This Sunday is going to be the biggest day in the life of many young footballers around Australia. The recruiting staff of all 16 AFL clubs will gather at the National Tennis Centre on at noon Sunday and give upwards of 60 young players the chance to become AFL stars. Essendon won't enter the draft until selection number 18 but there will still be plenty of talent available when the Bombers make their first selection. Attached is a brief run-down of 20 youngsters who are expected to be taken in the thick of the first round action.

SHANE HARVEY
NORTHERN KNIGHTS, (TAC Cup), Born: 3/1/83, 175cm, 66kg
Excellent front and square rover who is smart around goals. Shows good evasive skills and represented Vic Metro in AFL U18’s this year. Finished 3rd in the Knights Best and Fairest Award this year. Brother to Brent at the Kangaroos.

LUKE BALL
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS (TAC Cup), Born: 25/5/84, 183cm, 74kg
Inside player who is a prolific ball winner with speed and endurance. Has clean hands and is a good decision maker. AIS/AFL Academy representative and All Australian in AFL U18’s in 2001.

RICHARD COLE
EASTERN RANGES (TAC Cup), Born: 15/7/83, 182cm, 75kg
Extremely quick and long kicking midfielder originally from Tennant Creek in NT. All Australian at U18 level in 2000 but has had an injury interrupted season in 2001.

CHRIS JUDD
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS (TAC Cup), Born: 8/9/83, 187cm, 81kg
Inside player with excellent speed and endurance. Can play back, in midfield or go forward and kick goals. Fine leader captaining Vic Metro U18’s in 2001. AIS/AFL Academy in 2000 he has had an injury interrupted year requiring shoulder surgery from which he has now fully recovered.

JAMES KELLY
CALDER CANNONS (TAC Cup), Born: 29/12/83, 182cm, 77kg
Quick, hard and focussed ball winner with good work ethic. Inside player who represented Vic Metro at AFL U18’s level this year. Runner up in club Best and Fairest Award in premiership team.

BRENT REILLY
CALDER CANNONS (TAC Cup), Born: 12/11/83, 181cm, 75kg
Inside wingman with good leap and strong mark. Has good foot skills and won All Australian U18 honours in 2001. Missed Cannons Premiership due to injury however finished equal 3rd in club Best and Fairest Award.

CHARLIE GARDINER
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS (TAC Cup), Born: 1/3/83, 186cm, 78kg
Classy half forward or midfielder who has good hands and is strong overhead. Won All Australian U18 honours this year and was runner up in club Best and Fairest Award.

KIERAN MCGUINNESS
EASTERN RANGES (TAC Cup), Born: 8/7/83, 188cm, 80kg
Strong marking player with a penetrating left foot kick. Impact player who represented Vic Metro in AFL U18’s in 2001.

SAM POWER
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS (TAC Cup), Born: 2/7/83, 187cm, 72kg
Extremely skilful left footed player who was joint winner of the Larke Medal as best and fairest player in AFL U18’s. AIS/AFL Academy in 2000. Brother to Luke at the Brisbane Lions.

RYAN BROWN
DANDENONG STINGRAYS (TAC Cup), Born: 4/2/84, 190cm, 83kg
Strong marking forward who kicked over 40 goals this year. Good one grab player and makes excellent 2nd effort. Vic Metro representative in 2001 and runner up in the club Best and Fairest Award.

STEVEN ARMSTRONG
PERTH (WAFL), Born: 12/1/84, 178cm, 77kg
Inside midfielder who is strong overhead and has excellent skills under pressure. Senior player last 2 years in WAFL and AIS/AFL Academy member in 2001. Equal winner of Larke Medal in AFL U18’s 2001 as the Championships best and fairest player.

DANIEL ELSTONE
BENDIGO PIONEERS (TAC Cup), Born: 15/7/83, 178.5cm, 82kg
NSW/ACT U18’s representative from Wentworth who won All Australian honours in the AFL U18’s this year. Wins hard ball, skilful both sides and loves physical contact. Won Pioneers Best and Fairest Award this year to cap an outstanding season.

ASHLEY SAMPI
STH FREMANTLE (WAFL), Born: 12/1/84, 178cm, 76kg
Has uncanny skills and is extremely quick and evasive. Won Kevin Sheehan Medal in AFL U16’s in 2000 and represented WA at U18 level and AIS/AFL Academy in 2001. Showed potential with South Fremantle in senior finals this year.

XAVIER CLARKE
ST MARYS (NTFL), Born: 28/9/83, 181cm, 74kg
Excellent ball handler and left foot kick. Quickness and 2nd efforts are features. AIS/AFL Academy member in 2000 and Northern Territory U18’s in 2001.

DAVID HALE
BROADBEACH (Qld AFL), Born: 22/5/84, 200cm, 84kg
Agile and strong marking forward who has quick hands at ground level. Made All Australian U18’s team representing Queensland this year and represented AIS/AFL Academy v. Ireland. Coached by John Northey at Broadbeach this season.

HENRY PLAYFAIR
NSW/ACT RAMS (TAC Cup), 197cm, 88kg
Agile and strong marking player from Holbrook in country NSW who attends university in Sydney. Impressive at ground level for a player of his size..

GRAHAM POLAK
EAST FREMANTLE (WAFL), Born: 16/6/84, 192cm, 83kg
Mobile and athletic player who is extremely strong overhead. Made senior debut this year and represented both WA in AFL U18’s and AIS/AFL Academy v. Ireland.

MARK POWELL
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS (TAC Cup), Born: 15/3/84, 190cm, 76kg
Fast and versatile player who is good in the air and strong at the ball. NSW/ACT U18 and AIS/AFL Academy representative in 2001.

BARRY BROOKS
TASSIE MARINERS (TAC Cup), Born: 24/12/83, 198cm, 95kg
Strong pack mark and mobile player who played both Mariners at U18 level and seniors for Tasmania at VFL level this year. Won All Australian U18 honours in 2001 and represented AIS/AFL Academy v. Ireland in 2000.

MARK JAMAR
NORTH ADELAIDE (SANFL), Born: 9/8/83, 198cm, 97kg
Left footed ruckman who is strong overhead. Showed promise in senior debut year in SANFL under former Crow Darrel Hart. Alll Australian at U18 level in 2001.