringham. Garnering attention from the recruiting community for his performance for AGSV in the annual APS vs. AGSV school football match, the hype has increased with the quality of his TAC Cup performances over the past two weeks.

Proving to be Dandenong's most dangerous forward, Sturt displayed a strong all-around game and managed 18 disposals, five marks, three goals and three score assists.

Sturt is a threatening mark who launches up at the ball aerially, frequently creates space inside 50m and is a threat on the lead. The medium forward is capable at ground level to crumb off hands or take the ball cleanly off the bounce. He is sure of foot on his left, converting his opportunities in front of goal from general play and set shots. His kicking to targets inside 50m is notable, with the vision and execution to hit up leading targets.

Athletically he possesses explosive speed, agility and a high work rate that allows him to lose his opponents inside 50m. Playing a style of game comparable to Sydney's Will Hayward, Sturt's stocks are rapidly growing and with a strong finals series may enter the second-round mix. While he is an impressive forward, the unknown that could see him rocket into the first-round conversation is whether he can push up the ground and impact games through the midfield.

TAC Cup

Lacking his usual impact, Sam Fletcher quietly went about his work in close at stoppages. The ball-winning midfielder amassed 30 disposals, 17 contested possessions and nine tackles for Dandenong.

Similarly, Campbell Hustwaite played an under-the-radar game, doing a lot of his work in close. The prolific ball winner posted 28 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 15 tackles, four clearances and one goal.

Earning best on ground honours for Dandenong, Matthew Cottrell provided meaningful run and carry throughout the contest. His 40m goal while pushed was a highlight. The speedy midfielder secured 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, four clearances, eight inside 50s and one goal.

Leading the way through the midfield for Sandringham, Liam Stocker was relentless with his attack on the ball. Stocker, who is in first round contention, impressed with 32 disposals, 21 contested possessions, five tackles, nine clearances, eight inside 50s and two score assists. Importantly, Stocker displayed a high work rate, the skills to hit up targets inside 50m, agility and impressive speed over the first five to 10 metres.

Looking like the best key position player on the field, underage defender Corey Watts was an intercept marking force. In one-on-one contests, Watts demonstrated excellent bodywork. His clean pickups off the bounce and acceleration are other standout traits. The 195cm, 86kg, Sandringham tall posted 20 disposals and eight marks (two contested).

Running around with what seemed like his own football for Geelong in their win against Calder, Sam Walsh was as prolific as ever, amassing 37 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 marks (one contested), five clearances, eight inside 50s and two score assists. The only knock on his performance was how wasteful he was in front of goal with three behinds.

Working hard through Geelong's midfield and providing valuable drive forward, Ned McHenry managed 27 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s, one goal and four score assists.

Taking meaningful strides over the second half of the season, underage prospect Daniel Mott was Calder's best. The 182cm, 73kg, midfielder collected 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions, nine clearances, six inside 50s and two score assists.

Making the most of his opportunity as a forward, Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Rhylee West produced 20 disposals, 10 contested possessions, six tackles, six clearances four inside 50s and three goals for Calder.

For Gippsland in their three-point win against Eastern, talented underage forward Sam Flanders secured 21 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six tackles, eight inside 50s, one goal and two score assists but was wasteful in front of goal with four behinds.

Continuing to rise draft boards, key forward Noah Gown was important for Gippsland securing 20 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight marks (two contested), four goals and two score assists.

Helping Oakleigh to a convincing win against Greater Western Victoria, Jack Ross is making a late draft push after concluding his APS football duties. The classy midfielder managed 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five marks, seven clearances, four inside 50s and one goal.

Providing a spark up forward for Oakleigh, Collingwood Next Generation Academy prospect Atu Bosenavualagi amassed 22 disposals, 13 contested possessions, eight marks (three contested), four inside 50s, three goals and two score assists.

In a narrow loss to Northern, underager Jimmy Boyer was again important for Murray with his clean use through the midfield with 10 of his 14 kicks effective. The impressive midfielder managed 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions and seven clearances.

Earning best on ground honours for Western in their win against Bendigo, Connor Thar accumulated 32 disposals, five marks, five inside 50s and two goals.

Western captain Xavier O'Halloran hurt Bendigo with every possession, posting 25 disposals, six marks, five tackles, four clearances, 10 inside 50s and one goal.

VFL

For Frankston in their heavy loss to Richmond, draft fancy Corey Rich, who is a ready-to-go 183cm forward, contributed 21 disposals, seven marks (one contested) and five goals.

South Australian School Football Final - Henley v Prince Alfred College (PAC)

Henley

Earning best on ground honours for Henley in their 25-point win, Jack Lukosius secured 18 disposals and nine marks. His pinpoint kicking from defence -- with bullet passes, some as low as 2m off the ground - was superb, as was his vision to locate targets. His intercept marking, with his early reading of the ball in flight, and work rate was also noteworthy.

Seemingly always first to the ball and winning it each time there was one to win, Izak Rankine made several important plays. His crumbing off hands and ground level skills stood out. The potential top-five choice managed 18 disposals and one goal.

PAC

Playing a courageous, desperate brand of football, Tom Sparrow attacked the footy, tackled strongly and took an impressive leaping mark one-on-one against contact. His evasion and agility to get by two would-be tacklers was impressive, as was his run in support offensively.

North Adelaide underager and South Australian Under-16 MVP in 2017, Karl Finlay put on an intercept marking clinic in defence. He read the ball in flight early and took several courageous marks going back with the flight.

Underager Kysiah Pickett was a real energiser for PAC, displaying freakish evasion, agility and acceleration with ball in hand. His composure and reliable skills under pressure were a further highlight.

SANFL

League

Backing up after Henley's win during the week, Lukosius helped the Eagles in their victory against Central Districts with 14 disposals, four marks and one goal.

Similarly having no trouble playing two games in one week, Rankine was influential for West Adelaide in their convincing win against Adelaide. Named among West Adelaide's best players, Rankine secured 20 disposals, 11 marks, five inside 50s and three goals.

WAFL

League

Holding his own for the third successive week against League competition, exciting midfielder Sydney Stack secured 17 disposals for Perth in their heavy loss to Subiaco.

Reserves

One of Claremont's best performers in their one-goal loss to Swan Districts, Rylie Morgan gathered team highs of 28 disposals, 10 marks and nine tackles.