School Sport Victoria under 12 boys football team names 27 after 750 trialed

The Victorian 12 and under boys football team is packed full of talent, including sons of ex-AFL players. Here’s a rundown on all 27 players.

The Victorian under 12 football side after playing against Trinity College. Picture: Supplied

There’s a reason why Victorian coach Leigh McQuillen says he “can’t wait’’ for the School Sport Australian Football Championships to kick off in early August.

He believes his Victorian 12 and under boys football team is packed full of rare and exciting talent.

And, quite possibly, future AFL players.

After 750 initially trialled, state selectors named a team of 23, plus four emergencies.

“So it’s hard to get in,’’ McQuillen said.

“I’m counting down the days to get to the tournament. I just can’t wait to get there.’’

The Australian championships will be held in Albury from August 5-11.

Victoria finished third last year and McQuillen says the Big V are going all out to win the title this time around.

“We’re going back with another great team and fingers crossed we can adapt to the conditions this year and we can bounce back and bring the trophy back,’’ McQuillen said.

It’s a star-studded Victorian line-up.

McQuillen gives a rundown on each player:

Three state reps from the Mornington Peninsula, from left, Oscar Laity, Kobe Treeby and Ray Lonie. Picture: Supplied

Oscar Laity, Balnarring Primary School

Strong inside midfielder. In the last couple of games we’ve played there have been some big Year 9 boys who are six foot three or four and Oscar is the kind of kid who loves that, it doesn’t worry him one bit, he’s just trying to take them down. He plays midfield and goes into defence.

Kobe Treeby, Sorrento Primary School

Plays midfield and goes forward…a real tough hybrid player, who can play key position, takes big grabs and he’s got leadership written all over him. He’s vocal in front of the boys, a real confident kid. Kicks both feet very well.

Ray Lonie, Derinya Primary School

Nathan’s son, really classy, more of an outside midfielder, goes forward, real delicate by foot, doesn’t kick a long way but actually hits targets, a beautiful kick. During the trials he was the kid we noticed early that everything he touched turned to gold. He’s not a high possession player but he gets enough footy to finish off the work of the inside midfielders just with class by foot.

Josh Fanning, Fairfield Primary School

Elite by both feet, he’s really good in traffic. He deviates really well, has the ability to move left and right. He will probably swap on ball with Lonie.

Ace Burgiel, Maffra Primary School

Son of former Hawthorn-listed and Maffra legend Hayden Burgiel, Ace has X factor written all over him. Left footer, takes huge pack marks and just real classy.

Kade Witney, Western Heights Secondary College

Elite ball user…left footer, absolute dead-eye with his left. We play him deep back but he comes into the midfield sometimes. He kicks out for us and is laser-like with his left foot. Real hard at the footy, he’s the best we’ve got by foot.

Chavi Sulic, Horsham West and Haven PS

Key defender, plays undersized but can take big forwards. Excellent judgement in the air, kicks on his right but just jumps through packs, really tough.

William Young, St Bernard’s College

Was a bottom-age emergency last year…did the whole program with us and he’s grown to a considerable size over the past 12 months. He’s an inside midfielder who can play in the back half, really good through traffic, just tough.

Sidney McLachlan, Melbourne Grammar School

Son of AFL boss Gill McLachlan, Sidney is a running defender, takes the game on, loves to switch the play, real creative, great hands, and when he gets it he’s full of run and dash. We’ll probably end up playing him off a half back flank.

Olli Steinfort, Middle Park Primary School

Son of Carl Steinfort, the ex-Collingwood and Geelong player. Olli is a left footer, he’s a utility who can play back or forward, we’ll most likely use him forward, he’s quite good in front of goals. A really crafty player.

Broderick Coyne, St Kevin’s College

Our number one key defender. Kicks the ball a long way. Will probably play at full back but he has the ability to go and play as an undersized ruckman as well, he’s a really aggressive type.

Darby Hoare has been announced as the State School Victoria Captain for Under 12 Football.

Darby Hoare, St John’s School

When you talk inside midfielders, he can play in the back half if we get in trouble. He’s very, very good, tough as nails, built incredibly solidly and just hits the ball so hard. Really structures us up from behind the footy with voice and direction. Will most likely play more on ball just because how tough and contested he is. He’s very much like Matty Rowell at the Gold Coast Suns, plays a similar brand to him.

Alfie Rowley, Sacred Heart School

Very fast, he’s good in traffic but will probably be used mainly forward, a little but through the midfield because his clearance work is great but his speed is what sets him apart.

Jett Bradshaw, Catholic College Wodonga

A key forward, a real leader. He’s a Wodonga local, the tournament is in his backyard…key position forward, leads hard, a real weapon for us up forward.

Xavier Walsh, Holy Cross Primary School

We’re going to use him in defence but will come into the midfield. A real tough hybrid player, he’s got great skills but also running capacity. He gets himself through traffic well, real hard at it but goes at speed and kicks well at speed.

Samuel Lupo, St Mary’s School

He’s probably our third ruck option, and he’s got great agility. He’s about 170cm, jumps well, we’ll probably play him on the wing only because he’s got good running capacity but he can go forward. He kicked two goals against Trinity Grammar.

Arli Walker and Marlon Micalizzi have been selected in the boys team.

Arli Walker, St Mary’s School

Son of former Blue Andrew Walker, Arli is a really crafty full forward.

Marlon Micalizzi, St Joseph’s College

A cousin of Arli Walker…so we’ve got two cousins in the same side. We’re going to play him at centre half back given that he’s really, really attacking, he gets the footy and tucks it under his arm and just runs. Has an athletic background.

Jye Henry, St Martin of Tours School

Utility, both ends, good size, 170cm odd, tough kid, he will fill gaps for us, wherever we need him given his size. He’s aggressive and gives us that utility option.

Marcus Rice, Elsternwick Primary School

Really good kid, this one. We’re probably going to play him on a wing, he’s about 171cm, a good size but more of a running type player who loves to fend players off and use his running ability but carries the footy, happy to have a bounce, take the game on. An exciting kid to watch.

Luke Cheep, Parktone Primary School

He’s an out and out genuine deep forward. He’s 172cm, a big kid, beautiful kick, real long right footer but takes big marks and he will play deep forward for us and set us up in front of goal.

Stanley Moore, Ivanhoe Grammar School

This kid is 172cm but he’s a Victorian high jumper as well. He will take the tournament by storm I reckon, this kid, because we can literally play him in any position on the ground. We generally ruck him because his tap work is as good as any kid I’ve ever seen but when the ball hits the deck he becomes another midfielder. But we also play him at centre half back, he reads the play well and kicks the ball so well on both feet. A real talent, Stanley Moore.

James Mastropasqua, St Bernard’s College

He’s 184cm, a monster of a kid and played in our team last year. He’s grown, he’s now six foot one and obviously he will ruck with Moore. They are two totally different types of ruckmen. James sort of rucks like (Sean) Darcy at Fremantle where he jumps in, is really aggressive. A real tough player but has great hands. We’ll change him deep forward as well because there will be no other state that has a six foot one defender who can go on him so he will be a real weapon. We can kick a long ball to him and he’ll be really hard to beat. He’s a great young fell, too, in his second year in the side.

Emergencies

Jimmy Milsom, Irymple South Primary School

He’s another midfielder, more a running midfielder, he’s trialling in the state cross country, he’s talented. Quite a good cricketer, too.

Dominic Rafton, Port Melbourne Primary School

If he was to come into the side we’d use him at both ends, trialled him forward and back. He made the last 44 last year as well as a bottom age.

Jordi Seidel, Taylors Lakes Primary School

His time will come. He’s an emerging midfielder but at the moment he’s a full forward.

Hamish Uebergang, St Joseph’s College

Can play at either end. Utility. Has plenty of promise.

Assistant Coach: Duane Heston, Bourchier Street Primary School

Manager: Michael McKinnon, Bentleigh West Primary School

Sports Trainer: Nicole Murphy