When it comes to football knowledge and experience, former St Kilda and Carlton star Matthew Lappin is right up there.

Lappin played 251 AFL games between 1994 and 2007 and has spent time in the coach's box at powerhouse Victorian clubs Carlton and Collingwood in a career that's spanned over two decades.

Now Head of Development at the SUNS, the man referred to as ‘Skinny’ knows young talent when he sees it.

And three months into the 2016 pre-season, two maturing teenagers have jumped out at him.

“Out of the young guys, I think two guys who were in their first season last year and in their second season this year, Touk Miller and Pete Wright, have had fantastic pre-seasons,” Lappin told SUNS TV on Thursday.

“So they’re probably the two in that development space that are really jumping out at me.”

Miller was a picture of consistency in his debut campaign, playing all 22 games to finish a stunning fourth in the SUNS’ best and fairest.

READ: Miller's outstanding debut season

Across 2015, the former Vic Metro captain averaged 17 possessions, five tackles and 3.3 clearances per game to rank second across the entire competition for pressure acts.

2016 presents an opportunity for the tenacious midfielder to take his game to the next level as he strives to earn the ‘elite AFL midfielder’ tag in the coming years.

“Obviously Touk had a terrific year last year and he hasn’t rested on his laurels over the break,” Lappin said.

“He’s hit the ground running and he’s pushing to be a midfielder, an AFL elite midfielder, so his pre-season is mirroring that.”

Wright played three senior games in 2015, with the coaching staff electing to focus on his development at NEAFL level.

However with the departure of key forward Charlie Dixon, Lappin sees Wright challenging Sam Day to take over the mantle as the SUNS’ second key forward behind emerging superstar Tom Lynch.

“I think Pete sees an opportunity there with Charlie gone,” he said.

READ: Wright determined to keep developing

“He really wants to step up and play that tall forward/second ruck role and he’s been able to change his body shape a bit.

“He’s turning from a boy into a man and we’re seeing that before our very eyes on the training track.

“He’s working really hard and he’s getting the rewards for it.”