Academy games 2026.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Rookie Me scouting notes for the game. Meaney is the only Swan to get a mention. West Coast have got a couple of interesting F/S prospects in Banfield and Braun.

Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s - Allies vs. Western Australia - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/FvwlSiCG7xuVGjAYs

[dejavoodoo44]

The u16 academy side plays a national championships match today, against the Suns academy at 2.50pm at Carrara. It looks like it can be streamed via this link. Though I'm guessing that it might just show up on the AFL site.

National Championships - U16 Boys - AFL.com.au https://share.google/vkLHONaIPDmZMv6Lg

The squads can also be accessed through that link. They'll play another game on Thursday at Sharks, although the opposition and exact time is yet to be announced.

[dejavoodoo44]

Behind 14-13 at quarter time. I'm still working out who's who, but both our goals were kicked by Hawes, who seems a skilful tallish forward. At the other end, Lucas had a strong quarter as a KPD.

[dejavoodoo44]

Now behind 22-15, in a game where the pressure is a bit better than the skills. Keam seems a decent larger bodied midfielder.

[dejavoodoo44]

We're now behind 48-34. Probably were the better side, until the Suns got a couple in the last two minutes. Our goals in that quarter were to: Trickey, who took a strong contested mark about 30m out: Sheridan, who ran around Trickey after another strong mark, and goaled from just inside the 50, and Keam, who was spotted 30m out.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Suns won 64-40, after having the edge for most of the match. Although they did seem to get a lot of kicks at goal from frees, while I'm not sure if we had any.

Anyway, our only goal in the last was by Micheletti, who put through a nice snap in traffic, from about 35m out. He seems to have added a few centimetres since last year, when he played as an underager, but he's still tiny. He does have some nice skills, though. A couple of taller forwards also looked to have some decent skills: Trickey and Hawes.

In the midfield, Keam was our best. He looks composed in traffic and he seemed to get plenty of it. Turner, McMahon and Dametto were lively. Ruckman Borg, also went pretty well.

In defence, Sheridan showed plenty of dash as a medium defender. While talls, Millington and Lucas, looked pretty good.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Rookie Me scouting notes for the game.

Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U16s - Suns Academy vs. Swans Academy - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/8MyaBTgIm08DIBHVk

Their final game for the championships is against NT at Sharks at 2pm Thursday.

[dejavoodoo44]

Behind 34-8 at quarter time, but NT had the benefit of a very strong southerly. Which was demonstrated by the opening clearance, when Lawford of NT, hoisted it from the square in the general direction of his forwards, but the wind carried it through from about 65m. He has three goals already and looks a prospect. Our only goal was from Lampret, who looked like he shanked a set shot, but somehow the wind curled it back in.

[dejavoodoo44]

We're now behind 40-35. We looked like overhauling the deficit fairly quickly, but lost some momentum as the quarter went on. Goals were to Dametto, Keam, Millington and Lampret. The Millington goal was a nice bit of roving for a tall, and he also did well to pump the ball long, for Lampret to mark near goal.

[dejavoodoo44]

Hmmm, we're going to have to come home very strongly with the wind, if we're going to stop NT from having a rare win, as they're now in front 68-42. Actually, it could have been a fair bit worse, as they kicked a number of late behinds, before Hawes marked and converted a set shot into the difficult wind. Sheridan has probably been our best, so far.

[dejavoodoo44]

Hmm, I did write a fairly long summary a couple of hours ago, but that seems to have disappeared, so I'll just write a few lines.

Ended up scrambling to a 77-70 win. Though I'm not sure how impressive it is, to only be in front for a couple of minutes against NT.

I thought Sheridan was our best today, providing plenty of rebounding from half back. Keam was classy in the middle and Dametto seemed to get plenty of the ball. I liked the game of Millington, who I thought showed some nice skills, alternating between tall forward and chop out ruck. Micheletti, McMahon, Turner, Lampret, Titmuss and Wills all had some good moments.

[dejavoodoo44]

The Rookie Me scouting notes for the game.

https://share.google/WdEiqm65drEudh3zL

Keam was awarded our player of the series. I mentioned before that he might have an advantage on other players, being born on the 2nd of January, but Sheridan is actually older, being born on the 1st.

[imuninformedtwo]

This gives you an idea of what the view is on our academy kids this year.

McGroder the only one invited to the national draft combine, and Meaney, Medved and McCartney (who's likely to go to NM anyway) to the state combines.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1577023/2026s-most-wanted-draft-combine-nominees-revealed

[dejavoodoo44]

The AFL has published the list of invitees to the draft combines.

2026's most wanted: Draft Combine nominees revealed - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1577023

The only one of our academy players invited to the national combine is McGroder. Which is sort of interesting, as I think he's currently overseas competing in the World U20 Athletics Championships, and I don't know if he's made a decision between an AFL and athletics career? If he does test, he's obviously going to test well, which might see him attracting a high bid, but perhaps counter to that, is the fact that he's generally been a part time footballer over the past few years. So clubs would be just going on potential and glimpses, rather than proven form.

Meaney, Medved and McCartney have been selected for the state combine. Of those three, I'm most keen on Medved, who's almost as athletic as McGroder, is a late convert to the game and has a bit more demonstrated form. However, he limped off with what might be have been a knee injury, in the last VFL game. So he might not be right to go when the combines start on September 30th. If so, we would probably be able to just rookie list him. Which I think would be a big bargain. Of the others, I tend to rate Meaney as a rookie lister and I think that the general vibe on McCartney, is that he's more likely to choose North as a F/S.

And of course, not being invited is bad news for fringe candidates, like, the Jenkin twins, Price, Pignatelli, etc.

[Nico]

This gives you an idea of what the view is on our academy kids this year.

McGroder the only one invited to the national draft combine, and Meaney, Medved and McCartney (who's likely to go to NM anyway) to the state combines.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1577023/...inees-revealed

Ludwig likes the look of Jake Medved. Hopes he is well down the lists of the experts.