After seven rounds of the National Under 18 Championships, we are almost through the games, with one game remaining – Vic Metro v Vic Country, Sunday, July 14th, at Princes Park (now called Ikon Park) in Melbourne, at 10.35 am, if on time.
We have a good list of about 50 players who have made significant contributions.
Those whom we expected early to do well have done so. Harvey Langford (190cm), Josh Smillie (194cm), Jagga Smith (181cm) and Tom Gross (181cm) have shown themselves to be outstanding midfielders.
Tyler Welsh (191cm), the son of Scott Welsh – Ex-Kanga premiership player (36 games), and Crow (129 games), and Bulldog (40 games) – is an outstanding mobile tall.
Key defender / forward, Jobe Shanahan (194 cm), who was finally given a go, yesterday, showed outstanding talent with near 20 disps, 9 marks, and 3 goals.
Outstanding brothers, Ben (186cm) and Lucas Camporeale (185cm), sons of Scott Camporeale (Carlton, 233 games, and Essendon, 19 games) should be lock-in father/sons for the Blues.
Also, during the course of the championships, the status of Leonardo Lombard (178cm), as a small goalkicking midfielder has increased to outstanding. However, the injury and loss of Noah Mraz (198cm), an outstanding tall defender, before the championships began was heartbreaking.
We wish all the boys the best of luck in their footballing futures.
The table below shows about 50 notable boys, as follows:
Cheers, Micky McTigger
Micky McTigger has developed ways of assessing AFL player lists. More of his analysis can be found at his website: OzFootyListManager.com
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
It was 25 years ago that I began developing a model for analysing footy squad lists for the purpose of improving those lists into a premiership window. Since then, the model has been used to successfully predict premiership clubs and to improve either lop-sided or underdeveloped lists into premiership lists. Indeed, the model was used for an article that I had published as a double page spread in The Age 2005 Pre-Season magazine.
Over the 25 years, I have analysed the annual lists of one particular club but have used it for other clubs upon request. It has always been on my bucket list to display the lists of all the clubs, using the model, which I’ve done since 2021 on my website – OzFootyListManager.com
Thanks to John and his editors for setting this out so well.
As an update, the AFL has switched the final game between Vic Metro and Vic Country to the Docklands (Marvel) Stadium, still Sunday at 10.35 am.
Are you the same guy as Phantom on Punt Road End
Good memory, Redders.
Comprehensive list Michael. I’ll be looking out for the pundits Top 50 prospects to see how they compare to your list.
Cheers, Keiran.
Following the naming of the number 1 draft pick of 2024 in Sam Lalor, it got me thinking of the suburb of Lalor. Therefore, I have decided to come up with a team of players, where the player’s surname is either a suburb, city, town or country. The spelling of the surname can be different or it can also be part of the suburb (e.g Williams for Williamstown). The player’s surname can only be used one. Although Sam Lalor is yet to play an AFL game, he is still eligible for this team.
Here is the destination VFL/AFL team:
B: Kevin Heath (Haw/Heathcote), Nick Coffield (St Kilda/West B/Caulfield), Andrew Ireland (Collingwood)
HB: Oliver Florent (Syd/Florence), Jake Carlisle (Ess/St K/city in England), Gary Colling (St K/Collingwood)
C: Ross Oakley (St Kilda/Oakleigh), Sam Lalor (Richmond), Brodie Holland (Fremantle/Collingwood)
HF: Heath Scotland (Collingwood/Carl), Wayne Carey (NM/Adel/city in Idaho), Craig McCrae (Bris/suburb in Vic)
F: Jack Higgins (Rich/St K/Canberra), Gordon Coventry (Coll/city in England), Jock Spencer (NM/suburb in NSW)
R: Ian Hampshire (Geel/Foots/England), Des Headland (BL/Frem/Port Hedland), Mark Williams (Coll/Bris/Williamstown)
Interchange: Richard Douglas (Adel/Port Douglas), Terry Bright (Geel/town in Vic)
Captain Coach: Mark Williams (Williamstown)
President: Graeme Richmond
This team will play an exhibition match against the best number 1 draft picks of all time.
The venue will be the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Entertainment will be provided by songs from the rock band, America.
After match drinks will be Carlton Drought.
Let’s hope for a good game of football, where the teams are going places!