AFL U18 Championships: 17-year-old Queenslander touted future top-10 pick

Only five Queenslanders have been drafted in the top 10 since 2000. But that could be about to change. See how the local young guns performed in the National Championships.

Callum Dick

4 min read

July 15, 2022 - 1:46PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 03: Charlie Barnett of Victoria Country and Ethan Read of Allies compete for the ball during the U18 AFL Boys Championship match between the Allies and Vic Country on July 03, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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A bottom-age prospect from Queensland has been compared to Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron and touted as a future top-10 draft pick after a stellar Under-18 National Championships for the Allies.

Queensland has not produced a top-10 key forward since Nick Riewoldt went pick 1 to St Kilda in 2000 and only four Queenslanders have gone in the top 10 since then: David Hale (pick 7, 2001), Tom Williams (pick 6, 2004), David Armitage (pick 9, 2009) and Jack Bowes (pick 10, 2016).

But hulking 17-year-old Gold Coaster Jed Walter could be on that path as he continues to establish himself as a player of the future after booting three goals in the Allies’ 11.7-73 to 9.7-61 victory over Western Australia in Adelaide.

Walter is the only key forward at the U18 National Championships to rate as ‘elite’ for tackles and ‘above average’ for pressure acts. (Photo by Kelly Barnes/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The 196cm key forward, who only recently turned 17 and is not draft eligible until 2023, was one of the Allies’ most impressive players as a bottom-age prospect at this year’s national championships.

Walter booted nine goals across four games including four against Vic Metro and three in the win over WA.

“He played every game which is an unbelievable effort, because we do tend to rotate the 17s in and out, but he’s been such an important player for us,” said Allies coach Cameron Bernasconi.

“The reason he’s played all four games is his form. He lets his footy do the talking and he’s had a really good nationals campaign.”

Bernasconi, who has spent the past three years at the GWS Giants as Academy Head Coach before recently taking over the club’s AFLW coaching reigns, said Walter’s athletic profile and strong showing at the championships had club recruiters already taking notice ahead of next year’s draft.

“His ability to take contested marks around the ground and hit the scoreboard and be ultra-competitive at the contest (is impressive). He uses his strength and size really well, which is exciting because he’s 12-18 months younger than most of the guys he’s playing against,” Bernasconi said.

Jed Walter has been likened to AFL star Jeremy Cameron. Picture: Getty Images

“I think his biggest AFL trait is his explosiveness. He’s extremely quick for a big tall forward so his ability to chase down opponents and get separation on leads has been really impressive.

“He’s like a Jeremy Cameron in the way he can explode off the mark and beat opponents via leg speed. He’s probably thicker than Jezza but plays similar with pure athleticism and speed to and from the ball.”

According to Champion Data, Walter rates as elite for tackles (2.5pg) and above average for pressure acts and pressure points. At 2.3 goals per game he also ranks fifth among all players at the national championships, in an Allies team that won just one of its four matches.

A Palm Beach Currumbin product, Walter stands out as an already physically developed prospect who over the next 12 months the Suns hope can hone his forward craft and become a rare, ready-made key forward out the gate.

“The Suns have been raving about him for years now. He’s a top-10 draft pick,” Palm Beach Currumbin QAFL coach Russell Maloney said.

“I played him in the seniors last year for the first time and he played like a man. He’d just turned 16 and he was busting packs and taking contested marks against 4-5 (players).

Jed Walter booted nine goals in four matches for the Allies. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“We played him in a game of seconds last year after he came back from injury and within 10 minutes he’d taken five contested marks and kicked three goals. I said he would never play seconds again. That was as a 15 year old.”

Suns Academy head Kath Newman said the club preferred to “keep him fairly grounded” but had high hopes for his development over the next 12 months.

“Every time he’s had to take the next step up he’s met the challenge.”

QUEENSLANDERS AT U18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Former Lions player Adrian Fletcher alongside son Jaspa Fletcher, who is a potential father-son selection for Brisbane at this year’s draft. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Jaspa Fletcher (Midfielder – Brisbane Lions Academy / Sherwood)

DOB: 24/02/2004 (18)

Games: 3

Av. Ranking Points: 105 (Above Average)

Disposals: 22.7 (Above Average)

Contested Possessions: 9.7 (Above Average)

Goals: 0.7 (Above Average)

Pressure Points: 41.0 (Above Average)

Pressure Acts: 18.0 (Above Average)

Jed Walter (Key Forward – Gold Coast Suns Academy / Palm Beach Currumbin)

DOB: 08/06/2005 (17)

Games: 4

Av. Ranking Points: 77 (Average)

Disposals: 9.3 (Above Average)

Kicking Efficiency: 72.0% (Above Average)

Contested Possessions: 5.5 (Above Average)

Goals: 2.3 (Above Average)

Pressure Points: 24.1 (Above Average)

Pressure Acts: 10.0 (Above Average)

Tackles: 2.5 (Elite)

Joshua Cooper is a Brisbane Lions Academy player who started all four games for the Allies at the U18 National Championships. Photo: Kelly Barnes / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Joshua Cooper (General Defender – Brisbane Lions Academy / Aspley)

DOB: 05/02/2004 (18)

Games: 4

Av. Ranking Points: 74 (Average)

Contested Possessions: 4.5 (Above Average)

Goals: 0.3 (Above Average)

Score Assists: 0.5 (Elite)

Jake Rogers is another bottom-age player from Queensland who impressed in his two games for the Allies. Photo: Albert Perez / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Jake Rogers (Midfielder – Gold Coast Suns Academy / Broadbeach)

DOB: 02/03/2005 (17)

Games: 2

Av. Ranking Points: 72 (Average)

Contested Possessions: 9.0 (Above Average)

Goals: 0.5 (Above Average)

Score Involvements: 4.5 (Above Average)

Marlin Corbett of Allies in action during the U18 AFL Boys Championship match between the Allies and Vic Country. Picture: Getty Images

Marlin Corbett (Midfielder – Gold Coast Suns Academy / Surfers Paradise)

DOB: 18/02/2004 (18)

Games: 3

Av. Ranking Points: 71 (Below Average)

Kicks: 11.0 (Above Average)

Uncontested Possessions: 14.0 (Above Average)

Intercept Possessions: 3.3 (Above Average)

Brinn Little of the Allies warms up ahead of the U18 AFL Boys Championship match between the Allies and Vic Metro. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images for AFL Photos)

Brinn Little (Defender – Gold Coast Suns Academy / Palm Beach Currumbin)

DOB: 14/04/2003 (19)

Games: 3

Av. Ranking Points: 70 (Average)

Kicking Efficiency: 85.0% (Above Average)

Intercept Marks: 2.7 (Above Average)