AFL Draft: Under-16 national championships scouting notes, stats and ranking points

An exciting wave of local talent looks to be coming Tasmania’s way in the 2027 draft after the state thumped the much vaunted Suns Academy at the under-16 champs. See all the stats and scouting notes.

Max Gulliver was one of the stars in Tasmania’s big win. Picture: Craig Dooley/AFL Photos

Gold Coast’s academy has been a production line of talent in recent years, but it was Tasmania who annihilated the Suns on their home turf at the under-16 championships on Monday in an exciting sign for the Devils’ first-ever draft crop.

Tasmania blitzed the Suns Academy 80-0 in the opening half and went on to smash the Suns by 164 points at People’s First Stadium on the Gold Coast, with a host of 2027 draft prospects turning heads for Tasmania.

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Tasmania’s AFL side is slated to have priority access to all Tasmanian talent if it enters the competition in 2027 and Max Gulliver and Chaice Oliver are just a couple of prospects from the Apple Isle to get excited about.

Marking forward Oliver booted four goals in the opening half and seven for the match, while Max Gulliver had a day out with 27 disposals, 12 inside 50s, 10 clearances and three goals.

The dominant performance is Tasmania’s second win from two games in the division two of the under-16 carnival, also thumping Northern Territory by 70 points last month.

For the Suns, athletic ruckman Travis Larkins was their best with team-highs for clearances and disposals.

TASMANIA

Max Gulliver

Midfielder, 178cm, Glenorchy

A serious talent who is the early frontrunner to be Tasmania’s very first draft pick if it enters the AFL ranks. After three goals and had 30 disposals in Tasmania’s first win, Gulliver repeated the dose against the Suns – and this performance might have been even better. Gulliver’s exhilarating speed and penetrating kick were a feature throughout the contest and when the game was on the line in the first quarter, he amassed nine disposals, six inside 50s and slotted a goal. A terrific finish in the last term underlined his exciting attributes, ripping the ball away from congestion and bursting away, taking a bounce and slotting the goal on the run from the arc like he was shelling peas.

Max Gulliver has had a strong carnival for Tasmania. Picture: Craig Dooley/AFL Photos

Chaice Oliver

Forward, 187cm, South Launceston

Contested mark, goal, repeat. That summed up Oliver’s day as he dominated the air inside 50 with his strong hands and bodywork, taking 10 marks for the match – most of those contested – and booting 7.3. It looked like men against boys when Tasmania bombed long to Oliver, who had four goals to halftime – which could easily have been five if he converted another gettable chance. He went on to kick another three majors in the second half, the main highlight a towering mark over the top in the pocket that wowed the crowd.

Benji Russell

Midfielder, 176cm, Lauderdale

Russell’s sublime footskills were on full display against the Suns, pumping the ball inside 50 nine times and generally finding a target. The midfielder dodged and weaved around tacklers with his agility and speed, and he also got involved defensively with a team-high seven tackles.

Lucas Heazlewood

Forward, 176cm, Ulverstone

Heazlewood has plenty of x-factor and speed to burn as a small forward. All three of his goals were highlights, with his second major the best of them, pressuring the Suns into a mistake before gathering, selling candy and kicking it through from close range. Heazlewood regularly put on the afterburners and couldn’t be caught, and he also showed his creative ball sue by setting up another couple of scores.

Henry Chapman

Ruck, 190cm, North Hobart

Chapman’s hit-outs and follow up work were impressive, tallying the fifth-most disposals on the ground from the ruck with 20 to his name. He had 10 hit-outs in the first quarter alone and finished with 23 for the match. He showcased his athleticism with a soccer out of mid-air close to goal and could have had another major late, but missed the set shot.

Sam Husband

Forward/midfielder, 180cm, Launceston

A classy ball user, Husband was able to have an influence in the midfield and up forward where he booted two goals. He always seemed to have time and space, highlighted by his last quarter goal where he weaved past several Suns to slot a goal from 40m out. Husband’s best play of the day was a behind from the arc, winning the centre clearance, bursting away with two bounces and just missing

Jake Beams

Midfielder/forward, 178cm, Glenorchy

Beams finished with four goals for the match but his defensive pressure was just as eye-catching. The Glenorchy product laid seven tackles, with one rundown tackle in the second term bringing up his second goal. Beams has plenty of purchase on his left boot as he showed with his first goal from the paint, and he sold candy to snap through his fourth just before the final siren.

SUNS ACADEMY

Travis Larkins

Ruck, 194cm, Cairns

The athletic ruckman fought tirelessly in the ruck and had some promising moments on a tough day for his side. Larkins followed up nicely to win a team-high six clearances for the match along with an equal team-high 14 disposals and 18 hit-outs.

Cameron Burgess

Defender, 184cm, Broadbeach

The Suns defence was under immense pressure throughout the contest and it might have lost by more if it wasn’t for Burgess. The Broadbeach product had some key defensive efforts and generally used the ball well, finishing with eight rebound 50s from 11 touches.

Paddy Fitzgibbon

Forward, 177cm, Palm Beach Currumbin

Fitzgibbon didn’t get a great deal of opportunities up forward but he certainly didn’t drop his head. The bottom-ager came from nowhere with a fantastic rundown tackle on the wing and got involved up the ground with 12 touches.

Cooper Wanders

178cm, South Cairns

Wanders caught the eye whenever he had the footy. The smooth mover stepped through defenders with ease on a couple of occasions and showed some dash in one run along the wing.

SUNS ACADEMY 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.1 (7)

TASMANIA 6.4 12.8 18.12 26.15 (171)

GOALS

SUNS ACADEMY: Hall.

TASMANIA Oliver 7, Beams 4, Heazlewood 3, Gulliver 3, Redman 2, Bearman 2, Husband 2, Glover, Fugslang, Chapman.

Originally published as AFL Draft: Under-16 national championships scouting notes, stats and ranking points