Revealed: 50 young guns to watch in Victorian local sport
Victoria is full of emerging sports stars destined for big futures. We’ve identified the young guns you need to keep an eye out for.
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There’s no shortage of up-and-coming stars on the Victorian local sporting scene.
From Australian rules to tennis and everything in between, we’ve named more than 50 young guns to watch across more than 10 sports.
AUSTRALIAN RULES
Levi Ashcroft
Not a standout No.1 draft pick entering his draft like his older brother, Brisbane sensation Will Ashcroft, but the midfielder has been similarly dominant. Ashcroft was named in the U18 All-Australian side last year as a bottom-ager where he averaged 26.7 disposals and showed off his damaging traits as a goalkicking on-baller for the Sandringham Dragons. The Lions have got another ripper here.
Ash Centra
Not many bottom-age draftees are named in the U18 All-Australian team and receive MVP honours. But that was what the Sale City talent achieved in 2023, taking out Vic Country MVP honours in a stunning national carnival. She enters her draft year as one of the pick one favourites, boasting elite skills, clean hands and great versatility.
Sara Howley
Howley took out the Coates Talent League best-and-fairest last year, with the Geelong Falcons prospect having the ball on a string. The Newtown & Chillwell product continued that form at Vic Country level, earning All-Australian honours after averaging 25.3 disposals. Her eye-catching display in the U17 Futures game late in the year is a sign of what is to come in 2024.
Sam Lalor
A strong bodied midfielder with plenty of power, Lalor had some big games last year for both the GWV Rebels and Geelong College. Lalor won eight clearances in his first game for Vic Country in a sign of what is to come for the Bacchus Marsh product.
Sophie McKay
One to keep tabs on Carlton fans. McKay is the daughter of 244-game Blue Andrew and sister of current Carlton player Abbie. She turned heads in the U17 Futures game with a game-high 30 disposals and six clearances and showed she can hit the scoreboard with the Sandringham Dragons.
Christian Moraes
Another Eastern Ranges midfielder, Moraes got better as the year went on, putting up some massive numbers and having serious forward-half impact. Moraes finished with 28 disposals, 13 score involvements and two goals in a stunning preliminary final against Tasmania which epitomised his damaging play.
Finn O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan is the favourite to be called first in the 2024 AFL Draft after a standout bottom-age year where he was named in the U18 All-Australian side after a superb carnival for Vic Country. The Koroit product, who is boarding at Xavier College, has a very well-rounded game as a midfielder and has been long been highly touted, winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player at the U16 national champs.
Josh Smillie
A bullocking inside midfielder in the Patrick Cripps mould, Smillie stands 194cm and thrives in the contest. He racked up 26 disposals and five tackles in his first U18 championships game against South Australia last year and was a force to be reckoned with at stoppages for the Eastern Ranges, averaging 26 touches.
Jagga Smith
This kid is a lot of fun to watch – and yes, he does have the moves like Jagga with the way he ducks and weaves out of traffic. Smith was a ball-magnet for the Oakleigh Chargers last year, surpassing 25 disposals in every game, and made an U18 championships debut for Vic Metro last year where he tallied 27 touches.
BASEBALL
Jack Ratcliffe
Won back-to-back MVP honours at the under-18 national championships earlier this month as Victoria won the tournament.
Ryder Wilson
An impressive performance at the Australian Youth Championships earned him the Golden Arm award.
BASKETBALL
Dash Daniels
You know the family name with his brother Dyson currently an Australia star in the NBA. But Dash has a bright future ahead of himself with a big scoring punch and wonderful ability of knowing when to step up.
Cooper Duff-Tytler
It’s been a rapid rise in recent years for the Macedon Ranges product. He represented his country last year. He hadn’t been in a state program since 2016.
Sitaya Fagan
A member of the Casey Cavaliers, Fagan is earning quite the reputation having already represented her country.
Henry Sewell
The big man from Dandenong has a strong reputation and already represented Australia at the Under-16 FIBA Asian Championship last year.
Sophie Taylor
Big things are expected from the Warragul local who also attends the Centre of Excellence in Canberra.
CRICKET
Aanliya Cheeran
The off-break bowler out of Geelong has impressed those within the Victorian set up. She’s already made her WNCL debut where she took the important wicket of Georgia Redmayne. It’s only early in her career, but Cheeran is making strong progress and has been for the past 12 months
Archie Flynn
Named in the Team of the Tournament for the Under-17 National Championships earlier this year, Flynn looks to be a star to keep an eye out for. His better than run-a-ball century for Victoria Metro in that carnival was a huge announcement knock.
Milly Illingworth
Illingworth has become a household name of women’s cricket in recent years through her sheer pace. Recording over 120kmph, the pocket rocket from Victoria’s southwest is going to be a frightening proposition for every batter she bowls to in years to come.
Sara Kennedy
A genuine future star of women’s cricket. Kennedy was one of the Melbourne Renegades’ youngest ever recruits earlier this year but she performed as if she was one of the franchise’s most experienced veterans. The talented bowler has all the fundamentals to be leading the Australian attack in years to come.
Tom Paddington
Paddington flourished in this year’s National Championships, earning himself a Team of the Tournament selection. He goes by sneakily playing a lot of APS cricket while he isn’t at Premier Cricket, but he will soon be on everyone’s radar.
Oliver Peake
The young gun out of Geelong is starting to fly up the ranks. He has become one of Geelong’s most prized wickets in the Premier Cricket competition and has since flown to South Africa to feature in Australia’s Under-19 World Cup side. It won’t be long until Victoria puts pen to paper on Peake.
CYCLING
Oscar Gallagher
A talented teenager on the road and the track. Gallagher won the junior criterium at the Road Nationals this year in Ballarat, powering away at the finish. Last year, he won two state titles in the under-19 time trial and individual pursuit.
Krystal Gill
Won both the time trial and the road race in under-11 girls at the state road titles. The Brunswick Cycling Club member won her time trial by almost a minute over her rivals.
Sam Northey
Last year he won the Australian junior cyclo-cross championship in Ballarat and also represented Australia at the World Championships in his age group. From Bright, in Victoria’s east, Northey is a part of the Alpine Cycling Club.
Billie Russell
A gun on both the road and the track. Russell won the time trial and road race in the under-15 girls at the state titles. On the track, she also excelled, winning a national title in the scratch race in under-15 as well as a host of state titles in her age group.
Lachlan Stewart
The Alpine Cycling Club member was a dominant force at last year’s national road titles in Shepparton, winning the road race in under-15, finishing second in the individual time trial and third in the criterium. He also won the state titles for both the road race and time trial in under-15 during the year. Stewart is also an accomplished track cyclist, winning the kierin, the scratch and the point race in under-15 at the national titles last year.
Ruby Taylor
It’s no surprise Ruby is an up and coming cycling star with her mother, Elizabeth Tadich a former national champion in the 1990s. Capable of racing in both road events and cyclo-cross, Taylor last year won the junior cyclo-cross national championship for girls. She also finished 6th in the recent junior road nationals criterium in Ballarat. The Hawthorn Cycling Club member has signed for Bridgelane for season 2024.
DARTS
Kody Lane
An up and coming youngster who has had success locally and internationally. Lane won a silver medal at the World Cup with Jake Spencer in the mixed pairs. The 17-year-old is very dedicated and has shown significant improvement over the last couple of years. She dedicates her craft to her father, who tragically died from a heart attack in 2017.
Jacob Turvey
The reigning Australian Masters Youth champion is the standout Victorian competing at the Australian Junior Darts Championships. The 17-year-old Broadford youngster also won the Victorian Easter Classic junior title last year.
FOOTBALL
Peter Antoniou
The promising centre defender hails from Bulleen Lions and is currently in Melbourne City’s academy. A member of Australia’s Under-17 Asian Cup squad last year, playing in all four matches and starting twice. Made 10 senior appearances for City’s NPL team last season.
Danella Butrus
The Roxburgh Park United junior and Football Victoria NTC member is a rising star of the sport after earning a call-up to a Junior Matildas training camp ahead of this year’s Under-17 Asian Cup in Indonesia.
Campbell Dovison
The East Bentleigh product made three appearances for the Joeys at the Under-17 Asian Cup last year, all from the bench. The attacking midfielder is coming through the ranks at Western United. Dovison scored 13 goals in 15 matches for United’s NPL team last season.
Alice Francou
Another young talent out of Glen Eira. Francou is a member of the Football Victoria NTC and earnt selection in an elite training camp ahead the Junior Matilidas’ Under-17 Asian Cup campaign later this year.
Daniel Graskoski
The emerging goalkeeper was the only member of Australia’s Under-17 World Cup squad not in an A-League academy. A Glen Eira junior, Graskoski is on the books at Northcote City.
Ehva Gutszmit
Stepped up to the FV Emerging squad in the NPL last season having been a part of the FV NTC program for three years. Will vie for Under-17 Asian Cup selection after earning a call-up to a pre-selection training camp.
Jordan Hoey
The attacking midfielder made one appearance off the bench at the Under-17 Asian Cup for the Joeys. The Bulleen Lions product is developing in the Melbourne Victory Academy. Made seven senior appearances and scored three goals for Victory’s NPL team last season.
Eva Kokotis
A crafty winger who has come through the ranks at South Melbourne and is now part of the Football Victoria NTC program. Will look to continue her outstanding form for Victoria and earn selection in the Junior Matildas squad for the Under-17 Asian Cup.
Poppy O’Keeffe
The midfielder is one of Victoria’s brightest footballing prospects. Hailing from Wangaratta, the rising star has already made her international debut for the Junior Matildas and will look to be a key member of the upcoming Under-17 Asian Cup.
Amelia Tartaglia
The developing centre back from Box Hill is rated as one of the best defenders in the state for her age. Part of the Football Victoria NTC program and trains with Melbourne Victory’s Elite Girls Program. Named in the Junior Matilidas training camp and eyeing selection for the Under-17 Asian Cup this year.
Michael Vonja
The Western United Academy goalkeeper and Caroline Springs George Cross junior was stuck behind Bayern Munich talent Anthony Pavlesic at the Under-17 Asian Cup. Won United’s club champion award in the under-21s.
GOLF
Amelia Harris
The 15-year-old won both the Riversdale Cup and the Victorian Junior Masters in 2023, before finishing runner-up at the Australian Amateur Championship in January, leading the tournament heading into the final round.
Bailey Goodall
Played his last year of junior golf in 2023 but capped it off nicely claiming the Victorian Junior Open title. He also recently won the junior sections of the Webex Players Series Murray River and Webex Players Series Victoria events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australiasia.
Jazy Roberts
Turned 18 in 2023 and is leaving the junior ranks, but she saluted her underage swansong year with a hat-trick of championships. She won the Tasmanian Junior Masters and Tasmanian Junior Amateur, as well as the Tasmanian Open Championship. Roberts also finished an incredible 14th at the Australian Open, competing against some of the world’s best.
Jesse Trembath
Claimed the trophy in both the Victorian Junior Amateur and Victorian Junior Masters in 2023 – and still has another year in the junior ranks. Look out.
HORSE RACING
Luke Cartwright
The Mornington apprentice jockey has been riding for less than a year and already has had plenty of highs. He rode a winner on his 18th birthday last October and has raced to 18 wins, including two in the past week. Luke and his older brother Matthew (also a jockey) competed in motorbike races during their childhood but it’s a different kind of horsepower they’re experiencing now.
MOTORSPORT
Aiva Anagnostiadis
One of Australia’s brightest hopes to get a female into Formula 1. Anagnostiadis is currently part of the Alpine Rac(H)er Academy Program with the 16-year-old moving to England for the start of this year. A highly successful go-karter, the Victorian will do the same in England, looking to rise up the rankings to Formula 1. She joins fellow Aussie Jack Doohan as a member of the Formula 1 team’s academy.
Jack Beeton
Won the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship last year and also competed in the Italian F4 championship as he continues his rise in the sport. The 16-year-old in 2022 almost made the Ferrari Driving Academy, falling short at the last hurdle. He then had success overseas which will now set him up for a big 2024. This includes signing with AGI Sport for the Formula 4 UAE series, which is currently underway.
Pip Casabene
Won last year’s KA3 junior title in the Australian Karting Championship after winning a round in Newcastle earlier in the season. He also competed overseas in the Champions Of The Future Academy late in the year. Casabene will compete in the X30 series in the AKC this year.
Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi
One of the best karters in the world for his age. Last year he won the WSK Super Cup mini under-10 crown in Italy, showing his talents to the world. This year he’ll compete in the OKN-Junior class in the WSK in five rounds overseas while also competing in Italy. Eskandari-Marandi has already won a national title in Australia, claiming the Cadet 12 title in 2022.
James Wharton
Was part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy from 2021 to 2023 but has opted to move away from it for this year. The 17-year-old won the F4 United Arab Emirates title last year and will make the rise to the Formula Regional European Championship this year with Prema, paving the way to potentially rise to F3, F2 or even Formula 1 in the future.
NETBALL
Tully Bethune
Hailing for Birregurra, Bethune was last year in Netball Australia and Victoria’s Under-17s teams. She is a proud Wiradjuri woman.
Harriet Gall
A Shepparton local who has been involved in Netball Australia junior pathways programs.
Charli Hoey
From Geelong, Hoey looks set for a big future. A strong defender who has shown plenty of leadership qualities at local level.
ROWING
Josh Feferkranz
The 18-year-old has already represented in 2022 and this year has been named as the Victorian interstate team coxswain. Currently rowing for Melbourne University Boat Club.
Lucy Richardson
A Ballarat Clarendon College student, Richardson represented her school’s First Four in 2022 and 2023 winning the Ballarat Head of the Lake in both of those years. She won the Under-19 National Pairs titles last year and also won bronze at the World Junior Rowing Championships. Set to move to Yale later this year.
SURFING
Ava Holland
The goofy-footer from the Peninsula Boardriders Club is ranked fourth in the country. She looks to have a bright future in the sport, having beaten Australia’s best in the under-16 division Skullcandy Oz Grom Open Event in 2022 and competed national events in 2023.
Willem Watson
Ranked among the best Australian under-18 surfers, Watson pumped his way through to the finals of the Australia Junior Surfing Titles at Phillips Island in December. He’s worked hard to further his career, spending a lot of time in Queensland, training and competing, over the past year to get better.
SWIMMING
Henry Allan
The 15-year-old Bendigo East product collected a gold medal and two bronze at last year’s Australian Age Championships. He’s also broken multiple records, including the Victorian Allcomers 50m and and 100m backstroke in his age group, along with Vic Country records in 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke.
Ciara Jeffs
At just 13, Jeffs is already making a splash becoming champion of her age group at the Victorian Age Championships while also holding the state record (girls, 13 years) in 100m backstroke. Her local club is Yarra Plenty Waves.
Lily Koch
A member of the Nunawading swimming club, 15-year-old Koch cleaned up at last year’s Australian Age Championships, collecting gold, silver and two bronze medals. She holds the state record (girls, 15 years) in 50m breaststroke and was age-group champion at the Vic Age Championships.
Imogen Nolan
The 16-year-old snared a silver medal in breaststroke at the 2023 World Deaf Championships, while also claiming two gold medals alongside a silver and bronze at the 2023 Australian Age event.
TAEKWONDO
Kerim Yilmaz
The 14-year-old f1rom Reservoir is a potential future Olympian after a historic bronze medal at the World Taekwondo Cadet World Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina last year. Yilmaz is the first Australian male to medal at the championships. He defeated fighters from Poland, India and Jordan to reach the semi-finals before going down to a Thai athlete.
TENNIS
Nikolas Baker
The Kooyong Tennis Club player had a fantastic 2023, headlined by going overseas to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Baker made the semi’s of the December Showdown in under-14 singles and was a finalist in the doubles.
Ava Beck
One of the top under-16 players in the country. The Victorian almost qualified for the Australian Open girls singles this year and last year won a tournament in Adelaide.
Musemma Cilek
Finished runner-up last year in the under-12 December Showdown, losing to South Australia’s Hannah Park in the final. Cilek also won the doubles title in the same event, winning with Park. The young tennis star is from Deer Park.
Isabelle Crossman
The Echuca player is among the top 250 juniors in the world and last year made the final at an ITF junior event.
Ymerali Ibraimi
Won his first junior ITF tournament last year in Perth and is ranked among the top 800 in juniors despite being 14.
Daniel Jovanovski
The best Australian boys’ player under the age of 16. Last year he claimed the under-16 championships at the December Showdown to add to the under-14 championships he won in 2022. The Melbourne-based player also played in the Australian Open boys singles this year as a wildcard, losing in the first round in straight sets.
Jarrod Joyce
The Ballarat tennis player is a top-300 junior and this year played in the Australian Open boys singles in qualifying and in the doubles in the main draw.
Lachlan King
Victoria’s number one under-14 boys player. King was the runner-up in the under-14 boys singles and doubles at the December Showdown last year. He also represented Australia at Wimbledon in the under-14 title after guiding Victoria to success in under-13 at the Australian teams’ championships.
Bridget Mihulka
Finished runner-up in doubles at the under-16 girls’ event in the December Showdown after claiming the crown in 2022. Mihulka already has a WTA ranking of less than 1000 and is rapidly rising in the ranks.
Koharu Nishikawa
The Melbourne-based player is one of Australia’s leading girls’ prospects. The 14-year-old last year represented Australia at the Junior Billie Jean King Cup and also at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in under-14 at the Czech Republic. Nishikawa made her debut at the Australian Open girls singles this year as a wildcard.
Gabrielle Villegas
Finished runner-up last year in the under-16 December Showdown in 2022. She is currently ranked inside the 250 in the world and competed in qualifying for the Australian Open girls this year.
WATER POLO
Lucy Burchard
The 15-year-old is another young rising star in Victorian Water Polo. Her performances at the 2023 17&Under National State Championship also earnt her selection in the Under-16 Girls National Age Squad. A key defender, very strong with and without the ball, and with a physical presence across the entire pool, she is a promising young athlete in Victorian Water Polo.
Caroline Healy
Healy is one of Victoria’s talented young goalkeepers and has been recognised for her excellent performances in 2023. She was selected in the Under-16 Girls National Age Squad following a strong showing at the 17&Under National State Championship, and is a considered a promising goalkeeper in the age group, with great reflexes and presence.
Daniel Magasanik
The 17-year-old comes from a strong water polo family and is a rapidly rising star in the Australian game. In 2023, Daniel was a key player for the 19&Under Victorian team as they participated in the National Championships. He finished the tournament with the highest goal tally and earned himself a place in the Australian 20&Under Australian Age Squad. He continued this great form into 2024 whilst playing with club Melbourne Collegians at the Australian Youth Championships where he was awarded the MVP.
Nicholas Mordes
Another talented athlete from Victoria’s Under-19 state team. He performed extremely well at the National Championships, not only keeping many big forwards quiet with some solid defensive displays but also scoring nine goals. His performances earned him selection into the Australian 20&Under Australian Age Squad. He has been described as a smart, mature, and professional team player, and in 2024 will be making his debut with Victoria’s Australian Water Polo League (AWL) team, Victoria Phoenix.
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