Team Auskick revealed for 2023 as they prepare for the AFL Grand Final

A group of young footy stars have won the right to play on the hallowed turf of the MCG and present the premiership medallions to the winning team. Meet them here.

Twenty-three junior footy fans will take centre stage on AFL Grand Final day when they present the premiership medallions to the winning team.

The first Team Auskick has been named as they 23 young guns prepare to fly into Melbourne for the best experience of their young lives.

Their experience will include a game on the hallowed turf of the MCG before the first bounce of the September 30 decider while they’ll also take part in the other events during the week.

NAB Ambassador and Geelong premiership captain Joel Selwood expressed his excitement for the youngsters.

“For these little Auskickers and their families this is an experience they’ll never forget and it’s a testament to the AFL and NAB for making moments like this possible,” Selwood said.

“Watching them present the premiership medals on stage has become a special part of the Grand Final celebrations and I’m sure it inspires Auskickers around the country to pick up a footy and strengthens their love of the game.

“I’d like to congratulate every NAB AFL Auskicker this year who helped break the all-time registered participation record of 125,000 – it’s incredible to see how much the game continues to grow.”

MEET THE TEAM

Recruit 1 — Dexter Sourivong

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Mitcham

State: VIC

Supports: Collingwood

Fun Fact: He had his guernsey signed by Scott Pendlebury and he loves it so much he refuses to wash it.

Recruit 2 — Sebastian Sourivong

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Mitcham, VIC

State: VIC

Supports: Collingwood

Fun Fact: If he had a superpower he’d love to be able to run fast like The Flash.

Recruit 3 — Max Walker

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Rostrevor College Junior FC

State: SA

Supports: Port Adelaide

Fun Fact: Max celebrated his 6th birthday party at AFL MAX with his friends and he had a Power birthday cake.

Recruit 4 — James Gill

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Rostrevor College Junior FC

State: SA

Supports: Adelaide

Fun Fact: The best game he’s been to was the Showdown when Jordan Dawson kicked the winning goal after the siren.

Recruit 5 — Bonnie Joyce

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Maroubra Saints Junior FC

State: NSW

Supports: Sydney

Fun Fact: Bonnie is a wonderful team player. She is always positive and encourages her friends – the girls like to celebrate by doing cartwheels on the pitch when we score a goal.

Recruit 6 — Andie Judd

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Maroubra Saints Junior FC

State: NSW

Supports: Sydney

Fun Fact: Andie loves to play in the midfield because she loves to run and run and run.

Recruit 7 — Hunter Armstrong

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Newcomb Power

State: VIC

Supports: Collingwood

Fun Fact: His favourite players are Nick Daicos and Brody Mihocek

Recruit 8 — Tom Bandy

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: St Albans Geelong FC

State: VIC

Supports: Richmond

Fun Fact: Tom loves to play full forward because he loves to kick banana and snap goals.

Recruit 9 — Flora Holden

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Oakleigh District Football Club

State: VIC

Supports: North Melbourne

Fun Fact: She’s a left-hander but a right footer and loves making up her own Auskick drills.

Recruit 10 — Brody Lyons

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Oakleigh District Football Club

State: VIC

Supports: Carlton

Fun Fact: The best game Brody has been to was Carlton v Richmond in Round 1 2022 because his Blues beat his dad’s Tigers.

Recruit 11 — Addison Dosser

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Mt Gravatt Vultures

State: QLD

Supports: Brisbane

Fun Fact: Addie has been lucky to play at the Gabba during halftime and even kicked two goals.

Recruit 12 — Emma McDaniel

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Mt Gravatt Vultures

State: QLD

Supports: Brisbane

Fun Fact: As well as loving footy, Emma also likes playing tennis, dancing and swimming.

Recruit 13 — Samuel Davis

Grade: Three

Auskick Centre: Gisborne Auskick Centre

State: VIC

Supports: Geelong

Fun Fact: Samuel and Patrick are twins and love playing footy together – Patrick is older by one minute.

Recruit 14 — Patrick Davis

Grade: Three

Auskick Centre: Gisborne Auskick Centre

State: VIC

Supports: Geelong

Fun Fact: Both brothers would like to be like Chris and Brad Scott and play AFL together when they grow up.

Recruit 15 — Aliska Reitano

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Lane Cove Cats Auskick Centre

State: NSW

Supports: Sydney

Fun Fact: Aliska’s post game ritual includes doing round offs and cartwheels in the park followed by an ice cream (two scoops if the Swans lose.)

Recruit 16 — Amelie Carey

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Lane Cove Cats Auskick Centre

State: NSW

Supports: Sydney

Fun Fact: Her favourite player is Isaac Heeney

Recruit 17 — Pippa McTaggart

Grade: Three

Auskick Centre: Mingenew Football Club

State: WA

Supports: West Coast Eagles

Fun Fact: Pippa lives on a grain and cattle farm four hours north of Perth. The size of the farm is 8000 hectares, which Pippa and her dad worked out is roughly 3000 SCGs.

Recruit 18 — Blake McTaggart

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Centre: Mingenew Football Club

Supports: West Coast

Fun Fact: Blake and his sister Pippa have been to one AFL game which was Josh Kennedy’s final game at Optus Stadium.

Recruit 19 — Jospin Nkwakala Nkoko

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Sunshine Football Club

State: VIC

Supports: Richmond Tigers

Fun Fact: On his birthday, ‘Jojo’ was ecstatic to receive a birthday card signed by all the Tigers players.

Recruit 20 — Tyson Sinclair

Grade: Two

Auskick Centre: Sunshine Football Club

State: VIC

Supports: Western Bulldogs

Fun Fact: Tyson’s favourite position is ruck because he likes to run all over the ground and kick goals.

Recruit 21 — Leela Parikh

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Carlton (Princes Park)

State: VIC

Supports: Western Bulldogs

Fun Fact: Leela first learnt to play football from her kindergarten teacher, Jacinta (a diehard Bulldogs fan), who taught her how to kick a footy during Covid.

Recruit 22 — Hunter Knox

Grade: One

Auskick Centre: Carlton (Princes Park)

State: VIC

Supports: North Melbourne

Fun Fact: Hunter’s favourite food to eat at the footy is hot chips or a pie with sauce.

Recruit 23 — James Nguyen

Grade: Five

Auskick Centre: Boroondara Wheelchair

State: VIC

Supports: Collingwood Magpies

Fun Fact: James is a massive Collingwood fan and is very proud of what they’ve been able to achieve this season.

Originally published as Team Auskick revealed for 2023 as they prepare for the AFL Grand Final