OTHERS TO WATCH
Jake Rogers (Gold Coast Suns Academy) – A small midfielder who finds space and had 14 disposals and took seven marks in the under-17 Futures game. Part of the Gold Coast Suns Academy.
Koltyn Tholstrup (Subiaco) – A powerful half-forward from Western Australia who brings great work rate and footy smarts and is a penetrating kick.
Jack Delean (South Adelaide) – A goalkicking small forward from South Australia who is quick on the lead, strong overhead and has an uncanny goal sense. Booted three goals from eight touches in the under 17 Futures game last year.
Riley Hardeman (Swan Districts) – An outside midfielder from Western Australia with elite speed and a penetrating kick.
Will Patton (West Adelaide) – A versatile utility who primarily played as a defender last year, where he was shown to be a strong reader of the play, is composed and generates plenty of intercepts.
Nathan Philactides (Oakleigh Chargers) – A quick 180cm rebounding defender who generates plenty of drive and rebound off halfback. Has an athletics background and has competed in hurdles at a national level.
Nathan Philactides has an impressive athletics background. Picture: Getty Images
Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons) – A classy 182cm halfback who provides good run and rebound. Had 21 disposals for the Dragons in the NAB League Grand Final last year.
Ethan Read (Gold Coast Suns Academy) – A towering developing ruckman who is a Gold Coast Suns Academy member and is also part of the AFL Academy squad.
Caiden Cleary (Sydney Swans Academy) – A speedy midfielder who was the leading ball-winner in the under-17 Futures game last year with 32 disposals. He is a Sydney Swans Academy member and is also part of the AFL Academy squad.
Lachlan Cabor (Sydney Swans Academy) – A quick player who can generate some drive off halfback. He is a Sydney Swans Academy member and is also part of the AFL Academy squad.
Cooper Simpson (Dandenong Stingrays) – A midfielder/forward who averaged 18.9 disposals across 14 games for the Stingrays last season. Can also go forward and kick goals.
William Green (Northern Knights) – A developing mobile ruckman who already stands 202cm tall and has great ruck craft and can take a mark. Also a talented cricketer with Victorian Premier Cricket club Northcote.
Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide) – A tough inside midfielder who wins plenty of the ball and is a solid clearance player.
Connor O’Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers) – A 197cm defender or forward with a natural leap and good hands overhead. Tied to the Allies as an Albury product.
George Stevens (GWV Rebels) – A medium defender with good intercepting ability and a precise kick. Missed the 2022 season after suffering an ACL injury playing basketball in late 2021, but had starred as a 16-year-old.
Orlando Turner (West Adelaide) – Primarily an outside forward. Hails from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) – A half-forward or midfield who played senior football for Wangaratta Rovers as a 16-year-old. He covers the ground well and is a creative and clean ball user.
FATHER-SON PROSPECTS
Will McCabe (Central Districts) – A versatile and athletic key position player who can play at either end of the ground. A father-son prospect for Hawthorn, as the son of Luke McCabe who played 138 games for the Hawks in the 1990s and early 2000s. Featured in the under-17 Futures game last year.
Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers) – A ball-winning midfielder who can also go forward and impact the scoreboard. He is a father-son prospect for Melbourne, as the son of Nathan Brown who played 146 games for the Demons from 1998-2007. Featured in the under-17 Futures game last year.
Kynan Brown is a father-son prospect for Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images
Jordan Croft (Calder Cannons) – A 199cm key forward who kicked three goals on two separate occasions in the NAB League last year. A father-son prospect for Western Bulldogs, as the son of Matthew Croft who played 186 games for the Bulldogs between 1991 and 2004. Part of the Vic Metro squad for 2023.
Charlie Naish (Northern Knights) – A 186cm midfielder, Naish played for Vic Metro’s Under-17 Futures side in a match against Queensland last August. He is eligible to join Richmond as a father-son, with his father Chris having played 143 games for the Tigers. Older brother Patrick was drafted to Richmond as a father-son in 2017.
OTHER SONS OF FORMER STARS
Jack Callinan (Tasmania Devils) – A small forward or midfielder who was a late call-up for the under-17 Futures game and kicked two goals. Is the son of Ian Callinan, who played 32 games for Adelaide from 2011-2013. Part of AFL Academy squad for 2023.
Sam Frangalas (Dandenong Stingrays) – A powerful midfielder who can also go forward and kick goals. Is the son of Gary Frangalas, who played 51 games for Sydney from 1983-85 and 17 games for Richmond from 1986-89. Part of the Vic Country squad for 2023.
Kobe Shipp (Dandenong Stingrays) – A 186cm defender who reads the play well and was one of the Stingrays’ best in last year’s NAB League Grand Final. The son of former Fremantle forward Andrew Shipp, who played 35 games for the Dockers from 1999-2002. Part of the Vic Country squad for 2023.
WHERE THIS YEAR’S AFL ACADEMY PLAYERS TRAINED OVER SUMMER
Adelaide: Ashton Moir, Kane McAuliffe
Carlton: Nate Caddy, William Green
Collingwood: Colby McKercher, Jack Callinan, Ryley Sanders
Essendon: Harley Reid
Fremantle: Daniel Curtin, Mitchell Edwards
Gold Coast Suns: Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers
GWS Giants: Connor O’Sullivan
Hawthorn: Archer Reid, Nicholas Watson
Melbourne: Cooper Simpson, Zane Duursma
Port Adelaide: Jack Delean, William Patton
Richmond: Darcy Wilson, Nathan Philactides
St Kilda: Archie Roberts
Sydney Swans: Lachlan Cabor, Caiden Cleary
West Coast Eagles: Koltyn Tholstrup, Riley Hardeman