Gustavo Teixeira had a brilliant top-age campaign. He's worked his way into pick 1 conversations, and is locked into the first handful of selections on draft night.
His success is made all the more impressive considering what's played out behind the scenes.
"I had the ankle injury at the start of the year in the first praccy game," Teixeira tells ESPN.
"It was kind of a bit annoying because every week I thought I'd be playing but it just got pushed back. I had the calf injury, I was out for five or six weeks. I rehabbed that, played a game and then the foot pulled up sore and that's why I'm not testing [at the AFL Draft combine].
"I've also been sick for basically the whole year with a virus."
Teixeira, a powerful forward-half midfielder, played valiantly through glandular fever-like symptoms that didn't get diagnosed until the conclusion of the National Championships.
He was playing games deep in the forward 50 but still finding himself short of breath and unable to hit top gear. After being diagnosed with a severe iron deficiency and receiving an infusion he felt the energy he'd been lacking return, but not before a calf injury linked to his virus took Teixeira out for all but one game in the back half of the season.
Most top-10 chances at the AFL Draft thrive off injury-free seasons where they can continually put their name up in lights. Teixeira couldn't do that this year, so he made his moments count.
His first game back from an ankle concern was in a Vic Metro trial game where he showed his worth, kicking two goals from 20 disposals in a best afield display.
"It was a good day out, I was pretty happy with that. It was annoying I couldn't do a bit more of that throughout the year but I'm sure I can do that in the future."
Teixeira had locked himself into Metro's National Championships outfit by halftime, showing off the power and class that recruiters covet.
At the National Championships he was playing under duress from his undiagnosed virus, but he still took the opportunity to show his value deep in attack.
"Obviously I was sick so I was resting a bit, I was sore the first week and they wanted me to play more forward. I kicked a few goals and they wanted me to stay down forward and that's where I was able to impact the most," he tells ESPN.
Teixeira claimed All-Australian honours, booting seven goals in his four outings including a best on ground demolition of the Allies where he kicked four goals from 22 touches.
It was an element of his game that proved his worth outside of the centre square. Teixeira got to dangerous spots and created separation with proactive running, and from there was able to demonstrate his cleanliness and class to make his chances count.
"I've always thought I want to be a midfielder, I want to play in there. Skills are very important as a midfielder so you've got to be clean and you've got to be able to kick. I'm just chipping away at it and improving."
Teixeira is of Brazilian descent via his father Matt, who was born in the city of Belo Horizonte before moving to Australia when he was 25.
He brings Gus back to Brazil every year, and that connection to a non-English speaking country would allow Teixeira to join zoned club St Kilda's Next Generation Academy if not for friction points within the AFL's own NGA rules.
"Belo Horizonte is just inland of Rio... It's like the size of Melbourne but no one's really heard of it. It's a fully different culture and it's always great to go back," he explains.
"The AFL changed the rules for the regions this year, so they allow South American people this year but you need to be in it for three years. I would've only been in it for a year... my younger siblings are in it now. I've got a brother, Eddie, who's 12 and my sister Lucy who's 14."
Like a host of the top prospects this year, Teixeira has been an Essendon supporter his whole life. The Bombers have the top pick and Teixeira is within that bracket of the pool.
"I haven't thought about the Bombers pick-wise, but just the club and thinking about what it would be like obviously going to the Bombers, it'd be great at the moment. They're getting in some good coaches and they've got some good players coming through.
"Really though I'd be stoked to get drafted to any club, moving interstate would be a pretty cool experience. I'm always trying to get the best out of myself, I've always tried to be the best at everything and just put my best foot forward so I'll do that anywhere."