With the 2021 AFL national draft less than a month away, talk is starting to heat up about the next crop of stars.
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The Greater Western Victoria Rebels enter this year's draft with one of the strongest talent pools in recent history.
The Courier's footy experts MATT CURRILL and OLLIE NASH dive into the players you should be looking out for.
BEN HOBBS
18 / inside midfielder / Horsham Demons / Ballarat Clarendon College
Touted as top-five pick, Hobbs is a hard-at-it, AFL ready inside mid. The Rebels' and Vic Country captain is also a natural leader.
JOSH GIBCUS
18 / key defender / East Point / St Patrick's College
An agile defender with a great leap and hunger to mark the ball while in defence. Gibcus is built similarly to Melbourne's Jake Lever and played the same role for the Rebels this season.
SAM BUTLER
18 / midfielder-forward / Lake Wendouree / St Patrick's College
A skillful medium-sized midfielder with the ability to kick goals. A great user and calm with ball in hand.
CHARLIE MOLAN
18 / outside midfielder / East Point / St Patrick's College
Molan was a work-horse on the wing, his ability to run both ways one of the many reasons he featured for Vic Country and why he claimed the Adam Goodes Trophy. A penetrating kick with good size.
JOSH RENTSCH
18 / forward-ruck / Lake Wendouree / Ballarat Grammar School
Rentsch had a strong year as a powerful key forward and while he enjoyed some dominant games marking the ball and kicking goals, it was his selflessness that stood out, something AFL clubs look for.
JAMIESON BALLANTYNE
18 / outside midfielder / Portland Tigers / Portland Secondary College
Ballantyne became a staple on the wing alongside Molan this year, his agility and running power especially prevalent.
KAI LOHMANN
18 / forward / Lake Wendouree / St Patrick's College
Every team needs its X-factor and Kai Lohmann was just that for the Rebels in 2021, with a great leap, pace and ability to kick goals. Calm with ball in hand and a beautiful user.
HAMISH SINNOTT
17 / defender-wing / Camperdown / Marcy Regional College
Sinnott seemed to go from strength-to-strength, his sticky hands an obvious feature of his game in defence. He was able to mark the ball strongly and dispose of it well.
SAM BREUER
18 / defender-midfielder / Horsham Saints / Ballarat Grammar School
While Breuer played predominantly in defence, his ability to become an inside midfielder when required was superb. Picked up 30 and 35 disposals against Gippsland and Murray Bushrangers in consecutive weeks.
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