A 29-player squad has been named for the AFL National Academy ahead of its first game of 2024, with the side featuring this year's top draft stars.

The Academy will face VFL outfit Coburg this weekend at Princes Park, with leading teenage talent Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith, Leonardo Lombard and Josh Smillie among those named to face the Lions.

Victorian-based trioย Taj Hotton (Sandringham), Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo) and Jack Whitlock (Murray) have been included in the squad for Saturday's clash with Coburg due to recent injuries to existing members of the AFL National Academy.

Hotton, the younger brother of St Kilda's Ollie, has enjoyed a strong start to his draft campaign in the Talent League, averaging 28.7 disposals, 7.3 marks, 4.7 inside 50s and 1.7 goals per game from his three appearances for the Dragons.

His addition to the Academy comes asย Bo Allan, Malakai Champion, Sid Draper, Archer Day-Wicks, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor and Finn O'Sullivan all miss the Academy's first game of the year through injury.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: Taj Hotton of Vic Metro kicks the ball during the AFL U17 Futures Boys match between Vic Metro and NSW/ACT at Avalon Airport Oval on August 13, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

All absent players for Saturday's match will still travel to Melbourne for the high-performance camp and remain included in the listed AFL Academy Squad.

โ€œWe are looking forward to having the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad together again this weekend and providing the players with new learnings and experiences to further enhance their development on and off the field,โ€ National Academy manager Tarkyn Lockyer said.

โ€œHaving the opportunity to wear the Australia jumper in a match is one of the great highlights of the Marsh AFNL National Academy program and we look forward to this year's squad having that chance this Saturday when they take on Coburg.โ€

The U18s side face Coburg at IKON Park at 1:00pm (AEST) on Saturday, April 13.

FIRST NAME SURNAME HT STATE LEAGUE CLUB
COMMUNITY CLUB
Sid Draper 182 South Adelaide Willunga
Levi Ashcroft 179 Sandringham Dragons
Old Brighton Grammarians
Ben Camporeale 186 Glenelg
Brighton Districts & Old Scholars
Lucas Camporeale 185 Glenelg
Brighton Districts & Old Scholars
Malakai Champion 172 Subiaco Mines Rovers
Archer Day-Wicks 186 Bendigo Pioneers Sandhurst
Xavier Lindsay 183 Gippsland Power Leongatha
Leonardo Lombard 178 Gold Coast Suns Academy Broadbeach
Sam Marshall 185 Brisbane Lions Academy
Sandringham Dragons
Old Melburnians
Ricky Mentha 178 Northern Territory Academy
Gippsland Power		 Morwell
Christian Moraes 183 Eastern Ranges Knox
Jagga Smith 181 Oakleigh Chargers Richmond
Bo Allan 191 Peel Thunder Halls Head
Joel Cochran 195 Sydney Swans Academy
UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs
Jonty Faull 195 GWV Rebels Redan
Tom Gross 181 Oakleigh Chargers
Old Trinity Grammarians
Harvey Langford 190 Dandenong Stingrays Mount Martha
Noah Mraz 198 Dandenong Stingrays
Narre North Foxes
Harry O'Farrell 196 Calder Cannons
Maribyrnong Park
Finn O'Sullivan 182 Oakleigh Chargers Koroit
Jobe Shanahan 194 Bendigo Pioneers Moama
Josh Smillie 194 Eastern Ranges Park Orchards
Luke Trainor 194 Sandringham Dragons
Old Brighton Grammarians
Taj Hotton 182 Sandringham Dragons
Hampton Rovers
Tobie Travaglia 187 Bendigo Pioneers Sandhurst
Oliver Dean 201 Tasmania Devils
North Launceston
Sam Lalor 180 GWV Rebels
Bacchus Marsh
Jack Whitlock 200 Murray Bushrangers Shepparton
Tyler Welsh 191 Adelaide Henley