Under Age U16s - 2028 AFL Draft General Discussion

[ExVIC in NSW]

From what I’ve seen Rafael Micheletti is a standout with the way he moves around the field and finds space. Just on the smaller side. Needs some growth.

Yeah Raf has been a standout for years, always finds plenty of the ball and uses it well and he did play 16's on the weekend. If he does grow at some stage will without doubt be up the top of the list in NSW.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

They lost the final to South Coast who had more make the State team.

These regions don't make a lot of sense and should probably be redrawn, at least in SEQ. For example, Logan seems to be split between Met East, Met West and South Coast.

A quick scan of results tells me a lot of ball sports are dominated by the Metros and South Coast, so maybe Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast need to be split into more regions. I get that there's no one size fits all division across all the different sports, and the Gold Coast is much stronger than regional Queensland at Aussie Rules than at many other sports, but they could at least try to split up the talented urban kids a bit more and have fewer thrashings.

 

[Scots538]

NSW state team aren’t necessarily the best the state have to offer. The team is picked by coaches that have seen them play half games over 2 days & usually pick the tall boys over the better players .Will be interesting to see how NSW goes. I’ve been pushing for a change in selection process for the past 6 years. Falls on deaf ears

 

[briztoon]

Hey guys,
Have you heard of the Joseph gatti he is an up and coming player from East Fremantle and looks to be one of the best players of his year group definitely a lock for state 15s this year. Benches 80kg for 6 reps and runs a 6:20 2km time.

Literally the only people that are going to know this sh!t are Gatti or his dad. Or the kids BFF's. And usually dads are smart enough not to mention this type of information online.

 

[GC2015]

These regions don't make a lot of sense and should probably be redrawn, at least in SEQ. For example, Logan seems to be split between Met East, Met West and South Coast.

A quick scan of results tells me a lot of ball sports are dominated by the Metros and South Coast, so maybe Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast need to be split into more regions. I get that there's no one size fits all division across all the different sports, and the Gold Coast is much stronger than regional Queensland at Aussie Rules than at many other sports, but they could at least try to split up the talented urban kids a bit more and have fewer thrashings.

I'm fairly sure we hold our own regional trials competition made up of four teams (GC North, GC Central, GC South & Northern Rivers) before selecting the South Coast team. The GC South & GC Central teams usually dominate and only a few kids from the North/Tweed get picked as opposed to the big numbers from the central and southern areas.

I think for the sake of the established pathway, it's better to just keep South Coast as one team because it's essentially another Suns academy team at that point. We should be trying to strengthen the Brisbane teams, as opposed to trying to split the South Coast team.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I'm fairly sure we hold our own regional trials competition made up of four teams (GC North, GC Central, GC South & Northern Rivers) before selecting the South Coast team. The GC South & GC Central teams usually dominate and only a few kids from the North/Tweed get picked as opposed to the big numbers from the central and southern areas.

I don't understand why the Northern Rivers and Tweed are involved in a competition run by the Queensland government to begin with. I think the border is drawn in a stupid place, and should just be a straight line of latitude all the way to the coast, which would put the border just south of Ballina, but until that happens, schools that aren't in Queensland shouldn't be in a Queensland secondary schools competition.

I figure the Northern GC will become more competitive in future years given how fast the population is growing there.

I think for the sake of the established pathway, it's better to just keep South Coast as one team because it's essentially another Suns academy team at that point.

I thought the Suns Academy included players from north and central Queensland too, not just the South Coast region.

We should be trying to strengthen the Brisbane teams, as opposed to trying to split the South Coast team.

Why, so we can have more beltings? The Suns Academy team improves by playing games against the other northern academies, other state sides and Talent League teams. If the idea is to get the Suns Academy team more games, that can be done without giving them a training run against the Darling Downs and Wide Bay school sides.

 

[ExVIC in NSW]

NSW state team aren’t necessarily the best the state have to offer. The team is picked by coaches that have seen them play half games over 2 days & usually pick the tall boys over the better players .Will be interesting to see how NSW goes. I’ve been pushing for a change in selection process for the past 6 years. Falls on deaf ears

Yeah there are definitely a few guns not in the NSW team, as shown by a few players who played very well in the GWS v Sydney Academy game on Saturday as well as some non academy players in local leagues. I have heard plenty of people talk about while it is good to watch nationals those in the know take little notice of who does and doesn't make these teams.

Out of curiosity Scots what your thoughts on how it could work better?

 

[Haggas]

From what I’ve seen Rafael Micheletti is a standout with the way he moves around the field and finds space. Just on the smaller side. Needs some growth.

He looked really good and competitive for someone who was almost half the size of everyone else

 

[Miller1971]

I'm fairly sure we hold our own regional trials competition made up of four teams (GC North, GC Central, GC South & Northern Rivers) before selecting the South Coast team. The GC South & GC Central teams usually dominate and only a few kids from the North/Tweed get picked as opposed to the big numbers from the central and southern areas.

I think for the sake of the established pathway, it's better to just keep South Coast as one team because it's essentially another Suns academy team at that point. We should be trying to strengthen the Brisbane teams, as opposed to trying to split the South Coast team.

It's pretty much how every regional team is selected in QLD. They have district trials, then the district teams play each other at the regional trials and they pick the teams.

It's a very flawed system, that is run by schools and teachers, and in some cases those teachers aren't involved in footy (some cases they are really top notch footy people)

There isn't really a better way to do it though, so it will always have some flawed outcomes and there are also kids that just don't play well on the day for some particular reason and then miss out accordingly.

South Coast are strong in AFL, but in other sports - some of the regional teams dominate etc. The zones are for every single sport - cricket, rugby, league, touch, swimming, track & field, basketball, netball, hockey etc etc. They can't change the zones because in one sport one region is really strong, as it would then impact all the other sports where the competition is quite even.

They then pick state teams from the state carnivals where the regional teams play each other, this is also a flawed system, and made worse when a regional coach is the state coach and picks all their own local kids. However, this has been adjusted I believe and state coaches no longer coach a region.

 

[GC2015]

South Coast are strong in AFL, but in other sports - some of the regional teams dominate etc. The zones are for every single sport - cricket, rugby, league, touch, swimming, track & field, basketball, netball, hockey etc etc. They can't change the zones because in one sport one region is really strong, as it would then impact all the other sports where the competition is quite even.

Yes. I don't think Johnny Bananas has taken that into consideration. The South Coast program is more than just a footy program and there would be massive ramifications for other sports if it was altered. Swimming, for example, could really suffer if the Gold Coast was split into two teams. Therefore it's not going to change and from a junior footy development point of view, I think it's better that these kids continue to play together anyway. My understanding is that it's mostly based on population and I'd like to think the Brisbane metro teams will eventually step up to match it with the South Coast, instead of trying to weaken an existing program that is running efficiently.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Yes. I don't think Johnny Bananas has taken that into consideration.

Once again, you clearly don't bother reading my posts before responding, because earlier I wrote:

I get that there's no one size fits all division across all the different sports, and the Gold Coast is much stronger than regional Queensland at Aussie Rules than at many other sports, but they could at least try to split up the talented urban kids a bit more and have fewer thrashings.

Swimming, for example, could really suffer if the Gold Coast was split into two teams.

So be it. There are multiple sports where SEQ sides are absolutely dominating and regularly belt the non-SEQ sides, Australian Rules is not the only one. It's fine by me if the other regions do well at other sports too. That shouldn't preclude regions being split if they dominate at many sports.

This already happens in practice sometimes actually. In age 11-12 rugby union in 2024, Met East were split into two teams, and even so, both of them thrashed the Darling Downs team. I would at least consider this for Australian Rules, and maybe even merge some of the other rep sides for AR specifically (eg a combined Darling Downs and Wide Bay team).

My understanding is that it's mostly based on population and I'd like to think the Brisbane metro teams will eventually step up to match it with the South Coast, instead of trying to weaken an existing program that is running efficiently.

No, it's based on what the population was like decades ago. These regions have existed for school sport for at least 25 years. And as I said above, they don't map logically, South Coast takes in half of Logan and the rest is split between Met East and Met West. There are other strange boundaries too.

 

[Sorders]

Anyone of note that stands out?

Eh, the team went pretty much exactly how we expected it would.

Chase Whelan is a 15 year old who just kicked 9 goals in a Horsham and District Seniors game.

Arli Walker.

Andrew’s second son and, thus, Cody’s brother.

Arli Walker is born 2011 - he was playing U12 state football in 2023.

 

[Sorders]

In relative terms, the kid has to be unusually elite to leap up and above an age group with elite talent everywhere

It is incredibly ironic that you say "leap" because he is also a generational talent at basketball and has already expressed interest in going to America to play professionally.

Football is NOT his main interest at the moment, somehow.

 

[Sorders]

Really early guess at 2028 Draft.


View attachment 2200921

I have seen every single Victoria Country prospect in depth.

Sol Zak is almost certainly not going to get drafted. Even now, playing as a bottom ager in U16, he has regressed insanely and didn't even make the U15 Victorian team.

Kye Linssen is a pale talent in comparison to Lenny Sims from Wangaratta who kicked 85 goals in U14 last year in a very strong Wangaratta and District Junior Football League.

Jackson Butterworth is struggling to maintain midfield time at Echuca U16 this year, with the positions going to those who are stronger, faster and better. I disagree that he should have made the U15 Victorian team, however I digress that he definitely has a lot of potential.

Daniel May is a standout prospect. He was playing Western Heights First XVIII football as a Year 8, which considering they have a specialist program is absolutely insane. He absolutely destroyed the U14 St Mary's League last year along with 2029 prospect Kade Witney (who was ex-U12 Victoria SSV).

Nevon Eshwara is an X-factor type player, who can light it up getting 30 and 5 or can literally have 5 useless disposals. He has very little consistency which is usually something shown MORE at an underage level compared to at the AFL so I have concerns.

 

[Sorders]

View attachment 2243281

I don't mind the changes to this one. I would definitely be taking a few of the boys I said before out of it.

I don't know if you have heard, but I would most definitely include Chase Whelan inside the top 5, maybe even inside the top 2 or 3. He is 15 years old and absolutely dominating senior footy having kicked 33 goals in 7 games in the Horsham and District League (one bag of 9 and 2 bags of 6). Andy Munro, the footy historian guy, actually uploaded a piece about him to YouTube which I would almost certainly check out.

If you want some more Country prospects, I would include Eamon Hyde (21/22 best on ground's and 80 goals as an U14 in the Murray League) in the top 20, as well as Lenny Sims who I mentioned before. I must admit that Sims scored MORE goals in a far more competitive and well-rounded league than Hyde, as the Wang and District is one of the top junior leagues in the Country.

Levi Duffy is not a top 25 prospect. I play for Shepparton Swans so I have no biased towards either Duff or Sol, but neither of these boys are top prospects with the atrocious performances that they are consistently showing. They are getting outclassed by Echuca, Kyabram and the Shepp Bears team and they look like they will be finishing as the bottom team in U16 Div 1 GVFL.

I would consider Oscar Roydhouse a top 25 prospect as he is playing consistent first XVIII APS football for Geelong College, who are looking really good this year. He kicked 2-3 goals in the Geelong Derby (#8 in the black boots for anyone watching the Baseline vlog) and looked like a very classy small forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield.

Ky Bannister is ABSOLUTELY huge. He is about 198-199cm as a 14 year old and has a very strong mark for a kid of his size. He judges the ball well and will be a super important player along with Whelan at the U15 SSV Champs. He is likely to also make the U16 Vic Country basketball team as a bottom-ager so another basketball background to watch out for.

 

[Sorders]

I believe Baxter sruk will be a good player watched him in the u17 Coates game and already showing signs of being a great football player as a underaged kid

He has the most gumption that I have ever seen of a player his age. He literally runs and kicks like a mini truck, he is so solid and powerful.

He can kick a 60 metre drop punt as a 16 year old, ridiculous.

 

[Sorders]

This is when kids start to separate themselves and start to be looked at for under 16 squads.

A kid like Daniel May is so far in front of most kids in Geelong at his age it would be a surprise if he is doesn’t end up on an AFL list.

I don't think May has the talent to make it to AFL.

I watched a lot of him considering he was playing Western Heights First XVIII as a Year 8, but I think there are actually better Geelong prospects that missed out where he got the spot.

One of them being Nate Ivisic, who was absolutely lethal last year.

There are a lot of Geelong boys who have insane talent.

 

[Haggas]

I don't think May has the talent to make it to AFL.

I watched a lot of him considering he was playing Western Heights First XVIII as a Year 8, but I think there are actually better Geelong prospects that missed out where he got the spot.

One of them being Nate Ivisic, who was absolutely lethal last year.

There are a lot of Geelong boys who have insane talent.

Noah Ivisic?

 

[Haggas]

I don't mind the changes to this one. I would definitely be taking a few of the boys I said before out of it.

I don't know if you have heard, but I would most definitely include Chase Whelan inside the top 5, maybe even inside the top 2 or 3. He is 15 years old and absolutely dominating senior footy having kicked 33 goals in 7 games in the Horsham and District League (one bag of 9 and 2 bags of 6). Andy Munro, the footy historian guy, actually uploaded a piece about him to YouTube which I would almost certainly check out.

If you want some more Country prospects, I would include Eamon Hyde (21/22 best on ground's and 80 goals as an U14 in the Murray League) in the top 20, as well as Lenny Sims who I mentioned before. I must admit that Sims scored MORE goals in a far more competitive and well-rounded league than Hyde, as the Wang and District is one of the top junior leagues in the Country.

Levi Duffy is not a top 25 prospect. I play for Shepparton Swans so I have no biased towards either Duff or Sol, but neither of these boys are top prospects with the atrocious performances that they are consistently showing. They are getting outclassed by Echuca, Kyabram and the Shepp Bears team and they look like they will be finishing as the bottom team in U16 Div 1 GVFL.

I would consider Oscar Roydhouse a top 25 prospect as he is playing consistent first XVIII APS football for Geelong College, who are looking really good this year. He kicked 2-3 goals in the Geelong Derby (#8 in the black boots for anyone watching the Baseline vlog) and looked like a very classy small forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield.

Ky Bannister is ABSOLUTELY huge. He is about 198-199cm as a 14 year old and has a very strong mark for a kid of his size. He judges the ball well and will be a super important player along with Whelan at the U15 SSV Champs. He is likely to also make the U16 Vic Country basketball team as a bottom-ager so another basketball background to watch out for.

Appreciate the feedback. Hard to judge the Vic talent because they don't get picked for higher grade champs like the other states. But will get a better judgement once u15's SSA starts

 

[Wild Bill]

I don't think May has the talent to make it to AFL.

I watched a lot of him considering he was playing Western Heights First XVIII as a Year 8, but I think there are actually better Geelong prospects that missed out where he got the spot.

One of them being Nate Ivisic, who was absolutely lethal last year.

There are a lot of Geelong boys who have insane talent.

He is working his way back from a serious leg injury.

 

[Freezin]

Hey guys,
Have you heard of the Joseph gatti he is an up and coming player from East Fremantle and looks to be one of the best players of his year group definitely a lock for state 15s this year. Benches 80kg for 6 reps and runs a 6:20 2km time.

Can't see he is name in that finalized WA school boys squad....or is there another State 15's squad you are referring too?

 

[HawkDe22]

I don't mind the changes to this one. I would definitely be taking a few of the boys I said before out of it.

I don't know if you have heard, but I would most definitely include Chase Whelan inside the top 5, maybe even inside the top 2 or 3. He is 15 years old and absolutely dominating senior footy having kicked 33 goals in 7 games in the Horsham and District League (one bag of 9 and 2 bags of 6). Andy Munro, the footy historian guy, actually uploaded a piece about him to YouTube which I would almost certainly check out.

If you want some more Country prospects, I would include Eamon Hyde (21/22 best on ground's and 80 goals as an U14 in the Murray League) in the top 20, as well as Lenny Sims who I mentioned before. I must admit that Sims scored MORE goals in a far more competitive and well-rounded league than Hyde, as the Wang and District is one of the top junior leagues in the Country.

Levi Duffy is not a top 25 prospect. I play for Shepparton Swans so I have no biased towards either Duff or Sol, but neither of these boys are top prospects with the atrocious performances that they are consistently showing. They are getting outclassed by Echuca, Kyabram and the Shepp Bears team and they look like they will be finishing as the bottom team in U16 Div 1 GVFL.

I would consider Oscar Roydhouse a top 25 prospect as he is playing consistent first XVIII APS football for Geelong College, who are looking really good this year. He kicked 2-3 goals in the Geelong Derby (#8 in the black boots for anyone watching the Baseline vlog) and looked like a very classy small forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield.

Ky Bannister is ABSOLUTELY huge. He is about 198-199cm as a 14 year old and has a very strong mark for a kid of his size. He judges the ball well and will be a super important player along with Whelan at the U15 SSV Champs. He is likely to also make the U16 Vic Country basketball team as a bottom-ager so another basketball background to watch out for.

Not sure about Ky Bannister being 198 - 199cm. I watched all the SSV trial games and comparing him to Finn O'Callaghan he looked shorter and Finn is reportedly 195cm.

 

[Wild Bill]

I don't think May has the talent to make it to AFL.

I watched a lot of him considering he was playing Western Heights First XVIII as a Year 8, but I think there are actually better Geelong prospects that missed out where he got the spot.

One of them being Nate Ivisic, who was absolutely lethal last year.

There are a lot of Geelong boys who have insane talent.

Nate didn’t make the 80 player squad for the Barwon Region showcase.

Anyway - welcome to Big footy Nate.

 

[Wild Bill]

These the best 16s in Geelong.

 

[travelscout22]

Hi everyone just joining the chat now after observing this age group over the last six months, specifically through New South Wales region. I’m watching several players evolve and develop over the past few years. I have several insights on specific players that have been mentioned in this chat, keeping in mind this is a developing age group with different game styles, physical development with players representing in different competitions, whether it be country New South Wales with some of our more physically developed players playing Senior footy or in Sydney Metro where game styles differ from Club to Club, this does currently highlight some lowlight & highlights in this age group already as we commonly look at the most dominant players now instead of looking for player traits that could be the difference when they all develop, also indicates where some local clubs & academies are heading with players adapting to the modern game. I’ve observed in great detail the Swans and GWS academies from the 13s up to the 18s over the past few years and I’ve recently been privileged to watch some of the Queensland academies and the South Australia team which is just won the National champion ships.Happy to chime in on some of the conversations or answer any specifics.