Future stars unveiled: Complete guide to Victoria’s elite U12 boys football squad

Meet Victoria’s U12 football stars: from AFL sons to speedy goal-sneak specialists, these future stars have elite talent across every position. Here’s a rundown on each player.

Patrick Hardiman with the ball and Braxton Harris in support. Picture: Alan Dillon

Key targets, pacy playmakers and sons of ex-AFL stars...the 2025 Victorian 12 and under boys football team is shaping up as a powerhouse blend of raw talent and football royalty.

Victorian selectors have named a squad of 27, including four emergencies, for the School Sport Australian Football Championships in Maroochydore from August 3-10.

Victoria is defending champions and Big V coach Leigh McQuillen says this side is packed full of talent.

Four members of the side, Edward Waller, Ned Simon, Koby Lynch and Bailey Rowell, will represent Victoria’s basketball side a week before the footy nationals.

McQuillen gives a rundown on each player:

Patrick Ashby (St Thomas More School)

Victoria’s vice-captain is a hybrid type of player, a good size who plays as a link up forward, a great kick at goal and is a real character, the boys love him. Good energy. Creative player.

Patrick Ashby is Victoria's vice captain.

Henry Broad (Ashby Primary School)

Medium sized player who takes a lot of grabs. Can play centre half-forward, and his aerial work is the best in the side. When he jumps for a mark he hardly ever gets beaten in the air. He’ll jump into packs. He’s an elite runner too. Can also play on a wing.

Jack Bull (Brighton Grammar School)

Inside midfielder, who crashes in and he’ll fend off. If he can’t get out he’ll hold his body through the contest and feed it out to teammates.

Sully Corrigan (Montpellier Primary School)

Victoria’s captain is the son of Paul Corrigan (ex-Geelong). You’d love two of him, he plays off half back because he’s got a penetrating left foot, but he goes into the midfield…strong body, runs straight at the footy, very aggressive. Line breaker, with high footy IQ.

Alec Corso (St Joseph’s School)

From Cobram, where he plays against older kids. Exciting forward who flies, can take hangers, then hits the ground running and is able to hit the scoreboard. You could put him in the goal square one out and he’s hard to beat. He will kicks goals.

Archie Di Domenico (Moriac Primary School)

Big, tall defender, plays last line, strong character, lays big tackles. Got speed and generally kicks out because he’s got kicking depth.

Charles Dyer (Beaumaris North Primary School)

Big forward, very agile, can turn on a dime, and can sit in packs and take a grab but also when the ball hits the deck he’s handy, kicks it a long way. Backs himself when having set shots..and has strong hands.

Hamish Fragiacomo (Parkdale Primary School)

“I reckon he’s the quickest kid I’ve seen in my 10 years in the program,’’ Vic coach Leigh McQuillen says. “He just gets the ball and none of the boys get near him.’’ As well as being elite with speed, Fragiacomo also kicks it really well, and tackles strongly, providing real drive from the back half, and on a wing.

Patrick Hardiman (Caulfield South Primary School)

A small midfielder who kicks on both feet exactly the same. Really hard at it, excellent at his craft. He holds his shape well, and when he’s in traffic he’s able to work his way out. He uses it beautifully by foot, and can go forward and hit the scoreboard as well.

Patrick Hardiman and Braxton Harris. Picture: Alan Dillon

Braxton Harris (St Joseph’s School)

A medium size defender midfielder, one of those kids who locks down on his opponent. He is an attention-to-detail guy, determined to beat his opponent. Strong and has speed.

Oscar Holloway (Ballarat Clarendon College)

Medium size player, can play back, forward or on a wing, uses the ball well, likes to be running player who relishes time and space, that’s when he hits targets and he has depth in his kicking.

Koby Lynch (Haileybury College)

Son of ex-Adelaide and St Kilda player Tom Lynch. A genuine centre half forward, hit up, high mark, strong, kicks it a long way and is a goal kicker. Strong in the air and astute by foot. If he thinks he’s just out of range he’ll wait for a forward to present and then hit them lace-out.

Noah Martin (Tinternvale Primary School)

A genuine wingman who holds his space well, and provides run and carry. He’s courageous and will fly for his marks, and hits up his teammates well.

Noah Martin with the ball. Picture: Alan Dillon

Lenny McDonald (St Therese School)

Son of ex-Hawthorn and Collingwood player Alex McDonald, Lenny goes either end — a genuine hybrid player — and a contested ball winner who has good speed. Great agility. Can take a big grab but he can also stay on the ground and crumb.

Will McGeoch (Cheltenham Primary School)

A super talent, whose game has gone to another level. He loves a bit of space, very creative and doesn’t waste a possession. Good by foot. Leadership qualities, vocal out on the ground.

Josh Phillips (St Kevin’s College)

A key forward who plays deep. Strong body, good in the one-on-ones. He commands a big defender. Has a beautiful set shot for goal.

Ryder Ponte (Diamond Valley College)

Really creative, a thinker. He’s lightly framed but he works his way through traffic. Can play on a wing and go behind the footy at times. Good footy IQ, reads the game well and when he gets it he always looks to exit fat side.

Dallas Ralph (Xavier College)

A fierce competitor who never gives up. Plays in defence mixing his ability to read the incoming ball and rebound with aggression both via speed and ball use. Can work through tight confined spaces to be damaging. Will also be used to great effect on a wing.

Bailey Rowell (Whitehorse Primary School)

The point guard for the Vic basketball side. He’s able to find his way out of traffic and work his way through…can cut sides up, good by foot and astute. Has a massive engine.

Ned Simon (Christian College Highton)

Big, still working on his ruck craft. Can go forward and take a mark and he feeds his teammates, and kicks it a long way. A beautiful set shot on goal. Will give first use out of the ruck.

Jude Waddell (Eltham Primary School)

An inside midfielder who also plays as a small forward and hits the scoreboard. Really crafty and hard at it. He’s strong over the footy, doesn’t give possession up.

Edward Waller (Chilwell Primary School)

Another of the Victorian basketball players. Tall, second ruckman, aggressive, left footer, good when the ball hits the ground because he’s good below his knees, he’s like a hybrid ruckman and another midfielder. Hard to tackle.

Aaron Williamson (left) and Charlie Dyer.

Aaron Williamson (Donvale Christian College)

A big midfielder who can play as a defender, one-on-one very good, a strong leader. Uses the footy well, an attention to detail player.

EMERGENCIES

Connor Haros (Ivanhoe East Primary School)

Hybrid player who can play back, forward or on a wing. Kicks it well and he’s a running machine with a massive engine.

Hunter Nicholls (Iona College)

Crafty left footer, suited to a wing, half forward. Creative player.

Toby Szygalski (Glen Katherine Primary School)

Big body, plays across the back half, provides a lot of drive. Good one-on-one, thinks his way through and good by foot.

Ry Webb (Derinya Primary School)

From Frankston Dolphins, he’s a small lockdown defender, who can also play forward as a goal kicker. A real tackling machine.