Expansion Allies go undefeated and win their first ever U18 Div I National Championship in 2023!

[GC2015]

Allies 12.12 (84) def. South Australia 11.2 (68) @ Thebarton Oval, SA
Allies 16.12 (108) def. Western Australia 2.8 (20) Thebarton Oval, SA
Allies 15.9 (99) def. Vic Metro 8.7 (55) @ Brighton Homes Arena, QLD
Allies 12.9 (81) def. Vic Country 10.10 (70) @ RSEA Park, VIC

Could be a real watershed moment for the growth of our game nationally. Congrats to the Allies on an unbelievable U18 campaign that proves the game is really growing in the most recent expansion areas of Queensland, New South Wales & Tasmania!

 

[GC2015]

Caiden Cleary (NSW/Swans Academy)
Ryley Sanders (TAS/North NGA)
Colby McKercher (TAS)
Ethan Read (QLD/Suns Academy)
Jake Rogers (QLD/Suns Academy)
Connor O'Sullivan (NSW/GWS Academy?)
Jed Walter (QLD/Suns Academy)

 

[Colonial]

Well done to all the players and coaches.
A proud moment.

 

[Colonial]

 

[GC2015]

Walter, Read, McKercher and Sanders all look like top 10 picks right now. Rogers may even squeeze into the top 10 too. Pretty crazy to think half of the top 10 draft picks this year could all be from Queensland and Tasmania.

 

[juss]

Nice.

In time, the ideal scenario is that each state is strong enough for their own state based teams, this win is a good sign things are trending closer to that one day, even if it's decades away.

 

[Colonial]

Nice.

In time, the ideal scenario is that each state is strong enough for their own state based teams, this win is a good sign things are trending closer to that one day, even if it's decades away.

Yep, never been a fan of the Allies idea, all for a NSW side, I’m sure NT, Qld and Tassie fans all feel the same.

 

[SSSSSS]

It's good for footy.

 

[Fade to Gray]

Is it a sign the draft is a bit weak this year, or is it just a really good Allies side this year?

 

[TheUnicorn]

That’s a pretty neat song they got there.

 

[deck]

Is it a sign the draft is a bit weak this year, or is it just a really good Allies side this year?

According to the HS the other week recruiters are saying it is looking like a poor draft. Was being talked up as a super draft this time last year.

 

[Colonial]

According to the HS the other week recruiters are saying it is looking like a poor draft. Was being talked up as a super draft this time last year.

It always seems to be a super draft the following year.

 

[Kappa]

According to the HS the other week recruiters are saying it is looking like a poor draft. Was being talked up as a super draft this time last year.

Half the drafts in the past 15 years have been super drafts at one stage...

 

[Kappa]

Is it a sign the draft is a bit weak this year, or is it just a really good Allies side this year?

I mean, we've had "weak" drafts before and the allies sides have never done half as well as this.

 

[GC2015]

8 Allies named in the 2023 U18 All Australian team. Perhaps most telling, 5 of the starting 6 midfielders played for the Allies. Massive for the growth of the game.

 

[Fadge]

8 Allies named in the 2023 U18 All Australian team. Perhaps most telling, 5 of the starting 6 midfielders played for the Allies. Massive for the growth of the game.

Impressive from Levi Ashcroft to be named despite being an underager.

Jagga Smith probably unlucky to miss out.

 

[Shane Heard]

Mark McVeigh

Mark Mcveigh

Age

43

Ht

184cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.1

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

5.5

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

18.4

5star

K

13.6

5star

HB

4.8

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.0

4star

..super coach

 

[GC2015]

Impressive from Levi Ashcroft to be named despite being an underager.

To be fair, we saw both Reid and Walter named in the U18 AA team last year as bottom agers so it's not completely unheard of. Both backed it up with U18 AA selection this year and look like locks for the top 2 picks this year. Ashcroft will have to continue to improve to go that high in the draft order but he's done well so far. Vic Metro probably had one of their worst national championship campaigns this year with an even 2 win 2 loss record so they'll need to improve overall for Ashcroft to really show his worth. I know people don't really view it this way but Levi Ashcroft lived 13 of his 17 years in Queensland and I think he may have even been in Suns' U12 academy before moving to Melbourne so he and his brother Will can still be considered a part of this explosion of junior footy talent coming from Queensland at the moment.

 

[theasian]

Jack Delean unlucky not be named in the team

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Mark McVeigh ..super coach

He and the other Coaches did a great job pulling together lads from across the country to play cohesive team first footy.