Our Associated Public Schools of Victoria footy Team of the Year

With Victoria’s premier school footy competition done and dusted, we have named our team of the year. And most of them are tipped to end up on AFL lists. See who set the APS alight.

Dan Batten and Tyler Lewis

5 min read

August 8, 2024 - 8:13AM

News Sport Network

Sam Lalor is part of the Team of the Year. Picture: Alan Barber

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It should be no surprise to see APS school football premiers dominate our team of the year.

Six Brighton Grammar players make up the 22, including top-10 talents in Brisbane father-son Levi Ashcroft and Luke Trainor, who kicked the winning goal in the APS decider against Haileybury.

Caulfield Grammar is also well represented with four

All 11 schools have a player selected, and there were plenty of unlucky players who missed out.

Check out our full APS Team of the Year.

FULL BACK

Ben Kennedy, Xavier College

Kennedy has shone at both ends, proving to be one of the best interceptors in the competition in defence and hitting the scoreboard when sent forward. The Allies representative’s spent more time down back than in attack, but his standout APS display came in round eight when he kicked a bag of five goals and was unstoppable in the air.

Harry O’Farrell, St Kevin’s

O’Farrell missed a few games with injury but the mobile key defender’s intercepting and strong hands overhead stood out across the season. The AFL Academy prospect’s best game for St Kevin’s came in round eight where he hauled in seven intercept marks.

Harry Oliver, Brighton Grammar

The left-footer had a really sound year in Brighton’s back six. He was as equally reliable with his defensive efforts as he was with his ball use.

Harrison Oliver gets a kick away for Brighton. Picture: Andrew Batsch

HALF BACK

Lenny Hofmann, Brighton Grammar

Hofmann patrolled Brighton’s backline the entire season. He would have ranked highly in intercept marks, as he seemed to control almost ever indirect entry. Hofmann’s contest with Harry Armstrong in the all-important clash against Haileybury College was sensational.

Luke Trainor, Brighton Grammar

Trainor was as dominant in defence as he was in attack. The top defender in this year’s draft was consistent, powerful and – in the end – versatile.

Ollie Warburton, Caulfield Grammar

Warburton showed his capabilities to be an all-round player for Caulfield this year. He had two quieter games against Brighton Grammar and Haileybury College but the difference between his best and worst is minor.

CENTRE

Xavier Ivisic, Geelong Grammar

One of the biggest ball-magnet in the APS competition, highlighted by his formidable 47-disposal outing against Carey. The Geelong Falcons midfielder outworked his opponents on the inside and outside with his exceptional running capacity and used it well – as he did for Vic Country during an impressive national championships campaign.

Xavier Ivisic celebrates a goal for Geelong Grammar. Picture: Alan Barber

Levi Ashcroft hunts the footy. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Levi Ashcroft, Brighton Grammar

As expected, Ashcroft was among the best players in the competition. He hit the scoreboard regularly while winning a stack of possessions – particularly at clearance. His role in Brighton’s flag is just another layer to Ashcroft’s clinical campaign.

Jesse Dattoli, Carey

A dominant force at the source for Carey across the season and had major impact forward of centre, including a three-goal haul against Scotch and four in their win over St Kevin’s. The clever ball-winner was super consistent and the driving force behind their five wins.

HALF FORWARD

River Stevens, Geelong College

Stevens, the son of North Melbourne great Anthony, was the standout performer for Geelong College across the season. Arguably his best game came in their most important game — the Geelong school derby — where he won the medal for best afield and led his school to back-to-back wins over Geelong Grammar.

River Stevens was best-on-ground in the Geelong school derby.

Bailey McKenzie, Brighton Grammar

McKenzie shared the goal kicking award for his 35-goal season. He kicked three sets of four, one set of five and two hauls of six. The Brighton spearhead went goalless just twice this year.

Blake Leidler, Wesley College

The Oakleigh Chargers prospect caught the eye of recruiters all over the field in the APS competition. Leiler takes the game on out of defence and was damaging forward of centre, which he showed with in his three-goal haul against Carey in round nine.

Bailey McKenzie shoots for goal. Photo: Andrew Batsch

FULL FORWARD

Sam Lalor, Geelong Grammar

Underdone after an injury interrupted start to the year, Lalor wowed recruiters in round one of the APS season with a seven-goal haul against Wesley – six of those coming in the second half. The likely top-10 selection wasn’t overly consistent due to persistent niggles but his best games were as good as any, including his 42 disposals and 12 clearances he gathered against St Kevin’s. Lalor finished with 16 goals across his six games while splitting his time in the midfield.

Harry Armstrong, Haileybury College

The powerful and dynamic forward kicked 33 goals for Haileybury College this season, boosted by a 10-goal haul against Melbourne Grammar. While his contested marking was a constant threat, Armstrong proved just as damaging when the ball hit the ground.

Harry Armstrong was impressive in the air and at ground level. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Jasper Alger, Caulfield Grammar

Alger was the benchmark of consistency in front of goal for Caulfield Grammar. He hit the scoreboard in each of his games, which was highlighted by an eight-goal haul against Geelong Grammar.

FOLLOWERS

Tairon Ah-Mu, Haileybury College

Ah-Mu was the competition’s most dominant ruckman despite being a Year 11 student. He won the hit-outs, a stack of the footy and kicked goals consistently throughout the year.

Tairon Ah-Mu (left) follows up at ground level. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Murphy Reid, Caulfield Grammar

If there was an APS league best-and-fairest, Reid would be right in the running. The creative and polished midfielder won a stack of the ball across the season and hurt opposition sides with his distribution. Murphy ran amok against Geelong Grammar in round four with 40 disposals and two goals and had a field day against Wesley with four goals.

Sam Marshall, Melbourne Grammar

The prolific Lions Academy prospect had the ball on a string in a Melbourne Grammar side that struggled at times. Marshall missed a few games at APS level due to Allies commitments but his last game of the season underlined is talents, amassing 44 disposals and kicking a goal.

INTERCHANGE

Archie Ludowyke, Brighton Grammar

Ludowyke was one of the leading goalkickers in the competition with 22 goals, including a big haul of seven against Geelong College in round five where he was a major aerial threat. The bottom-age key forward looms as a potential first-round pick in next year’s draft.

Felix Kneipp, Wesley College

Kneipp showed his value as a top blue-collar midfielder for the Lions this year. He was prolific below his knees at stoppage, winning and distributing the ball at will. Kneipp would have averaged around 30 disposals a game, which included a season-high 48 — no mean feat for a bottom-ager.

Patrick Retschko, Caulfield Grammar

Retschko’s fine season was built on the damage he had with ball in hand. He kicked a goal per game (10) and was involved in a plethora of his side’s scores throughout the year.

Riley Onley, Scotch College

The hulking 194 centimetre midfielder showed his worth as a bottom-ager at national championships level and also impressed for Scotch College in the APS system. Powered Scotch to a couple of their wins with important performances and had one of his best games in a heavy to loss to Haileybury, where he fought hard with 30 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal.

COACH

Simon McPhee, Brighton Grammar

The Brighton Grammar coach was able to manage a team stacked with talent and turn it into an undefeated premiership side.