AFL clubs in need of a big player to stiffen up their spine will have much to consider at this year's national draft.

Those in the know say the talent pool is rich with ruckmen and key-position players, with one AFL talent spotter admitting his amazement at the quality of talls on offer.

"Some of the best talls you see in the game will be in this draft," Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell said.

Those sentiments were echoed by AFL talent Manager Kevin Sheahan.

"There's a good band of key-position players and ruckmen that are on display," Sheahan said.

"They (clubs) are wrapt in the bigger players particularly, the number of guys 198 centimetres and bigger."

Fijian-born Nicholas Naitanui and Brighton Grammar student Jack Watts headline the group of tall under-age youngsters, with the pair touted to battle it out for the number one pick in November's draft.

The duo showed glimpses of their ability in Wednesday's under 18 championships decider between Vic Metro and Western Australia at Telstra Dome.

Naitanui, who stands at 197cm, showed off his great leap in the ruck and his athleticism around the ground while Watts kicked two goals in attack. But Watts' performance throughout the championships earned him the division one best player award - the Larke Medal.

His Vic Metro team-mates Tyrone Vickery, who stands at 200cm, and Shaun McKernan, the brother of dual North Melbourne premiership player Corey McKernan, were impressive in the team's 29-point win over the Sandgropers.

The duo took 10 marks and kicked five goals between them.

South Australia's Lewis Johnston also enhanced his chances of being picked up with an impressive display in the Croweaters' 20.12.132 to NSW/ACT 8.4.52 win.

Johnstone, who stands at 192 cm, hauled in eight marks and booted four goals.

Of the midfield types, West Australian Daniel Rich, South Australian Hamish Hartlett and Tasmanian Mitch Robinson were standouts.

Rich looks a ready-made player and picked up 23 touches, six clearances and eight inside 50s. Hartlett, whose brother Adam plays with Carlton, collected 24 possessions and kicked 8 inside 50's.

Robinson worked tirelessly in Tassie's 98-point loss to Vic Country, picking up 24 touches, eight inside 50s and five clearances.

Sheahan said changes to the championships had provided club scouts for deeper analysis of potential draftees and allowed them to see 40 more youngsters.

There were 21 games in total at this year's championships, nine more than last year.

But Sheahan believed there was an even spread of players expected to go early in the draft.

"The first round will be terribly even," Sheahan said.

"Twenty-five guys you could argue can go into the first round and then it's all fairly subjective at this minute. But I'd say there are 55 players here that you would be pretty happy to have at your footy club."

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