Whispering_Jack

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian Team has been announced:-

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian Team has been announced:-

It was actually Peter Marquis who “discovered” Max playing in a schoolboy footy grand final. Because he was also a handy schoolboy cricketer and Melbourne had that close connection with the MCC, he joined the district cricket team and the rest is history.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA THE STAR: BO ALLAN A standout top draft prospect from Western Australia, Allan missed the first game of the championships with a back injury but impressed with his power and speed through the midfield across the final three matches. The side's captain, the combative left-footer averaged 20 disposals, 3.7 clearances, 6.3 score involvements and six tackles. He also booted two classy goals in the team's third match against Vic Metro. Allan - a Peel Thunder product who has also been part of the AFL Academy this year - had primarily played across halfback in previous years. "He's an absolute beauty, Bo," WA talent manager Adam Jones said. "Just his competitiveness and willingness to crack in and lead the way. There's a huge amount of upside with him. He's only played less than 10 games on ball in his career, so for him to battle out against the best in the country was great to see. He's only going to get better and better." THE SURPRISE: JAXON ARTEMIS A rebounding defender from South Fremantle, Artemis enhanced his draft prospects with a strong championships which led to him being named as Western Australia's MVP. The 180cm speedster averaged 15.5 disposals, 5.3 rebound 50s, 4.3 intercept possessions and 369 metres gained across his four matches, providing plenty of drive forward for his side. "Through the winter program, he just got better and better each week," Jones said. "You could just see his confidence within himself growing and him going 'I can play at this level'. His running and eagerness to get on the end of it just continued to grow. His skill and execution and awareness and composure with ball in hand is outstanding. Some guys that you hope can pop and he was one that did." Supercoach Rankings Name Position Games Average B. Allan Mid 3 85.0 C. Angove Gen Fwd 4 72.3 J. Artemis Gen Def 4 69.3 C. Banfield Mid 4 60.5 M. Becker Mid-Fwd 1 30.0 T. Bell Key Def 1 45.0 H. Boxshall Mid 3 85.0 C. Burke Mid 4 95.0 M. Champion Gen Fwd 4 53.8 C. Curtin Key Def 4 49.8 H. Davis Gen Fwd 4 84.3 C. Dennis Key Def 4 68.3 J. Douglas Gen Def 4 78.3 K. Evans Gen Fwd 3 57.3 K. Gerreyn Ruck 4 80.3 A. Gulluni Gen Def 1 39.0 W. Hayes Mid-Fwd 4 75.3 T. Hiscock Key Def 3 44.0 B. Kelly Mid 3 75.7 L. Mactaggart Gen Def 3 96.0 D. Petersen Key Def 3 35.3 A. Riddle Ruck 4 80.8 J. Rigoll Mid 1 51.0 D. Roberts Mid 1 4.0 F. Rodriguez Mid 4 77.0 M. Rohr Ruck 4 50.3 L. Urquhart Mid 4 98.0 A. van der Struyf Mid 4 73.0 W. Walley Gen Fwd 1 56.0 T. Whan Mid 1 28.0

VIC METRO THE STAR: MURPHY REID All the buzz about Vic Metro's midfield heading into the championships surrounded Josh Smillie, Levi Ashcroft and Jagga Smith. However, it was Murphy Reid that upstaged that trio to take out the side's MVP award. The Sandringham Dragons midfielder was clean, composed and consistent across his four matches as he averaged 24.5 disposals, 7.3 score involvements and one goals. "He's a top-end talent in his own right," Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said of Reid. "The first game in the wet against the Allies, he was the cleanest player on the ground by a mile. He had 30-something and kicked three goals in one of the games (against South Australia). He just kept playing well consistently through this tournament. The thing I love about Murph is every time he gets challenged with another level, he meets it really quickly. He hasn't found a level that has been too hard for him." THE SURPRISE: HARRY ARMSTRONG If there's one game where you want to star during the national championships, it is the clash between Vic Metro and Vic Country at Marvel Stadium which was attended by almost every recruiter in the land. Harry Armstrong did just that. A 195cm forward from the Sandringham Dragons, Armstrong put his strong contested marking ability and accurate goalkicking on show in a nine-disposal, five-mark and five-goal performance. He also booted three goals in Vic Metro's third match against South Australia. "He's played really good school football, but that's at a lower level than Coates League or a national championship," Harding said. "He's just adapted really well through the year. He keeps building and developing his game. I watched him on Sunday, strong hands, big, strong contested marks - which is the strength that he has - and he's a beautiful set shot at goal. On a day when we weren't kicking very straight, he's the one that kicks five straight, and he gives us an opportunity to be in that game to win it." Supercoach Rankings Name Position Games Average H. Armstrong Key Fwd 3 100.0 L. Ashcroft Mid 4 99.8 A. Cole Key Def 3 55.3 J. Dattoli Mid 4 77.8 J. Dolan Gen Fwd 3 66.3 L. Emmett Ruck 2 45.5 L. Grego Mid 4 79.5 T. Gross Mid 4 101.0 L. Hofmann Gen Def 3 55.7 D. Hollow Mid 3 59.3 L. Impey Ruck 3 77.7 Z. Johnson Mid 3 59.7 I. Kako Gen Fwd 4 93.3 N. King Mid 3 67.3 A. Ludowyke Key Fwd 1 41.0 B. McKenzie Key Fwd 2 39.5 C. Moraes Mid 4 93.5 J. Nguyen Gen Def 3 57.3 H. O'Farrell Key Def 2 20.0 H. Oliver Gen Def 4 77.3 M. Reid Mid 4 130.8 P. Retschko Mid 3 67.7 C. Richardson Key Fwd 2 57.0 T. Sims Key Fwd 4 62.5 J. Smillie Mid 4 96.3 J. Smith Mid 4 134.8 G. Stumpf Key Fwd 2 41.5 L. Tovey Key Def 1 58.0 L. Trainor Key Def 4 90.8

VIC COUNTRY THE STAR: HARVEY LANGFORD A powerful midfielder from the Dandenong Stingrays, Langford finished the tournament not only as Vic Country's MVP but also as a joint winner of the Larke Medal. A hardworking contest star, Langford also has a booming kick when he finds space on the outside and can take a strong mark. He averaged 25.5 disposals, 6.3 clearances and 7.5 score involvements across his four games for Vic Country. "He was superb from the first game against SA," Vic Country coach Paul Corrigan said. "He just carried that form through for us. He pretty much played the whole time in the middle. He was exceptional around stoppages and clearances. "He also found a lot of ball on the outside, but also proved on the weekend he's got that aerial prowess to go forward and mark the footy and hit the scoreboard as well. I just thought his whole campaign was super consistent and really impressive for us." THE SURPRISE: JOE BERRY While he didn't necessarily surprise after a strong start to the season with the Murray Bushrangers, Berry's stocks did rise during the championships. The clever 180cm forward from Wangaratta who can hurt opposition sides in multiple ways, Berry booted nine goals across his four matches during the tournament including a 14 disposal and three-goal game against Vic Metro last weekend. "I thought his carnival as well was exceptional as a small forward," Corrigan said. "He's just so lively. He's one of those players that can play deep one-on-one, he can come up the ground. His defensive acts were really good. He's got really good speed and power. He hits the scoreboard, too. The other thing that we liked about him too was we injected him through the midfield at times and he just gave us a different spark at times and that ability to change up what was in there." Supercoach Rankings Name Position Games Average J. Alger Gen Fwd 4 60.0 R. Andrew Mid 1 47.0 J. Barrat Key Fwd 3 60.3 J. Berry Gen Fwd 4 85.3 F. Burmeister Ruck 4 44.0 H. Charleson Mid 4 73.3 A. Day-Wicks Gen Fwd 3 65.0 J. Doherty Ruck 1 34.0 W. Duursma Key Def 3 68.3 J. Faull Key Fwd 3 59.0 O. Hannaford Mid 3 56.3 N. Hibbins-Hargreaves Gen Fwd 1 65.0 C. Hynes Mid 4 90.0 X. Ivisic Mid 4 103.8 L. Jaques Gen Def 4 90.3 S. Lalor Mid 3 80.7 H. Langford Mid 4 129 X. Lindsay Mid 3 116.7 M. Lloyd Key Def 2 70.0 F. O'Sullivan Mid 2 56.0 R. Onley Mid 3 63.7 J. Ough Mid 4 68.8 C. Paul Mid 1 20.0 F. Penry Ruck 1 39.0 R. Stevens Mid-Fwd 2 75.0 A. Tauru Key Def 3 42.0 T. Travaglia Mid 4 112.0 R. Unwin Gen Fwd 2 36.5

SOUTH AUSTRALIA THE STAR: BEN CAMPOREALE Carlton fans have plenty to be excited about after father-son prospect Ben Camporeale produced an impressive under-18 national championships campaign for South Australia. Camporeale was named the side's MVP after averaging 26.8 disposals, 5.3 marks and 4.5 clearances across a very consistent four games. The son of Blues premiership player Scott, Camporeale is clean in the contest, has a good balance between his inside and outside game, brings elite workrate and is creative going forward. "He played as an inside mid for us in all four games. Totally different role," South Australia coach Tony Bamford said. "He was able to impact in contest and stoppage really, really well. Kicking's still a work in progress in terms of his connection with forwards going inside 50, but most midfielders need to work on that. But his leadership, his contest, his energy and drive and his ability to set us up around the contest was really important as an inside mid." THE SURPRISE: CHARLIE NICHOLLS He might not have been South Australia's best or most consistent player of the championships, but Nicholls showed more than a few exciting glimpses. A 197cm key forward who leads well and can take strong contested marks, Nicholls particularly impressed in the side's second game against Vic Country when he racked up 11 disposals, nine marks (four contested) and kicked 1.3. "He played as a key forward in the first three games and then we put him to a key back position for game four," Bamford said. "He runs great patterns. He was clearly a smart forward in terms of knowing where to go and when to go. He clearly likes to run. He's getting up the ground and it gives him an ability to showcase his running power as opposed to staying deep. "He's really elevated himself this year and we're really pleased for him. He's a kid from the Barossa so he's had to travel an hour and a half each way to get the training during the last three months. So he's really committed." Supercoach Rankings Name Position Games Ranking N. Atkinson Gen Fwd 1 31.0 H. Barker Gen Def 3 50.3 B. Barrett Mid 2 67.0 R. Borlace Ruck 1 57.0 N. Bowman Gen Fwd 4 44.5 E. Bradley Gen Fwd 4 51.8 R. Burgoyne Gen Def 1 58.0 B. Camporeale Mid 4 116.5 L. Camporeale Mid 4 90.3 A. Clarke Key Def 4 92.5 S. Cumming Mid 2 76.5 T. Delmenico Key Def 3 36.7 H. Dodd Mid 1 54.0 A. Dodson Ruck 3 114.0 S. Draper Mid 4 77.5 P. Hargrave Mid 4 88.5 J. Hasting Mid 4 52.8 K. Herbert Mid 4 53.8 N. Howes Key Fwd 2 68.5 T. McKay Key Fwd 4 51.3 L. Montgomery Gen Def 4 59.0 J. Newton Mid 4 72.8 C. Nicholls Key Fwd 4 60.8 J. Phillipou Mid 1 23.0 H. Ramm Ruck 3 28.7 T. Rosenzweig Key Fwd 2 28.5 D. Sharp Mid 4 109.5 J. Sheean Key Def 4 57.8 D. Sterzl Mid 1 36.0 T. Welsh Key Fwd 4 50.8 C. West Key Fwd 2 88.5

ALLIES THE STAR: LEO LOMBARD The Gold Coast Suns Academy member was a joint winner of the Larke Medal as the best-performed player of the tournament. A prolific ball-winning onballer who can also feature forward or back, Lombard works hard contest-to-contest, is incredibly clean with his hands and skills, brings great energy and can have an impact on the scoreboard. He averaged 26.3 disposals, 4.8 clearances, 4.5 tackles and kicked four goals across his four games. "He certainly caught the eye with his explosiveness and power and I think that's his main weapon, is his ability to be able to break through traffic and get on to double-up possessions through his hard work," Allies coach Mitch Hahn said of Lombard. "He was able to win some clearances but more importantly was able to hit the scoreboard as well. He challenged the opposition defenders to say, well, if you don't go with me, I can hurt you on the scoreboard. He's going to be a really good prospect for the draft with those attributes that he's got." THE SURPRISE: JOBE SHANAHAN A 194cm forward who is mobile, presents well and can take a strong contested mark, Shanahan would have climbed up some draft boards with his performances during the championships. His best game was his last against Vic Country, when he logged 16 disposals, nine marks (four contested) and kicked 3.1 for the Allies. Shanahan has been a regular goalkicker for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League this season, but played for the Allies given he resides in Moama just over the New South Wales border. "From a tall perspective, he was someone who just continued to build and get better as the program went along," Hahn said of Shanahan. "His marking ability and movement around the ground was something that really helped us in that last game against Vic Country, especially to be able to keep us as close as we were. His ability to be able to hit the scoreboard, to work out and bring others into it was important for us. He was a really solid contributor for us across the four games as well." Supercoach Rankings Name Position Games Ranking N. Andreacchio Gen Def 3 76.0 D. Annable Mid 4 106.0 C. Bell Key Fwd 4 58.3 L. Carmichael Gen Def 4 81.5 N. Chamberlain Mid-Fwd 2 75.0 J. Cochran Key Def 4 65.8 W. Davey-Motlop Gen Fwd 1 32.0 O. Dean Ruck 1 34.0 J. Delana Mid 4 78.8 O. Depaoli-Kubank Mid-Fwd 4 72.8 L. Douglas Gen Fwd 3 45.0 T. Gallop Key Fwd 2 12.5 R. Gilder Gen Def 4 39.3 T. Gillett Ruck 1 57.0 J. Harrison Mid 3 44.0 L. Hogan Mid 2 71.5 B. Kennedy Gen Def 4 59.8 L. Lombard Mid 4 119.8 S. Marshall Mid 4 123.0 F. McFadyen Mid-Fwd 4 46.3 R. Mentha Gen Fwd 2 25.5 Z. Millane Gen Def 2 42.0 J. Murphy Key Fwd 4 64.5 B. Richardson Ruck 3 58.3 J. Shanahan Key Fwd 4 77.0 L. Smith Ruck 4 80.0 T. Stanley Mid 2 80.0 N. Sulzberger Mid 4 44.3 Z. Uwland Mid 4 106.0 K. White Key Def 1 39.0

The on line edition of the Herald Sun has an article today by Chris Cavanagh which rates all of the players in the championships. He also nominates the stars and surprises from each team which I will put up on the following pages.

They're all scrambling to get their lists out. Here's Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' July ranking A few differences between this one and that of AFL Draft Central and the still glaring omissions of the Camporeale twins and Walsh from SA. My favourite is Harvey Langford who comes in at #4 here but was in the 20s in the Draft Central rankings. 1. Levi Ashcroft 2. Josh Smillie 3. Finn O'Sullivan 4. Harvey Langford 5. Murphy Reid 6. Jagga Smith 7. Luke Trainor 8. Sam Lalor 9. Sid Draper 10. Bo Allan 11. Leo Lombard 12. Taj Hotton 13. Tobie Travaglia 14. Harry Armstrong 15. Isaac Kako 16. Xavier Lindsay 17. Joe Berry 18. Jack Whitlock 19. Cooper Hynes 20. Tom Gross 21. Sam Marshall 22. Christian Moraes 23. Alex Dodson 24. Alixzander Tauru 25. Harrison Oliver 26. Matt Whitlock 27. Jobe Shanahan 28. Jonty Faull 29. Thomas Sims 30. Noah Mraz

Right on cue, the AFL Draft Central 2024 Power Rankings are out. I’ll load them up as they came in -

There are changes coming to the rules relating to NGA access in drafts. AFL proposes change to NGA access for this year’s draft

It was Round 11, 2022 at the MCG when Fremantle came back from a 25 point deficit at half time to beat Melbourne by 38 points. They met again in Round 20 at Optus Stadium and the Demons won by 46 points making it an 84 point turnaround - more if you take into account that half time MCG deficit. At the time, loading by the Melbourne fitness team was raised by many to explain the amazing improvement from one game to the next. So … it … can … be … done

The Herald Sun recognising the quality of our youth:- EIGHT KIDS KEEPING DEES IN FINALS MIX - HERALD SUN ONLINE • Jacob Van Rooyen, 21, who kicked four goals last week then was exceptional in the ruck against Draper. • Trent Rivers, 23, who has peeled off six excellent games in the midfield and has had 29 possessions in successive weeks as well as 15 total clearances. • Judd McVee, 20, who has had another excellent year as a miserly defender averaging 17 touches while kicking at 80 per cent efficiency. • Kysaiah Pickett, 23, who has kicked 12 goals in the past five weeks and 39 total score involvements. • Wingman Caleb Windsor, 19, who has played all 17 games in a year that could be rewarded with the Rising Star and has kicked a goal in each of the past two games. • Koltyn Tholstrup, 19, who has played the last four games for five in total in his debut year and who has only two goals but seven direct score assists in that time. • Andy Moniz-Wakefield, 20, who has played three games as a pacy defender and is averaging six intercept possessions and 14 possessions. • Daniel Turner, 22, who has kicked 11.3 and seven goals in the past four weeks (three against Essendon) as another key forward prospect for the Demons.

Getting close to favouritism in the Rising Star ⭐️

Another Demon from Melbourne’s golden era, Jim Sandral has passed away. Sandral was a member of the club’s 1956 premiership team and only spent two years at the club before he went off to the country at the end of 1957 for a long and illustrious career which stretched well into the mid 60s. Condolences to his family.

I haven’t seen as much of the National Championships and Coates League games as I have in the past but it seems fairly clear to me that there’s one glaring difference between this year and the last. In 2023, it was Harley Reid first and daylight next. At the head of the following pack was Colby McKercher so North did well to snare him, although the lure of Tasmania will soon be a factor with him. Time will tell, but I think Jason Taylor has done well to get Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup although I felt at the time that with our draft hand, we could have tried for one more young player from the top 40 players. By way of contrast, 2024 is far more open and there is a plethora of opinion as to who fits into the top dozen players. There are candidates from everywhere putting their hands up so having first pick in this draft won’t be as big a deal on the face of it, as last year. For example, hard nosed midfielder Harvey Langford who appeals to me as the prototypical Jason Taylor selection and who shared the Larke Medal was ranked at only 17 by Davo-27 (see above). The Power rankings and Phantom drafts that come out in coming months are going to be interesting.

To wrap up the final game of the national championships. Scouting Notes: 2024 AFL U18s – Vic Metro vs. Vic Country

Perhaps @binman might wish to expand on this thought and what it might mean for the Dees on Sunday 😀

That blond bloke in the picture is the late Greg Parke, a high flying key forward who sadly passed away in the eve of Melbourne’s 2021 premiership.