Top under-17s AFL Townsville players uncovered for 2025 season
The next generation of standout Townsville Aussie rules players who could enter the AFL or AFLW with a bang have been identified. With the 2025 season underway, see which players to keep an eye on.
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The AFL Townsville junior season underway for 2025 and we’re shining a light on the current crop of rising stars that are making their way through the grades.
With the region producing a handful of AFL and AFLW talent in recent years, led by GWS star Tom Green and Lions standout Breanna Koenen, we’ve highlighted some of the best male and female rising talents from the under-13s to under-17s divisions.
This week we uncover some of the top players to watch from the under-17s male and female divisions.
TOWNSVILLE AUSSIE RULES TOP U17 PLAYERS TO WATCH
MALE
Morgan Payne (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
A product of the Gold Coast Suns Academy, Payne played eight senior A-grade games in 2024 as a 16 year old as well as playing in the under-17.5 premiership win.
The rising star is fast, balanced and strong with top end skills that makes him a real x-factor threat.
Jackson Rogers (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
Another high end talent from the Gold Coast Suns Academy system, Rogers can dominate a game up forward or through the middle of the ground.
With an ever improving tank, 2025 promises to be a breakout season.
He’s tough as nails, highly competitive, a silky user of the ball with a great football brain.
Noah Ward (Hermit Park Tigers)
Ward never takes a backwards step and attacks the football like a bull at a gate.
He is a great communicator on the field and rarely gets beaten in the air.
Jackson Alderson (Hermit Park Tigers)
Has been playing as a key defender in 2025 where he has been strong in the air and at reading the ball.
His quick rise and adaptation as a defender is exciting for the rest of the season.
Lachlan Jeffs (Hermit Park Tigers)
Jeffs possess powerful and quick leg speed that allows him to break out of the middle with ease.
He’s a great in and under user of the footy and can also be a threat on the wing.
Ryan Rowlands (Northern Beaches Suns)
‘Rashi’ is an exceptional talent that showcased immense potential during last season.
He finished as his side’s runner up best and fairest but was voted MVP by his teammates.
Known for his remarkable speed, sharp decision-making around the contest and his elite kicking ability, the coaching staff are thrilled about his future and eagerly anticipates his transition into senior football this season.
Dean Wilde (Northern Beaches Suns)
Wilde is an emerging young player who has made the jump from the under-15s to the 17s this season and is already leaving his mark.
His exceptional fitness and relentless pursuit of the football allows him to maintain pressure for four quarters, ensuring his opponents are always on the lookout.
Wilde impressed in an intra club practice match, playing on senior players much bigger than him but holding his own and winning some contested ball.
Fraser Bentley (Northern Beaches Suns)
Bentley is gearing up for his final season in the under-17s and is determined to make a significant impact in defence.
Standing tall with a solid frame, his ability to read the game gives him the edge over most tall forwards in the competition.
He is effective with intercept leads and disrupting the contests, making him an indispensable asset to the Suns backline.
Sebastian Wyke (Curra Swans)
This kid has it all.
Wyke is a fantastic leader with speed, touch and the ability to turn the game around when it’s needed.
Hunter Brischetto (Curra Swans)
Brischetto is rising through the grades well and has a big future ahead in the way he takes pride in his skills.
Hits his targets long or short with pinpoint accuracy.
James Wilmore (Curra Swans)
A talented ruckman that is an underrated gem for the Swans.
His ruck work, pressure and aggression towards the footy is massive and so valuable to the team.
Beau McKenzie (Curra Swans)
A bottom aged player that played up last year as a 15-year-old.
McKenzie suited up against some very big forwards last season and never looked out of place.
Gives everything from siren to siren and is one to keep an eye on.
Lucas Midson (Curra Swans)
His ability to run all day gives defenders nightmares.
Midson is constantly running up and down the wing, creating attacking options or applying defensive pressure where required.
Has a never give in attitude that is very beneficial to the group.
FEMALE
Renee Ford (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
‘Rocket’ is certainly a name on the rise.
In 2024 Ford was named an All Australian, excelled at representative level, won under 17.5 AFL Townsville best and fairest and helped her team to a premiership all as a 15-year-old.
She’s since started 2025 playing in the Under 16 National carnival for the Gold Coast Suns while also making her senior women’s debut for the Bulldogs.
With a background in long distance running and triathlon, Ford uses her exceptional aerobic capacity to her advantage, allowing her to get to every contest and ensure she still has plenty in the tank in the last quarter.
Mya Tiller (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
Another outstanding prospect from the Gold Coast system, Tiller won the AFL Townsville Under 17.5 golden boot and premiership as a 14-year-old in 2024.
She has a sensational overhead mark and is a smooth mover around the ground.
When she’s not ruling the airways up forward, she’s dominating in the ruck.
Ava Goldsworthy (Hermit Park Tigers)
Goldsworthy is the definition of consistency.
She always turns up ready to play and her tough hard nosed style of play ensures she can always impact games.
She strives as an inside midfield with elite clearance work.
Jayla Young (Hermit Park Tigers)
Is consistently on the ball and in the right spot, Young is ruthless in defence and never backs down.
She reads the play well and is a strong leader from the backline.
Young is focused and motivated to have a strong season in 2025.
Zienna Newling (Hermit Park Tigers)
Newling plays in the ruck, consistently serving her midfielders with great hit outs.
Her strong work in the centre of the ground has not gone unnoticed, elevating herself into the leadership group for 2025.
Newling debuted for the Tigers senior women’s team in 2024 and will feature more and more as the season progresses.
Jess Whaley (Northern Beaches Suns)
Whaley has returned for her second season in 2025 and is building nicely on a great pre-season.
She is a competitive force that thrives at the contest.
Sienna Matthews (Northern Beaches Suns)
After a fantastic 2024, where Matthews was a key versatile and utility player, she’s returned as one of the team’s senior players in 2025.
Her skills, speed and communication are evident on the field and she’s also taken on the role of co-coach for the Suns under-11 girls team this season.
Tess Lonergan (Uni Hawks/Curra Swans)
Lonergan is in her second year of footy and is learning something new every week.
She's already played senior women's footy, where she held her own, and is a player that's always smiling no matter the scoreline or conditions.
A talented defender that is being moved around a fair bit this season in the hope of exposing her to different positions.
Stevens has good skills, a great attitude and serious potential with her coaching staff excited to see how she progresses this season.
Has a great sense of where she needs to be to get the ball and her vision anywhere on the field is outstanding.
Griffiths-Thaiday runs well in open space, helping her side find holes in the defence.
She's also played her first few matches of open women's footy this season and plays as if it's where she belongs.
Unfortunately the Garbutt Bombers did not want to take part in this story.
Originally published as Top under-17s AFL Townsville players uncovered for 2025 season
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