Sharp, 17, had to wait until late into the night before the Brisbane Lions recruited him with pick 43 and moments later Geelong secured Stevens with pick 47.

Both are former St Patrick's College students, with Sharp now at Caulfield Grammar and Stevens at Geelong Grammar.

Sharp is best known as an elite runner and Australian junior steeplechase champion, with his efforts at the AFL Draft Combine really putting him on the map. He smashed the previous 2km time trial record, setting the mark at 5.28min.

"I'm over the moon for Harry," GWV Rebels regional talent operations lead Phil Partington said.

"To see the hard work he has put in for both his athletics and also his footy over the last few years, and to see an AFL club recognise he can play the game as well and to get his name called out at a national draft where it's a really compromised draft, is a real credit to him, the East Ballarat junior football program but also his athletic coaches as well."

In particular, Partington wanted to highlights the work done by Sharp's athletics coach Nev Down.

Partington said Stevens, a running half-back flanker, had trained with the Cats during the pre-season.

"He's a very hard worker and worked extremely hard on his game for the last two or three years to get where he wants to get to," Partington said of the 18-year-old.

"He's very committed, from a good family and he's a good kid as well. He's done everything right so it's good to see him get an opportunity."

Meanwhile, Sunbury footballer Cody Brand was taken with pick 53 by Essendon.

Brand made his senior debut for the Lions in the Ballarat Football League in 2019 and was drafted via the Calder Cannons.

The Bombers got priority access to Brand, a lifelong Essendon fan, through their academy.

Early in the night, one-time Rebels young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was recruited by the Western Bulldogs as the draft's number one pick.