A pair of Carlton father-son prospects were the leading disposal winners in Vic Metro's Under-16s game against Vic Country on Monday at Kennedy Community Centre, Dingley.
Lukas Koutoufides, the son of Carlton great, Anthony, and Will Thornton, the son of Bret, are both eligible for the 2028 National Draft and showed signs for Vic Metro.
Vic Country, however, was the far better team, winning 15.13 (103) to 8.7 (55).
Meanwhile, Tasmania accounted for Northern Territory 17.7 (109) to 6.5 (41) but it was Territorian Hugo Timms who was the standout player on the ground, while Tasmania had a host of players show their weapons.
The Under-16s National Championships continues later this month on Gold Coast.
Player Notes
Vic Country
Isaac Brown: Arguably the best player on the ground, Brown played a statement first quarter, kicking three goals in a seven-minute stretch, with his third the best of the lot. He danced around tacklers, slipped over, sold candy and finished with a checkside from 40, proving his wizardry. Those three would be his only majors but he remained a prominent front half force throughout the match, finishing with 14 touches, with his clean hands a highlight and his step through traffic allowing him to find targets and get the ball going forward. An athletic and dynamic small forward.
Daniel May: Has been generating buzz in the Talent League with his strong performances for Geelong Falcons and carried that into Sunday's game. Has spent time in defence at Talent League level and brought some of those defensive acts into the contest, with his pressure and repeat efforts features of his game around 20 disposals where his ability to assess his options and win his own footy and surge the ball forward stood out. The sort of unheralded hard-worker every good midfield needs.
Oscar Roydhouse: Intercepted well throughout the match, putting himself in smart positions to create turnover by reading the play early and showed great strength. A run down the wing late in the game showed he complemented his footy smarts with great speed which can break the game open.
Chase Whelan: Was the standout player on the ground from quarter time onwards. A Caulfield Grammar boarder from GWV Rebels' region, Whelan finished with 4.1 and took seven marks from 13 disposals. He hit-up well and was a lively aerial presence throughout the game, leading into dangerous space and easily finding separation on the lead and protecting the drop of the footy well.
Lenny Sims: Kicked two goals and regularly popped up in the right spots in the forward half. Proved elusive in traffic and kicked two goals, while provided a link for much of Vic Country's dangerous forward thrusts.
Jackson Butterworth: Was one of the leaders of a strong midfield brigade for Vic Country, with his breakaway speed and power through the contest making him hard to tackle. Kicked a classy goal from 50 and was always clean fundamentally which allowed him to showcase his dangerous athleticism and skillset.
Eamon Hyde: An intercepting machine. Cut off anything that came into Vic Metro's forward 50, particularly early and repelled with purpose, willing to take the game on and open the game up. Competed hard and regularly put himself in the right spots to showcase his strong hands, finishing with 18 disposals and eight marks.
Vic Metro
Lukas Koutoufides: Given some midfield exposure, many of Koutoufides' disposals were under pressure, partially due to Vic Country's intensity and he was not always at his clean and silky best. His centre clearance to set up a dangerous forward entry for his team at the start of the fourth quarter was arguably the highlight of a game where he had 16 of his 20 disposals before halftime. When he did have the footy in tight, he showed great vision and awareness to feed it to smart options even if his execution was not always perfect. Also spent time forward where he was not afraid to assert himself physically on aerial contests.
Freddie Hardman: Probably Vic Metro's best player. Was credited with 15 disposals but it felt as though his impact was far more significant, using his explosive burst of speed to break away from stoppages and always steadying and composing himself before hitting a target. Also finished with two goals and was clean fundamentally, with his energy and boldness important attributes across the afternoon.
Finn O'Callaghan: One of the most hyped prospects in the 2027 pool, O'Callaghan had an interrupted lead-in with a shoulder injury but showed glimpses of his frightening upside. Having played as a ruck for Oakleigh's Under-16s, he was utilised in a key-position post, starting down back before being moved up forward where he looked much more natural and had much greater influence. His contested marking and athleticism stood out, and he finished with 14 disposals, showing on occasion his fine ball-use.
Will Thornton: A game of two halves for Thornton. Spent the first half in an unfamiliar wing role, and was a non-factor, with just three disposals to half-time, before being moved into defence where he was damaging in setting up dangerous transition. Used his running power and tried to take the game on, working hard until the final bell even with the game well out of reach.
Mac Stewart: Competed hard all day through the midfield, turning up at plenty of contests and played with a hard edge. Wasn't always clean but when he got it, he was eye-catching and able to get from the inside to outside easily.
Mac Hammerstein: A specialist winger, Hammerstein's numbers weren't high, but his impact-per-possession made him an influential player across the game. Has great speed and can go through gears with his ability to run, and has great composure with ball in hand as opponents close in. His disciplined running patterns and high endurance underpinned his game.
Liam Basil: One of the most highly rated prospects in his side, Basil showed flashes of his best with his speed and polish, zigging and zagging his way around opponents and lowering his eyes to spot smart forward targets. Also took some nice grabs.
Henry Woods: His strong hands across the day were important for Vic Metro, able to stand under the high ball and at least compete, as well as taking some strong marks. His mobility allowed him to get around the ground well and present an option long when needed.
Tom Tritton: Was listed as having just four disposals but his willingness to continually compete on a day where that was sorely lacking from many of his teammates stood out. Played across half forward before being moved into defence and kept turning up, quelling some important counterattack and winning some crucial contests.
Northern Territory
Hugo Timms: Was obvious from the start of the game that Timms, a 2027 prospect playing among 2028 prospects, was a clear rung above his contemporaries in the game. Finished with three of his team's seven goals and seemed to be involved in anything dangerous forward of centre for Northern Territory. A dangerous 196cm forward with strength, size, power and clean hands, he took different types of marks, worked his opponents over and won plenty of his own footy. Also won four clearances, capitalising on the opportunity to show his skill and aptitude in the contest.
Tasmania
Lenny Hazell: The small forward was arguably the best four quarter performer for Tasmania. Playing off half forward, his burst speed and willingness to hit up and overwork his opponent going back towards goals was a highlight, while he also cracked in hard and applied great pressure. Finished with 28 disposals as much of Tasmania's transition went through him.
Prince Williams: An athletic freak with a strong basketball background, Williams was a dynamic forward presence who had great spark with ball in hand. Always hit the contest with velocity and when he collected the ball, he stepped his way through traffic with great agility and showed his dangerous turn of speed. A bottom-aged Under-16s player with plenty of scope.
Billy Chisholm: A hit up forward who led smartly throughout the day and broke away from his direct opponents to take marks, he was a proactive presence in Tasmania's forward 50. Kicked four goals and took five marks among his 15 disposals and his forward craft was a key part of his game.
Campbell Barwick: Was tough and clean in the clinches, winning a team-high seven clearances among his 25 disposals. Got from the inside to outside regularly and when he was in space, his run and carry broke the lines and opened up the game for Tasmania.
Jordan Stevenson: Seemed to pop up everywhere, covering the ground well and giving himself every chance to get his hands on the footy and was just as willing to set up players in better positions as he was to showcase his kicking and get the ball going forward with his clean skills.
Vic Metro v Vic Country U18s trial standouts
Essendon NGA prospect return date revealed
Other weekend pathway tidbits
Top 10 prospect Ethan Herbert continued his strong form playing in the forward line for North Adelaide. He kicked 4.2 and took three contested marks, competing hard and reinforcing his credentials as a forward, where he has had some exposure in between his elite form in the ruck.
AFL Academy prospect Archie Hill proved a surprise packet on VFL debut, with his immense running power coming to the fore in a 25-disposal, two-goal performance.
In the same game, Brisbane father-son prospect Cooper Hodge made his VFL debut and had 20 disposals, four tackles and three clearances.
Hodge's Lions Academy teammate Reece Thompson had 12 disposals on VFL debut and has emerged as a prospect clubs are closely tracking as a strong-marking hard-marking half forward-winger.
Top 2027 AFL Draft prospect Jake Miller and little-known Sandringham Dragon Lochie Burrows were the standouts of the Vic Metro v Vic Country Under-18s trial game played on Sunday.
