The Under-18s National Championships get underway on Saturday afternoon with Western Australia taking on South Australia.

Vic Metro, Vic Country, Western Australia, South Australia and the Allies, made up of Queensland, Northern Territory, NSW/ACT and Tasmania, each play four games across the next seven weeks.

It provides a critical opportunity for recruiters to get an insight to the top junior prospects against the best in the country. A significant portion of players selected at November's National and Rookie Drafts will play in the carnival.

Following Western Australia and South Australia's game, the Allies host Vic Country at Blacktown on Sunday.

Vic Metro starts its carnival next Saturday in Perth against Western Australia.

Vic Metro and South Australia are viewed as the two strongest squads entering the National Championships.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Arki Butler of Team Boak kicks during the Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match between Team Boak and Team Docherty at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Arki Butler of Team Boak kicks during the Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match between Team Boak and Team Docherty at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Team-by-team preview

Allies

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Caylen Murray of the AFL National Academy kicks during the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys match between Australia U18 and North Melbourne VFL at Arden Street Ground on April 12, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Caylen Murray of the AFL National Academy kicks during the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys match between Australia U18 and North Melbourne VFL at Arden Street Ground on April 12, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The Allies squad is not as strong on paper as previous years but could prove to be a surprise packet with a few unheralded players starting to make their mark.

There will be plenty of eyes on Brisbane father-son prospect Cooper Hodge ahead of a decision about whether to select Brisbane or Hawthorn, having spent time ensconced in both as an Academy and father-son prospect respectively. Noted as ultra-professional, he has had a strong Talent League season as a hard-as-nails midfielder.

Brisbane's Academy also has speedster Caylen Murray and forward Reece Thompson who are set to play big parts.

Murray, Gold Coast Academy product Archie Hill, GWS-tied Ethan Matthews and Northern Territory x-factor player Sonny Smiler are the AFL Academy members who will line up. Aidan McCartney is also in the squad, tied to Sydney as an Academy product and North Melbourne as a father-son prospect, but he will play no part in the series due to injury.

Mason McGroder, Henry Meaney and Jake Medved are other Swans-tied players beginning to attract some hype.

So too is GWS Academy bottom-ager Cooper French who could attract interest from Tasmania.

Tasmania's top prospect this year is Hugh McCallum, but an ACL rupture last month has put a line through his season.

North Melbourne-tied Archie Devine racked up 34 disposals in a trial game and looks primed for a big campaign.

There are plenty of unknown quantities in the Allies line-up which could prove to be their point of difference.

Fixture

Allies v Vic Country, Sunday 14 June, 12.45pm at Blacktown ISP

South Australia v Allies, Sunday 21 June, 1.30pm at Alberton Oval

Vic Metro v Allies, Sunday June 28, 11am at Mars Stadium, Ballarat

Allies v Western Australia, Wednesday July 8, 1pm at Mars Stadium, Ballarat

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