The AFL draft, the annual selection meeting at which the best young talent in the county is signed by the 18 clubs, whose futures are heavily shaped by who they pick.

To be eligible for the draft, a player must be have turned 18 by December 31 this year.

As always much of the talent comes from regional Australia. Meet just some of the hopefuls.

Draft expert Emma Quayle takes a look at some of the brightest prospects from North East Victoria and the Riverina before their AFL hopes go on the line in Sydney on November 25.

Born: 12.5.1998 |  Height: 197cm | Weight: 84kg

AFL bio: Versatile tall forward or defender with a huge tank and an excellent long kick, whether from defence or at goal. Played mainly forward for NSW/ACT and Allies this year and played back for Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup. Member of the NAB AFL Academy and GWS Giants Academy.

"I've really enjoyed some of Zach's work down back late this year. He's shown some real athleticism down there. He's still learning the nuances of the game but he runs well, he kicks the ball well and he's a pretty good package. I think it's been good for him to get experience in different parts of the ground this year and become a more rounded player, and I think being settled in an AFL environment will be good for him as well. He's had about eight coaches in the last two years. He's a popular kid, the kids enjoy his company and he's very likeable." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

"I love Sprouley. He has a great work ethic. He's like a number of our players in that he needs to use how to use his body better. He can outrun his opponent and beat him on he the burst but he'll become an even better player when he develops some size and learns how to push and shove. I think he's just starting to understand how versatile he can be. We played him predominantly forward but he pinch hit down back at times and it won't hurt him to play down there for a while when he gets to an AFL club. He's quietly competitive and was very popular amongst the group." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 12.9.1998 | Height: 200cm | Weight: 96kg

AFL bio: Developing ruckman who switched from soccer two years ago to become an AFL prospect with his performances for the Murray Bushrangers and Allies this year. A mobile player, he averaged 11 disposals and 14 hitouts for NSW/ACT in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

"We've been really happy with Max's back end of the year. His last couple of finals were good and he's developing quite well. He's come from a soccer background and is still raw but his development through the course of the year has been quite excellent. He kicks the ball well and has a good basic skill set, and we think towards the end of the year he started to show a real competitive streak in the air and at ground level. We're pretty excited about what he has to offer." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

"Max has real upside and people will need to be patient with him because he hasn't played a lot of footy. He's one who probably just needs to find a spot: does he play ruck, key back or key forward? The footy seems to find him, he's just one of those players it keeps going to. He can develop his kicking, but again, he hasn't had a footy background. I think he has a lot of scope to develop because he can apply the things people teach him quickly, and he competes hard. He has a reasonably competitive, aggressive streak." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 11.4.98 | Height: 196cm | Weight: 89kg

AFL bio: Dashing tall defender from the Riverina who has relocated to King's School in Parramatta as part of the GWS Academy. A penetrating kick and strong overhead with the ideal frame to potentially play on the tall forwards at AFL level. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.

"It's been a transition year for Harrison. Moving from country NSW into western Sydney, going to boarding school and doing year 12 makes things hard and I admire him for the transition he's made and the way he's handled it. I think he'll end up being a midfielder, and at 196cm they're pretty dangerous. He can play forward and back as well. He has great skills, he moves well in traffic and he just needs to work on finding the footy a bit more and learning how to body up against his player a bit more one on one. He'll develop that over time with confidence. I don't know how people could ignore him, at his size and shape and with his ability to move around the ground." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 30.6.98 | Height: 192cm | Weight: 84kg

AFL bio: Tall defender who excels in one-on-one contests and is strong overhead. Reliable type who can play on a tall or small forwards and provide good rebound from defence. Overcame a number of injuries to show his promise with the Allies this year.

"He's been a really well-performed player over two years now. We rate him as a great one-on-one defender. I can't think of a time where he's been beaten, to be honest. He's taken on and beaten some of the best forwards in the competition this year and he did it as a 17-year-old as well. He had to overcome a few injuries early in the year so he missed a bit of nationals with NSW, but he played for the Allies and was really good. He's one of the most coachable kids you'd ever meet, a really steady kind of kid. The players love playing with him and he's just continued to work really hard at everything he does." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

"I love him. People criticise his kicking but I think they base that more on what it looks like than how effective it is. Aesthetically he's not the nicest kick, but he has a reasonably good efficiency rate. He defends first and rarely gets beaten. He can play on talls and smalls, so he's quite versatile in that way. He has a lot of upside because he does defend first and knows how to do that instinctively. Once he puts on some genuine upper body size he'll be even harder to compete against one on one." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 5.2.1998 | Height: 190cm | Weight: 80kg

AFL bio: A medium midfielder who can win the ball on the inside and outside, he had an injury-interrupted NAB AFL under-18 championships, with his 28 disposals vs Northern Territory his best performance for NSW/ACT. Also played two matches for the Allies, averaging 12 disposals. Member of the NAB AFL Academy and Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy.

"Will's a ripper kid, a bit of a laidback country kid with a really steely resolve too. He's done well this year to deal with living away from home in the boarding house, doing a lot of travel and dealing with a few injuries as well. He missed out on the grand final because of his shoulder but played some really good finals footy before then, he was able to go forward as a key marking target as well as play in the midfield which I think the recruiters were happy to see." – Ryan O'Connor, Sandringham talent manager

"Will can play anywhere. And as a midfielder he plays inside as well as outside. He needs a break with all the injuries he's had, he's a ripping kid. He's one of those players who can be underrated. You look at his stats and he might have had four kicks and 10 handballs but he's had nine tackles and 10 smothers as well. He understands his role and like I said just needs some luck, but to his credit he's coped quite well with his setbacks. He's a smiling, happy kid who gets on with it and who has the potential to play some good senior footy early in his career, I think." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 12.11.1998 | Height: 182cm | Weight: 73kg

AFL bio: Medium defender-midfielder with neat disposal skills and is a smart decision maker. Shows dash from defence and has overcome ACL injury last year and lower back issues earlier in the year to return to Bushies in last six weeks. Averaged 15.5 disposals over last two years in TAC Cup.

"Harry had some injury setbacks as a 16-year-old and early this year as well, but as far as his footy goes he's probably the best kick we have at our club. He reads the game really well, he kicks it well, he's a good decision maker and he's November born so we think he has some real scope to be a good AFL player down the track." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

Born: 19.12.1998 | Height: 184cm | Weight: 75kg

AFL bio: Versatile medium defender-forward who had an outstanding representative year, winning Most Valuable Player awards for NSW/ACT (division two) and then the Allies (division one) in the NAB AFL under-18 championships. Super-competitive and strong overhead and a good user of the ball, he averaged 16 disposal for the Allies and achieved All-Australian honours.

"Harry's always been a pretty good player. He played back a lot as a kid and always saw the game in front of him. This year he's gone into the midfield, added some real aerobic capacity and endurance to his game and competed hard. He's been exposed to senior footy back home for a long time so he understands the nuances of body positioning and he can really hurt teams with his left and right foot kicking. He was tiny as a youngster but he's really matured. He doesn't get stressed about anything, Harry, he has a quite calm nature and doesn't get overly caught up in anything. He highly values playing the game and is extremely competitive. He's easy to like." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 8.10.1998 | Height: 198cm | Weight: 87kg

AFL bio: Emerging tall forward who played representative cricket in England last year before focusing on AFL this year. Showed real potential with his marking, agility and elite goal sense. Averaged 2.3 goals for NSW/ACT and 1.8 goals for the Allies in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

"He's had no base, no preparation, no pre-season and so to do what he's done this year has been quite amazing. He didn't put together the one full game we were after, but he's shown plenty of signs and we know how much talent he has. He's a competitive kid, some of his run-down tackles and work at ground level has been really good and whether he'll end up a top five pick is up for debate but I think he'll end up a very good AFL player. I told the clubs about a month before the end of the season that he was cooked – he's had such a big year off no preparation – but he'll freshen up. He's grown rapidly in the last year – a lot of his junior development was as as midfielder – so he still has plenty of development as a big fella to go." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

"He jumped up early in the year and has been a little bit inconsistent, but he hasn't been exposed to the level for long enough yet. He makes the most of the opportunities he gets in terms of kicking goals, but he could create even more by being more aggressive and more defensive at times. He might be one someone drafts and plays back for a year, just to teach him a bit more before he goes forward again. But he has some real talent in terms of cleanliness, finding space, kicking goals and jumping on heads. Those sorts of players are hard to find." – Darren Denneman, AFL NSW

Born: 24.7.1998 | Height: 194cm | Weight: 95kg

AFL bio: Tall Forward/ruckman with Fijian background who really caught the eye with his eight-goal performance in the TAC Cup for the Murray Bushrangers in round 10. Included in Vic Country team for final two AFL Under-18 matches and impressed with his strong marking, agility and tackling pressure.

"He's probably our most improved player over the last two years. He played a few games last year but hardly touched the ball. He overcame a knee injury early this year and his work up forward and also in the ruck was quite spectacular at times. He took four or five really superb contested marks in our first final. He's a delightful kid, really engaging and he only started playing footy at 14 so he's on a big upward curve in terms of his development." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

Born: 5.3.1998 | Height: 181cm | Weight: 71kg

AFL bio: Medium forward-midfielder who is dangerous around goals, utilising his pace and agility. A smart user of the ball through the midfield, he has a big tank. Missed the NAB AFL under-18 championships through injury but has made a full recovery. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.

"I feel a bit robbed that I didn't get to watch Jy play as a top-ager. He put together a great body of work as a bottom-ager and in his first TAC Cup game this year he kicked four goals against Bendigo and was really dominant. He has great character and has been really good around our group in the last month. He's worked hard on his rehab and had a bit of a setback with an infection, but the way he's going he should be ready to go for preseason in November." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

Born: 23.8.1998 | Height: 189cm | Weight: 82kg

AFL bio: Medium midfielder with excellent game sense and contested ball-winning ability. Has excellent step through traffic, creating time and space in congested situations. Averaged 21 disposals and 5.2 tackles in the NAB AFL under-18 championships, winning All-Australian honours. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.

"What you see is what you get with Will. He has great character, he's really driven and motivated. I think while he didn't get a huge number of possessions during the finals, his impact at crucial times was a sign of things to come. He could end up being a real game breaker with his clearance work. In the last quarter in our first final we were down and he got four big clearances in a row to drive the ball forward. He's very competitive and a natural leader with a very exciting future." – Lee Fraser, Murray talent manager

Justine McCullagh-Beasy runs a rule over a number of AFL draft hopefuls with links to the south-west of Victoria.

Hugh McCluggage’s poise. Willem Drew’s consistency. Sean Darcy’s aggression. Jarrod Korewha’s professionalism.

These are the south-west draft contenders’ standout traits outgoing Vic Country coach Paul Henriksen witnessed first-hand throughout the AFL under 18 national championships.

The Terang teacher, preparing to move north to begin life as a Brisbane Lions development coach, believes the Hampden league quartet have what it takes to play at the elite level.

They are among nine players with links to the Hampden league considered national or rookie draft chances.

Rowan Marshall (Portland) and Sam McLachlan (North Warrnambool Eagles) are mature-age VFL prospects in the hunt.

Jamaine Jones (Portland), Dion Johnstone (North Warrnambool Eagles) and Cedric Cox (Camperdown) are TAC Cup graduates hoping to make the grade.

A standout 2016 season for the Rebels and Vic Country at the under 18 national championships entrenched McCullage as a potential number one pick.

“I wanted to have a good crack at the year and I’d been given a good opportunity through the academy and it’s taken off really and caught me by surprise a little bit,” McCluggage said.

Football has played a major role in McCluggage’s upbringing.

Drew grew up a stone’s throw from South Warrnambool’s home ground but family connections lured him to Koroit, some 20 kilometres west.

The small-town Hampden league club which punches above its weight is engrained in the creative midfielder, who is already a three-time premiership player at 18.

It was when Sean Darcy, 18 and on the cusp of making the AFL, moved to boarding school at Melbourne’s Xavier College three years ago that a career in football became real.

“I loved my footy but I never thought footy was an option until I moved to Xavier,” he said.

It’s not unusual for Chris McLaren’s phone to buzz with a call from an AFL draft prospect eager to soak up as much information as he can.

Koroit teenager Jarrod Korewha often seeks out the Hampden league veteran for advice. He rates the incoming Saints coach as the biggest influence on a football career he hopes is on an upwards trajectory.

Rowan Marshall was a footballer caught between two worlds.

The Portland export was labelled a potential AFL pick but once overlooked then deemed too inexperienced to command a starting VFL ruck spot.

Marshall signed with North Ballarat Roosters for the 2015 season but found himself stuck at Ballarat league club Sebastopol for all bar five games.

The Burras pit stop was a detour the 20-year-old believes elevated his game and again thrust his name under AFL recruiters’ noses.

Graeme Twaddle’s time in football has taught him a simple lesson when it comes to rejection at representative level.

“I think it can do one of two things to young people who miss out – they either withdraw or they use it as motivation,” he said.

The North Warrnambool Eagles co-coach watched with pride as one of his charges chose the latter.

Sam McLachlan is two years removed from the disappointment of missing out on the North Ballarat Rebels’ list and on the cusp of an AFL career.

The term ‘foster carer’ doesn’t sit well with Sue Lovett. A boy she took in eight years ago is part of her family.

He arrived aged 10 after spending four years of his young life in a Mildura group home.

And he jumped at the chance to live with Lovett in Geelong before moving with her to Heywood in year nine.

That boy is AFL draft hopeful Jamaine Jones – a creative goalsneak who loves to lay crunching tackles and has overcome tough personal challenges to give himself a chance of achieving his dream.

Dion Johnstone addresses the large group with a confidence which once eluded him.

He stands in front of his Scotch College teammates, opponents and families and talks about the day’s game without a hint of the shyness which followed him to Melbourne from his home town of Warrnambool three years earlier.

The talented goalsneak embraced the captaincy bestowed upon him in his final year at the private school.

Johnstone is hoping the personal growth he’s shown, coupled with the courage to leave home at a young age to pursue his dreams, will encourage an AFL club to draft him.

Cedric Cox, 19, landed in Camperdown from the remote Western Australian community of Halls Creek in March.

He wanted to carve a better life for himself. And football, the sport where he dazzles with his pace and foot skills, gave him that opportunity. AFL clubs came calling, thick and fast.

Tom Williamson’s football career is at a crossroad with the AFL draft in Sydney.

The Ararat-born footballer will compete against the top young talent for a spot on an AFL list in 2017. 

“Football from a young age has been my dream and I have worked hard to get where I am now,” he said.

Saints footballer Jarrod Berry is defined by his leadership credentials, his determination and his humble beginnings. 

On Friday night, Berry has the chance to go down in history as he competes for a spot on the list of one of 18 AFL clubs. For Berry – it is a time of reflection as he nervously awaits the biggest moment of his football career. 

Calvin Thorne will watch the 2016 AFL draft with bated breath as he hopes to hear his name called for a spot on an AFL list.

The Peel Thunder draft prospect will gather with fellow 2016 hopefuls Shai Bolton, Sam Powell-Pepper and Noah Hura as they eagerly await word that could determine their futures.

Thorne has nominated for the draft on the back of a 2016 season that saw him play 17 league games with the Thunder, averaging 13 disposals and kicking four goals in spurts between the wing and forward line.

Competition for a step up to the big show is as fierce as ever in South Australia. There are, Peter Argent writes, a number of red-hot contenders for the 2016 AFL draft.

From the Tea Tree Gully Wolves and brought up through the North Adelaide under-age program, state under 18s captain Jack Graham must be high on the draft radar.

He won the Larke Medal for the fairest and best player in this years Under 18’s national program, but freely concedes there is extra pressure at draft time having achieved that accolade.

An Australian and state baseballer at junior level as an infielder, before football took precedence, Jonty Scharenberg has already had a big year in 2016.

He started with the AIS national academy trip to Florida and Los Angeles, played in all four of the national under 18s championships games, along with seven league matches, five at reserves and the Under 18s Grand Final for Glenelg.

His playing season then culminated with the inaugural Under 18s All Stars match at Punt Round on AFL Grand Final eve. 

A state under 20s basketballer and also a twice “Head of the River” rowing competitor, Brennan Cox had a break out year as a footballer.

His form over the national carnival was compelling, culminating in All Australian selection as a key defender.

A product of the Koonibba Roosters on the far west coast of this state, Kym Lebois is an electrifying talent with a number on AFL qualities.

He was in the Port Adelaide underage program for two years, after moving across from Ceduna.

Due to the restructure on the SANFL underage program he moved across to Prospect and has played the past two years with the North Adelaide Roosters.

Tyson Stengle is from the Portland Thunder in the heart of Port Adelaide territory, where he started playing our national football code at Under 10s level.

From the 2015 and ’16 seasons, Stengle has played predominately Under 18s Macca’s Cup football last winter, and has shared his clubs commitments between Under 18s and reserves football this year.

In his first year in the SANFL elite underage program Will Hayward has proven to be a bolter in this year’s draft calculations.

From the famous Walkerville Cats, who’ve had a plethora of footballers go on to play at the top level, has been in North Adelaide development squad since the age of 13,  but conceded a big growth sport last summer, has helped him achieve the standard of football he played this season.

“The dream to play AFL football was always there,” Hayward explained.” “I knew at the start of the year, there were certain boxes I had to tick.”

There is no doubt it has been a speedy progression in 2016 for the lad that started his football at the Cleve Bombers, Alex Villis.

In round one he was playing reserves football and but completion of the ’16 season Villis was a member of the inaugural under 18 All Stars clash at Punt Road, on AFL Grand Final Eve.

“There certainly has been quick progress this year,” Villis,a 2016 draft hopeful, explained.

The second youngest of six children – after John (30), Brett (28), Laura (24), Heyson (20) – and with little sister Melanie (16), Mitch Hinge hails from a property in the South East of the state at Mundulla.

Like his brothers, football started the Mundulla Tigers in the expansive Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara league.

He also ventured down to Sacred Heart like the oldest brother John and they both also went to SANFL club, Glenelg.

Having already played A grade country at 16-year with the South Gambier Demons in the highly regarded Border Districts Football League back in 2014, Sam Walker overcame a stress fracture in his foot during the pre-season, which limited his preparation from October to late February, to become an All Australian Under 18 in this critical year of his football development.