A talented group of Hampden league footballers are hopeful but realistic about their chances of getting picked up in the AFL draft next week.
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Terang Mortlake product Isaac Wareham is hoping he did enough during his impressive AFL under 18 national championships campaign with Vic Country earlier this year.
It's been a tough second-half to the year for the teenager whose Greater Western Victoria Rebels season was ended prematurely by a knee injury.
"Personally, I could have showed a lot more, those two games (with Vic Country) overall kind of showed what I can do if I am fully fit and confident," he said.
"It's frustrating I didn't really get to show my full potential."
The 17-year-old, who averaged 13 disposals and four marks during the national championships, is still in the mix to get picked up by an AFL club.
According to the AFL website his draft range is between picks 30 to 70.
The wingman and running half-back flanker said it was hard to tell what was going to happen with clubs trading draft picks.
"Look I'm hopeful but it really depends on what happens on the night," he said.
"It's hard setting plans at the moment because it's a bit up in the air.
"If I happen to get picked I'll be very grateful."
The teenager said he had recovered from his medial ligament injury and was ready for a pre-season.
He added he would need to take a conservative approach to training as he built up his fitness again.
Wareham, who has played senior football with Terang Mortlake since he was 15, said he had met with a few AFL clubs.
The youngster, who was invited to the AFL national combine in October, said he met with clubs during the combine as well as before and after it.
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He was unable to test at the camp due to his knee injury but said he benefited from the club interviews.
"It's promising, it gives you a bit of hope," he said.
The Mortlake-raised teenager was also part of the AFL Academy this year, a program which has produced five Brownlow medallists including Paddy Dangerfield.
Wareham, who just finished Year 12 at St Patrick's College Ballarat, is also interested in studying business at university.
His GWVR teammate and Camperdown product Toby Mahony is another draft hopeful.
The 18-year-old, a tall (192cm) inside-midfielder who can push forward, has been keeping busy ahead of draft week.
"Obviously it's pretty exciting but I'm trying not to think about it too much," he said.
The youngster, who lives on a dairy farm at Bookaar, has been doing some fencing near Derrinallum, hospitality work and kicking the footy with mates.
Mahony, a Vic Country representative, has also been keeping in peak condition ahead of the draft.
"There's a program we've been given in the lead up that gets us as fit as we can be," he said.
The Mercy Regional College student recently completed a physics exam to wrap up his Year 12 studies.
He's relieved his exams are over but also grateful for the opportunities he gained in his final school year.
Mahony was school captain and worked with a leadership group.
It's a position he benefited from and one which was caught the attention of some AFL clubs.
The teenager said he met with clubs throughout the year who asked him about school and leadership.
He said he'd been able to bring lessons from school to his football with the Rebels.
"I've just been able to talk and give instructions when needed and been able to listen to people as well," he said.
Mahony, who was also part of the Rebels' leadership group this season, was one of 118 draft prospects from around Australia who tested in front of recruiters at the state combine in October.
He put in strong performances.
"I got personal bests in most of the tests," he said.
"That definitely helped, all those weeks of work," he said.
Mahony - who is having people wish him luck down the street in Camperdown - is eagerly awaiting what will happen at the draft but also has university ambitions.
He said he was hoping to study business in Melbourne or Geelong.
Meanwhile, three Hampden league young guns started training with Geelong's VFL squad this week at GMHBA Stadium.
Warrnambool product Mitch Burgess, South Warrnambool's Liam Herbert and Port Fairy's Josh Dwyer will train with the Cats up to Christmas.
Herbert, who code-hopped to football after representing Australia in basketball, said he wasn't expecting to get picked up in the draft next week but he'll see what happens.
The 18-year-old said he met with four AFL clubs earlier this year in the week before he played for Vic Country at the national championships.
The youngster, who just finished Year 12 at Emmanuel College, carried a groin injury this year and missed numerous Rebels matches.
He said he wasn't sure on his plans for next year but he is interest in a gap year or studying commerce at university.
Half-back Burgess is also realistic about his chances.
"I'd be pretty surprised to get picked up," he said.
"I'm just supporting Jay (Rantall) and trying to get behind him as much as I can.
"I'd be pretty stoked but not expecting too much."
Close mates Burgess and Rantall just finished Year 12 at Warrnambool College.
Burgess said he and Dwyer participated in private testing with an AFL club in October.
The 18-year-old said he was keen to have a gap year next year - mixing travel and footy - and was interested in studying something to do with sport the following year.
But first he wants to have a big pre-season.
Dwyer was contacted for comment.
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