AFL Draft: Under-16 national championships scouting notes, stats and ranking points for every game
Father-sons tied to Essendon and Port Adelaide have helped Vic Metro take out the under-16 championships, and another Dons linked talent also impressed. See all the scouting notes, stats and SuperCoach scores from the carnival.
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Vic Metro has taken out the under-16 national championships after two father-son prospects helped them to a 57-point win over South Australia.
Tevita Rodan, son of former Port Adelaide, Richmond and Melbourne player and current goal umpire David, and Koby Bewick, son of dual Essendon premiership player Darren, produced dominant performances for Vic Metro.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SCOUTING NOTES, STATS AND SC SCORES
But it was Baxter Sruk who was best on ground with 4.2 and 27 disposals from the midfield, kicking four goals on the run in an outstanding showing.
Essendon Next Generation academy product Moustafa Darwish also impressed off halfback in the Vic Metro’s final game.
Vic Metro went through the carnival undefeated.
Meawnehile, Vic Country went down in the final game of the championships to Western Australia by 23-points.
Louis Salopek, son of former Port Adelaide midfielder Steven, was Vic Country’s leading disposal winner while Riley Travaglia, son of first-year Saint Tobie, was also prominent.
See all the scouting notes, stats below.
VIC METRO v SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VM 17.13 (115) defeated SA 8.10 (58)
VIC METRO
Baxter Sruk
Midfielder, 182cm, Eastern Ranges/Rowville
It is one thing to kick four goals, it’s another thing altogether to kick four on the run. A strong midfielder with a kicking weapon, Vic Metro’s MVP started the game with two behinds but he blew out the cobwebs with a running goal from 40 metres in the second term. His teammates got the memo, receiving a handball from a teammate who marked inside 50 to snap through another from 40m just before halftime. His best of the lot came just after the break, shrugging a tackler and launching long on his left from the paint. Sruk also put on some promising defensive efforts, found plenty of the ball with 27 disposals and had seven inside 50s. That is maximum impact.
Tevita Rodan (Port Adelaide father-son)
Midfielder/forward, 179cm, Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie
Having spent more tiem forward in previous matches, Rodan played a full game in the midfield and tore South Australia to shreds. The Port Adelaide father-son’s clean hands and evasiuveness on the inside coupled with his speed and ball-use away from the contest makes him very well-rounded. Rodan showed off his burst with an outstanding goal in the third term, dashing through the middle with a handball, getting it back and kicking it through on the bounce from 50m. He racked up 18 disposals in the first half alone and finished with a game-high 30 disposals, six clearances, six isnide 50s and a goal.
Koby Bewick (Essendon father-son)
Midfielder, 177cm, Calder Cannons/Strathmore
Bewick was deployed off halfback for most of the match and his skills and run in transition were eye-catching as he tallied 29 disposals, six rebound 50s, five inside 50s and five marks. The Dons father-son showcased his exceptional vision and footy IQ with several long handballs over the top that found teammates in space and some deft kicks inside 50 to leading targets. A classy spinning move in the third term allowed him to evade a tackler and he finished his day with another pinpoint kick inside 50 that set up a goal for Oliver Castro.
Jake Miller
Forward, 195cm, Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles
Miller was the dominant key forward on the ground with 4.3 and it could have been more had he kicked straight. But his first set shot of the day was a pearler, bending it through from 40 metres on the boundary as rain poured down in the first quarter. Miller had three goals to halftime after converting a snap close to goal after the siren and he brought up his fourth with an impresive mark, hitting the ball at speed. The Jets prospect took a team-high eight marks in his best game og the championships, finishing with eight goals across the three games.
Moustafa Darwish (Essendon NGA)
Defender, 179cm, Calder Cannons/Alberfeldie
A member of the Bachar Houli academy and Essendon’s NGA program, Darwish produced another impressive performance against SA. Darwish skills and tackling pressure were prominent as he racked up 27 disposals, six tackles and five marks across halfback. He helped turned defence into attack from the back 50.
Campbell Rooks
Defender, 180cm, Northern Knihgts/Heidelberg
Rooks’ reading of the play, evasiveness and kicking stood out in defence for Vic Metro. On several occasions he would spin out of a jam with his agility and quick hands. His tidy disposal also set up two scores, firing off a handball to Sruk in space for his long launch and hitting up Miller on the lead after taking an intercept mark.
Harper McCullough
Midfielder, 176cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Beaconsfield
McCullough stood tall at the coalface during the rain affected first quarter, racking up eight disposals in the first 15 minutes. The tough midfielder showed he isn’t just an inside ball-winner either, starting the second term with a great finish on the run, getting involved in a handball chain and accelerating away. His defensive intent was first rate, laying an equal team-high eight tackles to go with 19 disposals, six inside 50s and four clearances.
Griffin Barker
Midfielder, 185cm, Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles
Barker started his game with a goal from general play and finished it with a courageous mark back with the flight on the wing. The elusive midfielder was creative by hand and used his strength to get free of tacklers in congestion as he finsished with 18 disposals and a goal to his name.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Kai Ivins
Forward/midfielder, 180cm, Norwood/Payneham Norwood
Ivins slotted SA’s first goal of the match from a set shot from the 50 and found plenty of the ball early. The high-impact midfielder-forward was great in traffic, hitting centre clearances at speed on a couple of occasions and bursting away. It wasn’t as emphatic as his performance on Tuesday but he was certainly in his side’s best few players
Laurence Andriani
Midfielder, 170cm, West Adelaide/SMOSH West Lakes
Andriani got his hands dirty yet again at the source. His best play came in the second quarter when he caught a Vic Metro player holding the ball with a strong tackle and then hit Joshua Jarrad lace out on the lead. Andriani tallied 25 disposals, six marks, five inside 50s, four clearances and four tackles.
Archie Simpson
181cm, North Adelaide/Proprietary Risdon
When Simpson puts the jets on, there is no catching him. The lightning quick Croweater provided a late highlight for his side as he burst through the 50 with several bounces for a goal — his second for the match after an earlier set shot. He took off again in the final term after cutting off a handball at halfback. Had much more impact than his 14 touches suggest.
Taj Garrett
Midfielder, 182cm, Sturt/Imperial
Garrett has an uncanny knack of finding the footy, racking up 25 disposals — 18 of those kicks. He got involved on the outside with 11 marks and also won four clearances in a well-rounded midfield showing.
Joshua Jarrad
Forward, 189cm, Glenelg/Brighton
The marking forward had a third quarter purple patch where he booted three goals in the space of six minutes. The first he tapped to himself at a ruck contest and snapped through in heavy congestion and the next two came from set shots. He also clunked a strong grab in the third term in front of his opponent on the wing.
VIC COUNTRY v WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Vic Country 8.5 (53) defeated by WA 11.10 (76)
VIC COUNTRY
Kyan Walters
Defender, 185cm, Geelong Falcons/Newtown & Chilwell
Walters’ exquisite kicking was on display again but he was pushed up the ground to great effect against South Australia. Walters hit Max Thompson on the lead for his first goal and then had a goal soon after himself after converting a set shot from just inside the 50. He soccered through his side’s first goal of the second half from a tight angle and continued to hit targets until the final siren, finishing with 19 disposals, three clearances and two majors.
Louis Salopek (Port Adelaide father-son)
Midfielder, 184cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Frankston
Salopek put his well-rounded attributes on show. The Power father-son talent was hitting targets with his deft left boot, flying high for marks and spoils, laying rundown tackles, and going on streaming runs. He led Vic Country for disposals (24) and tackles (six), a sign of his ball-winning and defensive efforts.
Max Thompson
Forward/midfielder, Bendigo Pioneers/Nyah Nyah West
Named as Vic Country’s overall MVP, Thompson had three goals to his name by halftime. He showed his defensive pressure with a rundown gang tackle with Riley Travaglia for his second goal, and a mark on the lead brought up number three. Thompson was well held in the second half but still had a major influence with his 13 disposals, also alying four tackles.
Lincoln Brand
Midfielder, 188cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton
Brand won the first centre clearance of the game and assisted Vic Country’s last goal with a pinpoint kick. The tall midfielder was able to impact on the inside, outside and defensively as he finished with 22 disposals, five inside 50s and five tackles.
Riley Travaglia
Defender/forward, 181cm Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst
The brother of 2024 top-10 pick Tobie Travaglia showed similar versatility to his sibling. Having played in defence in their last match, Travaglia was stationed in attack for most of the game where he was able to work his way up and down the wing gathering possessions and applying pressure. He clunked a strong overhead mark on the lead on the wing in the final term and had a chance on goal but was unable to convert.
Cohen Dent
Ruck, 208cm, Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials
Dent would be the tallest player at some AFL clubs, yet he is just 16. The 208cm giant helped give his teammates first use with 24 hitouts and he also had 12 touches. Dent took a couple of impressive contested marks, one of those leading to a goal after he clunked a big pack in the goalsquare.
Oliver Boddenberg
Midfielder, 181cm, Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Raiders
Boddenberg was creative by hand and won his fair share of inside ball, finishing with a team-high five clerances and 21 disposals. He was particularly productive in the first half where he had 14 possessions.
Western Australia
Angus Abbonizio
Midfielder, 183cm, Subiaco/Wembley Downs
Abbonozio blew up the stats sheet in the first half, amassing 25 dsposals, six clearances, six inside 50s to the main break. For context, Vic Country’s top disposal winner for the whole gamne was Salopek with 24.. Abbonozio was strong in the clinches and also worked hard on the outside the provide an option. he slowed down a touch in the second half but still had some great moments, including a spinning move to shake off a tackler. The big bodied midfielder tallied 32 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven clearances, six tackles and six marks fot the match.
James Artemis
Midfielder, 176cm, East Fremantle/Hammond Park
There were less x-factor moments than Tuesday but WA’s MVP stood out with his work at the contest against Vic Country. Artemis’ defensive pressure was manic, laying 10 tackles, and he was regularly getting it to his teammaets from congestion with 15 of his 19 disposals handballs. He didn’t get too many opportunities to show off his burst but he sold candy to the man on the mark in the third term and nearly put it through on the run.
Campbell Creyk
Midfielder/forward, 181cm, West Perth/North Beach
Creyk sparked his team in the midfield and up forward, kicking two goals in the second quarter when the game was in the balance — the second after gathering in congestion and putting on the afterburners to get free. Creyk used his speed on the outside and found the ball all over the ground, finishing with 20 disposals.
Fynn Tomasini
Defender, 187cm, Perth/Belmont
WA’s general in defence, Tomasini was strong in the air and made good decisions with ball in hand, tallying 25 disposals, nine marks and four rebound 50s. He highlighted his leap and hands overhead with an impressive intercept mark in the first term and took several marks from the opposition across the game.
Charlie Williams
Forward, 181cm, Claremont/Subiaco
Williams was WA’s leading goalkicker with thre majors to go with 11 disposals and four marks. The forward booted two goals in the opening term and a strong pack mark brought up his third at the start of the final quarter.
Kye Inferrera
Midfieder, 184cm, Perth/Aquinas
Inferrera underlined his brute strength with a big fend off in the opening minutes, making his presence felt early. His ball use was sound and he got it done on the inside with four clearances and 19 touches.
DAY 3: Rankine clone, future stars Tassie have first dibs on
Tasmania has taken out the division two under-16 championships on the Gold Coast in a boon for the state’s AFL side.
The Devils are slated to enter the competition in 2028 and will have a bevy of picks at the top-end of the 2027 AFL Draft, and several prospects from the Apple Isle in the 2027 crop announced themselves throughout the carnival.
Tasmania MVP Lucas Heazlewood wowed onlookers with nine goals across his three games, contested marking forward Chaice Oliver booted 11 — including 7.3 in a game — while midfielders Max Gulliver, Benji Russell and Sam Husband all showed their class.
Tasmania won the under-16 championships on percentage, with the Brisbane Lions academy also winning all three of its matches.
GWS GIANTS v TASMANIA
GWS
Cooper French
Midfielder, 178cm, Ainslie
The Giants’ MVP at the champs capped his strong campaign with a long range goal off a couple of steps from beyond the arc, showcasing his raking right boot. He gave the Giants plenty of drive out of the middle and he got involved on the outside in particular, with 20 of his 26 possessions uncontested.
Aiden Henderson
Defender, 187cm, Tuggeranong
Henderson’s strong hands overhead and intercept ability stood out as he took a handful of marks from the opposition. The medium defender was often the loose man in the back 50 and his teammates looked to get the ball in his hands, finishing with 11 rebound 50s, but his kicking was off at times.
Brynley Ryan
Forward, 175cm, Ingleburn/South West Sydney
Ryan caught fire in the second half with three goals, the best of those a snap from 30 metres in heavy congestion after reading the ball off the pack. The small forward also pulled off a nice spin move to dodge a tackler of the stroke of three-quarter before handballing to a teammate who wasn’t able to convert. He kicked two set shots in the final quarter, including one after the full-time siren, and finished with 18 disposals and six marks.
Riley Masters
Forward, 184cm, Tuggeranong
The medium forward caught fire in the second quarter with a strong mark in front and set shot goal the highlight, but he wasn’t able to make the most of his chances with 1.3. He ran past to kick an open goal from the goalsquare in the third term for his second. Masters also applied defensive pressure in the forward half with five tackles to go with his 15 touches.
Darcy Mimmo
Forward/midfielder, 176cm, Narrandera
Mimmo was able to impact both ways in the midfield and up forward with 16 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s. He unselfishly handballed off to Masters to assist a goal in the third term and also laid a couple of desperate tackles.
Riley Roberts
Midfielder, 180cm, Ainslie
Roberts applied plenty of defensive pressure in the midfield with eight tackles and also won 20 possessions and four clearances himself. He earnt himself a free kick for one strong tackle when a Tasmania player attempted to go past him on the mark.
TASMANIA
Lucas Heazlewood
Forward, 176cm, Ulverstone
Tasmania’s MVP produced a mesmering six-minute patch where he booted three goals that epitomised his x-factor. The livewire’s first goal was a nice finish from 40 metres on the run after putting on the afterburners and the next a long bomb set shot from beyond the arc, but he saved his best for last. Undoubtedly the goal of the U16 champs, Heazlewood paddled it along to himself, sprinted away and shrugged not one, but two tacklers, before slotting the goal. He did it all throughout the clash, also flying to take a strong overhead mark, laying a rundown tackle that was unlucky to be called in the back, and even taking a ruck contest against a player 30 centimetres taller than him. There is plenty of Izak Rankine about him, and it’s not just the peroxide blonde hair.
Sam Husband
Midfielder/forward, 180cm, Launceston
Husband spent more time in the midfield with Max Gulliver out of the game from the first quarter, and his decision making, composure and speed. He finished the opening term with a dashing run out of defence with three bounces. In tight he was able to find space and hit targets, and he collected 21 disposals and six clearances.
Benji Russell
Midfielder, 176cm, Lauderdale
Russell producted another big game for Tasmania as he finished with a team-high 23 disposals and four clearances. In one impressive play he shot out of the middle like a flash to set up a goal, and in the second quarter he swooped on a loose ball and got it forward with a penetrating kick.
Harrison Millwood
Defender, 177cm, Launceston
In his best game of the champs, Millwood’s leap, reading of the play and hands overhead came to the fore as he clunked four intercept marks. Perhaps his best came towards the end of the third quarter he where he took a strong grab from a high ball, and he showed his ability to win one-on-ones in the air.
Chaice Oliver
Forward, 187cm, South Launceston
Oliver was kept quiet compared to his huge haul of 7.3 on Monday, but his contested marking again stood out. All four of the powerful forward’s marks were contested and from those grabs he kicked three goals. He opened his account with Tasmania’s first goal of the match after clunking a contested mark, and a deft hitout in the third term assisted another score.
Henry Chapman
Ruck, 190cm, North Hobart
Chapman follow up work was again prominent as he talied 23 hitoutsm 15 disposals and three clearances. His best moment came in the final quarter when he went back with the flight to take a storng intercept mark. Seven of Chapman’s hitouts were to advanrtage, which is a good effort while undersized up against 204cm ruckman Baden Smith.
GOLD COAST v SYDNEY SWANS
Suns 4.5 (29) defeated by Swans 15.12 (102)
Sydney dominated Gold Coast after quarter time with two goal to 10 to win by 73-points.
Swans MVP of the championships Monte Cairns produced an all-round masterclass with 29 disposals, 11 marks, eight tackles, six clearances, 2.3 and 196 SuperCoach points.
Sebastian Mok was everywhere with 23 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles, three goals and 184 SuperCoach points, while the two hyphens Duke Marshall-Orr (13 disposals, seven marks and three goals) and Dashiel Delaney-Fielding (14 disposals, five marks, 2.2) were also prominent up forward for the Swans.
Charles McClennan also shone through the midfield with 25 disposals, nine score involvements and six marks.
For the Suns, Oliver Bennett won a team-high 18 disposals, six clearances and kicked a classy goal as bottom-ager Paddy Fitzgibbon fought hard defensively with 13 tackles and 16 disposals
DAY 2: Cats, Dons, Port linked talents excite
The under-16 championships are in full swing up on the Gold Coast and recruiters were treated to two thrillers on Tuesday.
South Australia came from 28-points down to knock off Vic Country, while Western Australia threatened to come back themselves but Vic Metro managed to hold on to win by three points.
Several club-tied talents impressed on Tuesday, including highly-touted Essendon father-son Koby Bewick (son of Darren, Geelong Next Generation Academy prospect Tom Steinfort (son of ex-Cat and Pie Carl) and exciting Port Adelaide NGA forward Zemes Pilot.
See all the scouting notes, SuperCoach points and stats below.
VIC COUNTRY v SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VIC COUNTRY
Tom Steinfort (Geelong NGA)
Defender, 194cm, Geelong Falcons/South Melbourne Districts
19 disposals, 8 marks, 4 rebound 50s, 1.1
Steinfort, the son of former Geelong and Collingwood player Carl, nearly led Vic Country to victory with exceptional reading of the play in defence and shift forward in the final term. The Geelong Next Generation Academy tall missed a snap on goal but he had the ball in his hands soon after, kicking truly from 40 metres and giving the crowd a double cobra after putting Vic Country back in front with four minutes to play. As a key defender, Steinfort took a handful of intercept marks as he showed off his vice-like hands overhead. Some of his kicking was off but he certainly made up for it with his crucial late goal.
Max Thompson
Forward/midfielder, Bendigo Pioneers/Nyah Nyah West
15 disposals, 6 marks, 4 inside 50s, 2.1
Thompson finished with a bag of five against Vic Metro a month ago, and he looked on track to match that haul. The exciting forward/midfielder bobbed up for two goals and a behind in the opening quarter, all coming from uncontested marks in a sign of his workrate. He spent more time up the ground after quarter time where he hit up three teammates with sizzling passes inside 50, including Steinfort’s go-ahead goal. A player you want the ball in the hands of.
Kyan Walters
Defender, 185cm, Geelong Falcons/Newtown & Chilwell
20 disposals, 18 kicks, 5 rebound 50s
Walters’ numbers were inflated by South Australia’s inaccuracy but it is clear to see why he took many of the kick-ins. The smooth-moving defender used his precise left-boot to great effect throughout the contest. He also took plenty of bounces – even before he took a kick-in and on two occasions after he just walked out of the goalsquare.
Corey Ah-Mu
Forward, 196cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Berwick
11 disposals, 3 marks, 1.1
Having played junior basketball for Samoa, Ah-Mu’s athleticism certainly catches the eye. Ah-Mu produced one of the goals of the game when his side needed it most in the last term, running onto a smothered ball and booting it through from 40 metres to put Vic Country within a goal. In the first quarter he broke away from a tackler and hit up Thompson with a kick across his body. Ah-Mu also showed his overhead marking with a couple of strong grabs. He is also the brother of 2025 draft prospect Tairon Ah-Mu.
Archie Whitlock
Forward, 179cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton
12 disposals, 6 tackles, 4 marks
The brother of first-year twins Matt and Jack Whitlock was much better than the numbers suggest. Whitlock’s elusiveness and tackling pressure impressed and he helped keep his side in the game with a crucial play late. Whitlock sprinted back into the defensive 50 to take an intercept mark in front of a South Australian player.
Charlie Fischer
Forward, 178cm, Gippsland Power/Phillip Island
9 disposals, 2 goals
Fischer showed he has tricks in the air and at ground level. The lively small forward flew to take a specky on the back of an unlucky SA defender in the second term and in the third quarter he picked an opponent’s pocket and burst away to help set up a goal. He looked dangerous whenever the ball was in his area and finished with two goals.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Kai Ivins
Forward/midfielder, 180cm, Norwood/Payneham Norwood
26 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 6 marks, 3.1
Ivins’ first goal was a sign of things to come, streaming through and selling candy before slotting it from 40 metres. He had a second major soon after from a set shot and added a third with another classy finish on the run in the third term. After that point Ivins spent more time in the midfield and was pivotal in South Australia’s comeback, taking strong marks, winning clearances and delivering inside 50 – finishing with 10 entries for the match. It’s hard to see how SA would have stole victory without him.
Hugo Semmler
Ruck, 199cm, Central District/Gawler
38 hitouts, 17 disposals, 6 marks, 5 clearances
Up against a 208cm opponent in Cohen Dent, Semmler was the best player on the ground to halftime. Semmler did it in the air, getting crunched in a pack mark in the first term and taking several imposing intercept grabs, and at ground level, where he became another midfielder at stoppages. His tapwork at centre bounces was also impressive as he found his teammates on the move.
Zemes Pilot (Port Adelaide NGA)
Forward, 190cm, South Adelaide/Port Noarlunga
17 disposals, 4 inside 50, 2.2
It’s hard not to take notice of Pilot every time he is near the footy. The Port Adelaide NGA talent is a tall and a small rolled into one, as he showed in the opening term when he leapt high for a spoil over the back, ran down a Vic Country player to win a holding the ball free kick, and then spotted up Ivins inside 50 to set up a goal. A couple of clever handballs under pressure to teammates assisted another two goals in the third term. Pilot got the scoreboard reward himself in the final quarter, booting two majors to give SA the lead – one where he burst onto a loose ball close to goal and another where he cleverly stayed stayed down in a marking contest before he thread the needle from a tight angle.
Laurence Andriani
Midfielder, 170cm, West Adelaide/SMOSH West Lakes
32 disposals, 9 clearances, 7 marks
Andriani led the way for disposals and clearances as the midfielder shone with his intent at the contest and burst of speed. The small on-baller set up a couple of goals with clever passes and laid some key tackles. His last quarter was important with the game on the line and he won the next centre clearance after Vic Country hit the front.
Taj Garrett
Midfielder, 182cm, Sturt/Imperial
28 disposals, six clearances, 1.3
Garrett lifted in the second half, stepping up to the plate to put his side in front in the dying minutes. After kicking three behinds earlier in the contest, Garrett coolly slotted the set shot from 40 metres out to give his side the lead with two minutes to go. He gave his side meterage with 21 of his 28 disposals being kicks and won six clearances – second only to Andriani.
SUPERCOACH POINTS
VIC C
K. Walters 133
O. Boddenberg 112
T. Steinfort 107
M. Thompson 104
T. Buchanan 98
M. Pendergast 87
E. Wood 83
H. Welsh 80
A. Whitlock 72
C. Fischer 71
C. Montebello 71
A. Blood 67
P. McKenna 67
C. Ah-Mu 65
L. Salopek 58
J. Gourley 57
L. Petrie 48
L. Pring 42
N. Mensch 36
L. Stephenson 31
R. Lual 24
C. Dent 21
SA
L. Andriani 187
K. Ivins 153
H. Semmler 144
T. Garrett 141
Z. Pilot 124
Z. Rooney 101
M. Pendergast 87
H. Tamblyn 75
H. Chapman 73
T. Sampson 71
A. Faulkner 70
O. Easton 67
J. Jarrad 63
P. Burgoyne 55
T. Gribben 55
C. Allen 52
D. Hatedakis 49
L. Petrie 48
L. Pring 42
O. Glover 40
C. Gallasch 39
C. Best 37
B. Nicholls 36
R. Both 32
A. Crispe 26
B. Whimpress 4
VIC METRO v WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Axel Walsh
Ruck, 200cm, East Perth/ East Perth/Mt Lawley Inglewood
25 hitouts, 20 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 marks
A serious contender to be the No.1 pick in 2027, Walsh did everything he could to will his side over the line, often tapping it to himself at centre bounces and stoppages to win the clearance. The freakishly athletic 200cm ruckman had eight hitouts to advantage and his follow up work was phenomenal, finishing with 15 contested possessions. Walsh fought hard with repeat efforts at one stoppage in the dying minutes but was caught holding the ball, one of his rare blemishes of the day. He also regularly dropped back in defence where he took three intercept marks, one on occasion bursting away after a grab on the last line and hitting up a target.
James Artemis
Midfielder, 176cm, East Fremantle/Hammond Park
18 disposals, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 5 tackles, 2 goal
Artemis is high impact with his power and speed, as he showed with his two spectacular goals. In the first term the speedster sprinted all the way from the halfback flank to receive it in the middle of the ground and launched long from 50m. Then to edge his side closer in the last term, Artemis stripped a Vic Metro player, gathered in congestion and snapped it through on the bounce from 45 metres. A great kick in the second term bounced perfectly to Jayke Taylor over the back who goaled, and he sold candy and dashed away from the man on the mark the very next play.
Angus Abbonizio
Midfielder, 183cm, Subiaco/Wembley Downs
26 disposals, 21 kicks, 10 marks, 4 inside
Abbonizio racked up plenty of the ball on the outside and converted a long range set shot from the paint to quickstart his side’s second-half comeback. His workrate and overhead marking was prominent throughout as he went on to have 10 uncontested marks, and he looked to get the ball moving by foot.
Jayke Taylor
Forward, 187cm, East Fremantle/Willeton
12 disposals, 5 marks, 3.1
Taylor was the standout forward on the ground, consistently presenting around the ground and kicking three majors. His best came in the second quarter when he ran onto a bouncing ball out the back and weaved it through from 20 metres on a tough angle. The medium forward’s workrate was particularly impressive, taking five marks on the lead for the match.
Campbell Creyk
Midfielder/forward, 181cm, West Perth/North Beach
22 disposals, 8 marks, 5 inside 50s
Creyk was dynamic in the forward half, finishing with nine score involvements and four score assists. In the last quarter Creyk intercepted a handball and burst away to help set up another goal with the game on the line. He also showed his speed on the defensive end with a desperate rundown tackle on the wing in the third term.
VIC METRO
Moustafa Darwish (Essendon NGA)
Defender, 179cm, Calder Cannons/Alberfeldie
16 disposals, 8 intercepts, 6 marks
A member of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy, Darwish was the top-ranked Vic Metro player on the ground in their win. The rebounding halfback read the play to perfection, taking three intercept marks – two of those contested - and was able to turn defence into attack with his pinpoint footskills. Darwish came off his man in the last quarter to take an intercept mark and quickly played on and kicked long to find Jake Miller inside 50 who slotted he goal.
Angus Brown
Midfielder/forward, 173cm, Sandringham Dragons/Caulfield
21 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1.1
Brown dominated the first half with 16 disposals, which he finished with a goal that highlighted his exciting attributes. The crafty mid-forward weaved past two tacklers in heavy congestion inside 50 after sharking a tap and when the ball was kicked back inside 50, he hit the ball at speed and checksided it through in traffic. Has an uncanny knack of finding space with his dancing feet.
Harper McCullough
Midfielder, 176cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Beaconsfield
19 disposals, 8 clearances, 8 tackles
McCullough was tough as nails at the source, where he laid tackles and won clearances with his clean hands and lateral movement. On one occasion he ripped the ball out of congestion and burst clear with speed, and he also shrugged off two tacklers to get a handball out in another eye-catching play.
Griffin Barker
Midfielder, 185cm, Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles
19 disposals, 1 goal
Barker started his day with a long-range set shot from 50 metres in the opening term and from there he showcased his agility and toughness continually. A big fend-off on a WA tackler sent them flying and on another he looked gone for all money, but managed to handball off to a teammate in space to set up a scoring opportunity.
Baxter Sruk
Midfielder, 182cm, Eastern Ranges/Rowville
22 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1.1
There were plenty of fine finishes, but Sruk’s in the last quarter was probably the pick of the lot, selling candy and launching long on his raking left boot from 50 metres in the final term. Sruk also took the sealing intercept mark in the dying seconds and cleverly chipped backwards to take time off the clock. The tall midfielder was clean at ground level as he won his fair share of contested ball and set up a goal for Kravic with an impressive long handball.
Jake Miller
Forward, 195cm, Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles
5 disposals, 3 marks, 3.1
Miller booted four goals in his Coates League debut last month, and he finished with a game-high three goals against Western Australia. The 195cm prospect was able to separation inside 50 on several occasions and two of his goals came from set shots.
Koby Bewick (Essendon father-son)
Midfielder, 177cm, Calder Cannons/Strathmore
17 disposals, nine inside 50s
The son of dual premiership Bomber Darren Bewick wasn’t as dominant as his first game of the champs last month, but he provided plenty of drive with nine inside 50s. One of those penetrating long kicks resulted in a goal for Toby Jeffs after he found him in space. He was generally tidy with his disposal and also gave a glimpse into his defensive game with a crunching tackle in the third term which earnt him a free kick.
Toby Jeffs
Forward, 190cm, Northern Knights/Yarrambat
9 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 2.1
Jeffs was able to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates in a variety of different ways. The Knights product converted a set shot in the first quarter and then took a strong overhead mark and hit up Jake Miller on the lead. In the second term a smother a smother on the mark and handball over the top saw Miller walk into an open goal. He turned crumber in the final quarter as he snapped through an important goal for his side under pressure from 20 metres.
SUPERCOACH POINTS - VIC M v WA
VIC METRO
M. Darwish 148
H. McCullough 139
C. Rooks 127
B. Sruk 106
A. Brown 104
T. Jeffs 94
T. Rodan 92
O. Bond 88
K. Bewick 87
A. King 79
G. Barker 77
C. White 69
J. Flower 62
O. Castro 60
J. Miller 58
A. West 50
J. Destefanis 42
A. Bakoulas 38
E. Kravic 38
R. Ham 31
Z. Adams 21
S. Law 9
L. Alexander 3
WA
A. Walsh 171
Abbonizio 143
K. Inferrera 120
J. Taylor 120
C. Creyk 117
F. Tomasini 95
J. Kee 90
F. Gunton 82
W. Blaxell 76
J. Oliver 62
A. Clayton 61
X. Little 56
C. Williams 56
N. Hannaford 54
H. Hearn 54
R. Williamson 54
S. O’Brien 53
C. Douglas 37
O. Richardson 28
T. Warner 23
T. Eichner 9
L. Jones 5
Tasmania v Gold Coast - Future Devils smash Suns
Gold Coast’s academy has been a production line of talent in recent years, but it was Tasmania who annihilated the Suns on their home turf at the under-16 championships on Monday in an exciting sign for the Devils’ first-ever draft crop.
Tasmania blitzed the Suns Academy 80-0 in the opening half and went on to smash the Suns by 164 points at People’s First Stadium on the Gold Coast, with a host of 2027 draft prospects turning heads for Tasmania.
Tasmania’s AFL side is slated to have priority access to all Tasmanian talent if it enters the competition in 2027 and Max Gulliver and Chaice Oliver are just a couple of prospects from the Apple Isle to get excited about.
Marking forward Oliver booted four goals in the opening half and seven for the match, while Max Gulliver had a day out with 27 disposals, 12 inside 50s, 10 clearances and three goals.
The dominant performance is Tasmania’s second win from two games in the division two of the under-16 carnival, also thumping Northern Territory by 70 points last month.
For the Suns, athletic ruckman Travis Larkins was their best with team-highs for clearances and disposals.
TASMANIA
Max Gulliver
Midfielder, 178cm, Glenorchy
A serious talent who is the early frontrunner to be Tasmania’s very first draft pick if it enters the AFL ranks. After three goals and had 30 disposals in Tasmania’s first win, Gulliver repeated the dose against the Suns – and this performance might have been even better. Gulliver’s exhilarating speed and penetrating kick were a feature throughout the contest and when the game was on the line in the first quarter, he amassed nine disposals, six inside 50s and slotted a goal. A terrific finish in the last term underlined his exciting attributes, ripping the ball away from congestion and bursting away, taking a bounce and slotting the goal on the run from the arc like he was shelling peas.
Chaice Oliver
Forward, 187cm, South Launceston
Contested mark, goal, repeat. That summed up Oliver’s day as he dominated the air inside 50 with his strong hands and bodywork, taking 10 marks for the match – most of those contested – and booting 7.3. It looked like men against boys when Tasmania bombed long to Oliver, who had four goals to halftime – which could easily have been five if he converted another gettable chance. He went on to kick another three majors in the second half, the main highlight a towering mark over the top in the pocket that wowed the crowd.
Benji Russell
Midfielder, 176cm, Lauderdale
Russell’s sublime footskills were on full display against the Suns, pumping the ball inside 50 nine times and generally finding a target. The midfielder dodged and weaved around tacklers with his agility and speed, and he also got involved defensively with a team-high seven tackles.
Lucas Heazlewood
Forward, 176cm, Ulverstone
Heazlewood has plenty of x-factor and speed to burn as a small forward. All three of his goals were highlights, with his second major the best of them, pressuring the Suns into a mistake before gathering, selling candy and kicking it through from close range. Heazlewood regularly put on the afterburners and couldn’t be caught, and he also showed his creative ball sue by setting up another couple of scores.
Henry Chapman
Ruck, 190cm, North Hobart
Chapman’s hit-outs and follow up work were impressive, tallying the fifth-most disposals on the ground from the ruck with 20 to his name. He had 10 hit-outs in the first quarter alone and finished with 23 for the match. He showcased his athleticism with a soccer out of mid-air close to goal and could have had another major late, but missed the set shot.
Sam Husband
Forward/midfielder, 180cm, Launceston
A classy ball user, Husband was able to have an influence in the midfield and up forward where he booted two goals. He always seemed to have time and space, highlighted by his last quarter goal where he weaved past several Suns to slot a goal from 40m out. Husband’s best play of the day was a behind from the arc, winning the centre clearance, bursting away with two bounces and just missing
Jake Beams
Midfielder/forward, 178cm, Glenorchy
Beams finished with four goals for the match but his defensive pressure was just as eye-catching. The Glenorchy product laid seven tackles, with one rundown tackle in the second term bringing up his second goal. Beams has plenty of purchase on his left boot as he showed with his first goal from the paint, and he sold candy to snap through his fourth just before the final siren.
SUNS ACADEMY
Travis Larkins
Ruck, 194cm, Cairns
The athletic ruckman fought tirelessly in the ruck and had some promising moments on a tough day for his side. Larkins followed up nicely to win a team-high six clearances for the match along with an equal team-high 14 disposals and 18 hit-outs.
Cameron Burgess
Defender, 184cm, Broadbeach
The Suns defence was under immense pressure throughout the contest and it might have lost by more if it wasn’t for Burgess. The Broadbeach product had some key defensive efforts and generally used the ball well, finishing with eight rebound 50s from 11 touches.
Paddy Fitzgibbon
Forward, 177cm, Palm Beach Currumbin
Fitzgibbon didn’t get a great deal of opportunities up forward but he certainly didn’t drop his head. The bottom-ager came from nowhere with a fantastic rundown tackle on the wing and got involved up the ground with 12 touches.
Cooper Wanders
178cm, South Cairns
Wanders caught the eye whenever he had the footy. The smooth mover stepped through defenders with ease on a couple of occasions and showed some dash in one run along the wing.
SUPERCOACH POINTS
TASSIE
M. Gulliver 207
H. Chapman 156
S. Husband 145
B. Russell 141
M. Dawkins 129
J. Beams 127
J. Morrison 121
M. Whitney 114
L. Heazlewood 99
T. Bearman 88
M. Fugslang 87
O. Freeland 85
B. Banks Smith 81
O. Bennett 81
W. Redman 77
H. Millwood 75
C. Burgess 74
C. Barwick 54
J. Smith 52
V. Johnson 48
E. Clemons 45
C. Wanders 44
M. Hernyk 38
S. Spearing 30
X. Lalic 29
M. Flanagan 27
J. Frost 25
O. Watters 25
Z. Gale 24
B. Grimster 20
J. Hall 19
H. King 13
SUNS
O. Bennett 81
B. Banks Smith 81
G. Barker 77
C. Burgess 74
C. Glass 70
J. Moore 69
K. Skinner 66
P. Fitzgibbon 62
A. Gray 55
C. Barwick 54
J. Smith 52
A. Atkinson 49
K. Green 49
C. Wanders 44
H. Cloke 32
S. Spearing 30
X. Lalic 29
M. Flanagan 27
J. Frost 25
O. Watters 25
Z. Gale 24
O. King 24
B. Schellebeck 21
B. Grimster 20
J. Hall 19
H. King 13
Originally published as AFL Draft: Under-16 national championships scouting notes, stats and ranking points for every game
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