‘Creating a legacy’: Allies one win away from a history-making title at the AFL’s under-18 national championship

Going into 2023, the Allies had never won more than a single game in the under-18’s boys national championships. Now they’re one victory away from becoming champions.

The Allies are celebrating an unprecedented level of success at the under-18 national championships. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Charlie McCormack is one of several exciting forward prospects heading into this year’s AFL draft.

Emerging out of the Riverina region, the 18-year-old has proven his ability in the Giants’ Academy as an efficient kick in front of goal and a brilliant contested mark.

Everything in 2023 has been aimed at honing his talent to get drafted later this year.

But suddenly, a new goal has emerged. One that is far grander than the teenager could have imagined.

“I’m excited I suppose to create a legacy for all the people coming up,” McCormack said.

“They can look at it and go, ‘These blokes, they’ve done it before so we can do it too’.”

McCormack celebrates a goal against Vic Metro. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

‘These blokes’ are the Allies’ team at the under-18 boys’ national championships.

A conglomerate of the most skilled players from NSW/ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, the Allies are on the verge of history on Sunday.

If they defeat Vic Country – a team headlined by potential No.1 draft pick Harley Reid – they will have completed an undefeated season to become national champions for the first time.

It has already been a record-breaking year for the Allies.

With three wins it’s the first time they have won multiple matches in a single season.

And since their entry into the competition in 2016, they had only been victorious in four of 20 games before this year.

The Allies team in 2023 is full of talent from across the country. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

A bumper crop of talented youngsters means coach Mark McVeigh has been able to help shake off that perception.

“I was really passionate about trying to flip that narrative,” he said.

“The Allies have produced some really good individual players over the years, but this year there’s a really nice batch.

“I wanted to play the right way and I want to be respected for the way we play.

“Just like Vic Country, Vic Metro, great players have played for them and they have rich histories. They play a certain way. We’re trying to establish the same.”

The success of the Allies is the perfect showcase for why investing in talent in non-traditional states is so important for the AFL.

Jed Walter plays beyond his years and has developed under the tutelage of the Gold Coast Academy. Tasmania’s Ryley Sanders is another whose midfield talents have been on display.

Walter is a highly-rated forward who could push for the No.1 draft pick. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Then there are the likes of McCormack, who has kicked 10 goals in three games, and the Swans’ Caiden Cleary representing NSW.

The trick is getting all of these players to buy into something more than just pushing their own draft stock.

“A lot of credit needs to go into all the programs that the players come from,” McVeigh said.

“The hardest part is trying to gel them together and put in a game plan that they can all execute … that showcases all the players‘ talents.

“I think the assessment will be talking to AFL clubs. They will be looking at their physical talent, but also their ability to buy into what you’re trying to do.

“To all the players’ credit, they have jumped into it, embraced what it is and embraced their teammates from other states.”

McVeigh has leaned on his AFL coaching experience to help the Allies. Picture: Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Part of the success has stemmed from the camaraderie they have been able to build between the Allies’ players.

Two separate camps were organised before the tournament, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney, to allow the players to form a connection.

Combine that with an added layer of professionalism and the results speak for themselves, including an 88-point victory over Western Australia.

“I haven‘t treated them like they’re kids, I’ve treated them like they’re men,” McVeigh said.

“They want to play like that because next year they’ll be asked to do that, wherever that might be. That‘s not just AFL, they could play in the SANFL or WAFL

“But I’ve talked about what we want to stand for and how we want to be perceived. Hopefully in the years to come, whoever it is, goes, ‘This is how the Allies play’.”

The messages have been flying around the WhatsApp groups ahead of the clash against Vic Country.

McCormack has kicked at least three goals in each match for the Allies. Picture: Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Before the tournament, this was the game they had circled in their calendars. Now, it’s set to have even more meaning.

Regardless of Sunday’s result, the Allies’ success marks a new page in the history of the AFL pathways.

“Vic Country is always a good one to win,” said McCormack. “They’ve always got a pretty good side so it would be good to knock them off.”

Added McVeigh: “We’re going after it. We want to be able to win the championship, it’s really important to us.

“Even without winning this weekend, they’ve done an incredible job.

“This team can set up a legacy for other players that are coming, to want to play for the Allies.”