Future stars of the VAFA revealed: Top 60 Premier Under-19s
The VAFA under 19 competition is the key to every club’s future. See the full list of players rated from every club in the premier competition.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The future of VAFA footy is in safe hands with plenty of youngsters shining bright at the under 19’s level.
Some prospects have even featured in their clubs senior teams.
Club by club, see the best players in the VAFA under-19 premier competition.
Full list below:
CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS
Sam Hume
Position: Forward
Hume has kicked the fourth most number of goals this season in the under 19 competition. He has also been in his side’s best players on 10 occasions.
Darcy Twist
Position: Midfield/Forward
Twist has been in his side’s best players in 12 of 15 matches this season. He has also booted nine goals, proving to be one of Caulfield’s top prospects.
Connor Scanlon
Position: Midfielder
Scanlon began the season in fine form featuring as the best player on ground in round two against Williamstown and round three against St Bernards. Scanlon has been in his side’s best players in 10 of 17 matches this season.
Oscar Ursini
Position: Midfield/Forward
Ursini has been in his side’s best players in eight of 17 matches this season. He has also kicked 13 goals this season.
DE LA SALLE
Tom Robinson
Position: Forward
Robinson had a breakout game against Old Melburnians where he kicked seven goals. He has kicked 16 goals for the season from 14 games and featured in his side’s best players on four occasions.
Charlie Maxwell
Position: Forward
Averages nearly a goal a game this season. He scored three goals against Old Melburnians and Caulfield Grammarians.
Christian Algeri
Position: Midfielder
Played 12 games this season in the under 19s and was in his side’s best players on four occasions. He had best on ground performances against St Kevins and Old Brighton.
Brett Boscacci
Position: Forward
Kicked 12 goals from seven games and was in his side’s best players on three occasions this season in the premier division.
OLD BRIGHTON
Tom Burnell
Position: Midfielder
An inside midfielder who has great endurance and courage. He played several senior matches this season. He has good pace who can run with the footy and deliver good handballs and kicks forward.
Winston McGowan
Position: Midfielder
An inside midfielder who brings other players into the game with his elite handball skills. He has been one of Old Brighton’s best under 19s this season and is one to watch. He will be back in for the grand final this weekend.
Jordie Grey
Position: Midfielder
Has a thumping left foot according to Old Brighton under 19 coach Matt McLennan. He is a ball winner who racks up possessions in the midfield.
Spencer Wood
Position: Defender
Coach McLennan says he “could talk a glass eye to sleep.” An elite kick who never gives up.
Ben Fisher
Position: Defender
A rebounding defender who loves to run with the ball.
Lachie Brooks
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Has freakish talent. Fast with the ball and strong. He excites the crowd and team with his footy. He is clean with the ball with a great ability to pick up ground balls with ease. A player to watch.
Lachie Caldwell
Position: Defender
He has impeccable judgment in the air, wins one-on-one’s and is the skipper of Old Brighton’s under 19 side. He takes marks in defence and is a reliable player.
OLD MELBURNIANS
Chance Doultree
Position: Defender
Played one under 19’s game this season and was best on ground. Provides good run and dash off halfback. An outside player who can also play on the wing. Likened to Brodie Smith.
Spencer Anderson
Position: Midfielder
A tall player who is strong overhead and is a running machine. Anderson has been in his side’s best players in 11 of 16 games this season. He plays on the wing and in the guts at times. Similar to Isaac Smith.
Lachlan Templeton
Position: Midfielder
A promising inside midfielder with a superb left foot that hardly misses. He has similar traits to Caleb Serong in the way he hits targets and goes in for the footy. Has been injured a bit this season but one to watch as a player who impresses with his cleanliness below his knees. He can also play off halfback.
Adam Richardson
Position: Key forward
Richardson often appears for strong contested marks in similar fashion to Luke Jackson. He also has a thumping kick that can travel more than 50 metres. Richardson can also pinch hit in the ruck.
Charles Dowling
Position: Defender
Dowling played 13 matches in the senior side this season. An explosive player who is very quick and hard to tackle. He played in five under 19 matches where he was best on ground on two occasions. He is mainly at halfback but can also go forward and in the midfield.
Arthur Rush
Position: Midfield
Can go in and have a crack in the midfield like his teammate Templeton. A right footer who is also handy on the outside. Has the footy smarts to find time and space. Rush is courageous where you will see him run back with the flight of the ball. A two-way running midfielder. A player compared to Lenny Hayes.
OLD SCOTCH
Hamish Wild
Position: Midfielder
A bull in the midfield who can also go forward and pinch hit in the ruck. Has a good ability to win the ball and is a team orientated player. He is a consistent performer who is likened to Patrick Cripps with the ability to go forward and take a mark.
Angus Jones
Position: Small forward
The second leading goalkicker in the competition who kicked 10 goals in one game against De La Salle. He has handy skills and tricks likened to Charlie Cameron.
Rye Spark
Position: Midfielder
A representative basketball background who is really strong. Has good games sense exemplified by his craft. He is a team oriented player who is selfless and has grown plenty of confidence in his game this season.
Hamish Francis
Position: Defender
A really good intercept marker who reads the play well. He brings run and drive off halfback and has had a taste of senior football at reserve level. Opposition coaches have asked Scotch under 19s coach Bryce McGain, ‘how do you defend that guy’. Francis is strong in one-on-one contests.
Robert Beckworth
Position: Defender
Grew into his role throughout the season. Intercept marks and straight lines the ball, bringing good spark in attack coming out of defence. Has a good kick on him as well.
Angus Symonds
Position: Midfielder
A fast and agile inside midfielder who takes on opposition players and is a great finisher. Has good skills.
Hugo Boreham
Position: Midfielder
An elite runner and power midfielder who is a great leader of the team. Coach Bryce McGain says he is “one of the great young men” who “will be high up in our best and fairest and in the league as well.”
OLD XAVERIANS
Edward Kennedy
Position: Key forward.
A consistent player who has a small gap between his best and worst. Has an accurate left foot which has helped him lead the goalkicking this year in the under 19 competition with 57 goals from 19 games. He is yet to debut in the seniors but “the club is certainly excited about his future”, coach Dan Rush said. Kennedy plays like Matthew Lloyd.
Tom Silvagni
Position: Forward
The fifth highest goalscorer in the under 19s competition with 34 goals from 18 matches playing as a high half forward. Tom is the son of Carlton and AFL hall of famer Stephen Silvagni and brother of Carlton footballer Jack Silvagni. He often bobs up with important goals and is a consistent performer for his side. Has good hand and reads the play well. He is likened to Hawthorn footballer Jack Gunston.
Thomas Dunne
Position: Defender
Dunne is the captain of the Old Xaverians under 19s team who is in his second year at the level. Rarely gets beaten as a defender helped by his ability to intercept and read the play well. Plays like Tom Stewart. Coach Dan Rush says he is “a great leader of the team.”
Hugh Basset
Position: Midfield
A second-year player at under 19s level. A big bodied midfielder who has a thumping kick that can break lines. He was captain of Eastern Ranges last year and is the vice-captain of the Old Xavs under 19s.
Benjamin Bilston-Mcgillen
Position: Midfield
Played the last month in the seniors including their elimination final against Old Brighton. He was named in the best players in some of those matches. Surprised onlookers by the impact he had at the level. Coach Rush said “he was more than comfortable at senior level and he would have played the rest of the year up there if the seniors kept on going.” Bilston-Mcgillen is good in tight areas of the field with his pace and explosiveness. Also still an under 19 footballer next season.
Will Bowen
Position: Midfield
A general in the midfield who wins a lot of the ball. Gets the ball to players in better position who is strong likened to Tom Mitchell.
Jed Feneley
Position: Defender
Won the best and fairest last year in the shortened season. Feneley has been recovery from a long-term broken leg injury. Before then he was spending time training with Carlton. He has played in the team in the back half of the season. An exciting and dashing halfback player who takes intercept marks and users the ball well. A player to keep an eye on.
Tommy Mcrae
Position: Midfielder
Mcrae played four games with Casey Demons this season. A player who is strong and fit, can take a nice mark and will come back and play in the under 19 when he is not playing in the VFL. He is a good user of the ball. Mcrae is one of five players on the Casey list who is a mandatory under 19 player.
ST BERNARDS
Xavier Smith
Position: Midfielder
Smith has played 17 matches this season and has been in the best players the most of any player in his side with nine appearances.
Liam Vitelli
Position: Midfielder
Vitelli was best on ground in his first three matches of the season. He is one to watch.
Angus Hug
Position: Midfielder
Has kicked 20 goals from 11 matches this season, the most of any player in his side. He had a breakout game in the middle of the season where he kicked seven goals against University Blues.
Gabriel Loukomitis
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Has been in his side’s best players in seven of 18 matches this season. Averages a goal, a game.
Jack Grogan
Position: Defender
A handy player in defence who has featured in his side’s best players in seven of 17 games this season.
ST KEVINS
Jasper Conquest
Position: Midfield/Forward
Played a game in the reserves side this season. Conquest averages a goal a game in the under 19s and has been in his side’s best players on seven occasions.
Jack Palmer
Position: Midfielder
Has been best on ground in four matches for the under 19s this season. He played a game in the senior side in a minor premiership season. Palmer can also go forward and hit the scoreboard.
William Pfeiffer
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Has played 16 under-19 matches this season and has been in the best players on 12 occasions. One of the standout players.
Zach Dowd
Position: Defender
Was best on against University Blues early in the season. He has been in the best players 12 times from 17 matches. A player to watch.
Liam O‘Neill
Position: Defender/Midfielder
He has been in the best players in 10 of 14 games this season.
UNIVERSITY BLUES
Ned Evans
Position: Midfielder
A quality player who is “as hard as a cats head” as described by coach Stephen Boakes. Evans made his debut in the seniors this season where he was in the best players in his first game. Evans is privy to finding the footy and laying strong tackles.
Geordie LaCava
Position: Defender
A player with a “tremendous foot on him” who can kick over 50 metres. A “quality kid” as described by Boakes. LaCava made his debut in the senior side this season and played a total of four matches. He is a reliable player in defence.
Thomas O‘Brien
Position: Midfield
A bottom age player who is a smart footballer. Buys extra time and space with his game sense.
Liam Wylie
Position: Defender
He also played midfield and on the wing this season. A talented player who has a bright future as a player still eligible for under 19s next season.
Tom McShane
Position: Utility
A midfielder who can play in all positions. He is from Tasmania. A quality footballer who unfortunately missed some footy due to injury.
Liam Warmington
Position: Ruck
Played in the under 23s team as an under 19. A talented ruck who has potential.
WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS
Will Bokma
Position: Midfielder/Forward
A smart and strong midfielder whose understanding of the game and ability to play inside and outside the contest make him an two-way player. He is the vice-captain of the under-19s side who made his senior debut this season. He has averaged two goals a game this season as a midfielder. Likened to Sydney Swans footballer Isaac Heeney.
Jai Haines
Position: Midfielder
The captain of the Williamstown under 19s side who has exciting pace and explosion out of stoppages. He is the first player at Williamstown CYMS to captain the Under 19s for multiple seasons. Known to be a passionate leader linked to Melbourne Jack Viney. He played six senior games this season.
Hamish Tambourine
Position: Half forward/Halfback/Midfielder
Strong bodied utility who shows great composure with ball in hand strengthened by his ability to use both sides of his body. Tambourine is also fit player who can run but also show great strength in the contest. He made his senior debut this year and had a best on ground performance against De La Salle kicking his team’s goal of the year. Has similarities of the field to Angus Brayshaw.
Keegan Andrews
Position: Centre Half Forward
A strong tall forward who has size, speed and stamina which makes him an incredibly difficult match up. Combined with a powerful left foot, he is one forward you want in your team. His coach Joel Hogarth says he plays like Lance Franklin. He is the leading goalkicker of the under 19s, averaging more than two goals a game this season.
Ned Sayers
Position: Midfield
Run and gun style of player with exception decision-making, kicking and clearance work for his size. He made his senior this year and transitioned nicely into a midfield role. Plays like Zach Merritt
Calvyn Vicino
Position: Midfield
Arguably the best tackler in the competition coupled with a powerful left foot and great composure with ball in hand. He had a breakout match against top side Xavier in a top of the table clash where he laid 10+ tackles. He has played every game this season and has similar traits to Matt Pridis.
Mitchell Alexander
Position: Ruck
Tall and athletic ruckman whose ability to follow up at ground level make him a dual-threat at stoppages. He has impressed this season and played an invaluable role in his side’s win over Scotch this season. Play like Nic Naitanui.
‘A lot more reliable’: Dales out to clip Eagles’ wings in MPFNL blockbuster
The stakes are high as Somerville and Pearcedale battle to maintain their unbeaten status in a fascinating round of MPFNL Division 2 footy. Hear from coaches and see the key players.
Live stream: Opportunity beckons for Geelong young guns
The Geelong Falcons travel north to take on the Brisbane Lions academy in a Coates Talent League boys and girls double-header. See how to watch both matches LIVE on Sunday.