Vic Metro and South Australia are on the board in the Under-18s National Championships.
The carnival is now in full swing, with four games done and dusted after Vic Metro's victory over Western Australia on Saturday and South Australia's belting of the Allies on Sunday.
Plenty of players from around the country enhanced their draft stocks.
Vic Metro
Albert MacGowan
Was the most influential and prominent player on the ground in the first quarter as Vic Metro established a 20-point lead which proved just about insurmountable. Found Sam Gayfer inside 50 in the first quarter, setting up an early goal which set the tone for his day. Has proven he can play as an inside and outside midfielder and it on the wing he was used on Saturday, matching up on in-form Western Australian skipper George Gale for parts of the contest. Ran hard both ways, holding his width well, allowing his team to shape the ball well when looking to transition, was mostly reliable by foot as per usual and was clean below his knees.
Billy Wigmore
His intercept marking cut off plenty of forward forays for Western Australia. His last quarter was particularly strong, not only taking intercept marks, but showing a great willingness to attack the footy, come forward to defend and winning a crucial one on two contest when Western Australia looked to counterattack. Showed good vision to find teammate Jordan Knapp in the second quarter and backed himself by foot throughout the game.
Kai Parker
Took four crucial intercept marks and was a force all day in defence for Vic Metro, often causing turnover in dangerous spots and having the coolness to find a teammate and make the right decision. One of the more unheralded Vic Metro players entering the carnival, he showed great defensive intent and a great understanding for what tempo best suited his team at different times. A highlight of his day was a soccer to himself and loose ball gather before speeding away and gaining territory with a punchy kick down the wing in the third quarter.
Tyson Bradley
Took several intercept marks and was decidedly competitive in the air. If he wasn't taking grabs, he was getting hands on the footy, either floating in from the side, crashing a pack from the back or standing under a high ball so was not outmarked if given an opportunity to impact. Was also poised on the last line when he had the ball in open play on the last line.
Archie Spencer
The biggest surprise packet of the weekend. Sporting bleached blonde hair, he was a standout off the half-back line – a new role, having played through the midfield for Eastern Ranges throughout 2026. Put himself in the right spots, helping lock the ball inside 50 at times and when the ball came into defensive 50, he prevented his direct opponent access to the footy and was often in the hotspot. Showed the poise to run the ball out by hand on multiple occasions rather than blasting long to an outnumber, while he was also a crucial interceptor, cutting off Western Australia's first inside 50 of both the third and fourth quarters. Also showed great strength to stand up in a tackle when required.
Gus Teixeira
A holding the ball free kick in the first quarter kickstarted his day and his tackling was a real feature of his game, underlining his intent. His ability to gather a ground ball and immediately fire off a handball, releasing a teammate helped his side when he was in the midfield. Showed natural forward craft when inside 50, timing his leads well and finding himself in space. It was a lower volume game, but influential regardless.
Arki Butler
Playing exclusively as a forward, the volume Butler produced was not as high as what he has in many of games this season, but his moments were pure quality. Found Lewis Houndsome inside 50 in the first quarter, setting up an early goal and was a link player on multiple occasions, also finding Sam Harris uncontested inside 50 in the last quarter, with both highlighting his vision and ability to quickly assess his options and make good decisions. On another occasion, he found a teammate inside 50, then kept running on and got it back, before hitting the post with his ensuing set shot. His two goals were marvellous; one twisting through traffic and finishing in between three defenders, the other resulting from his speed at stoppage and ability to read the ball off teammate Lewis Houndsome's hand.
Jake Miller
Outside of kicking a goal, Miller played the perfect centre half forward's game, getting high up the ground repeatedly to offer an option and standing tall in packs to take marks or at least bring the ball to ground. Work rate and aerial ability underpinned his performance but he also had some moments of impact at ground level. Had one shot on goal which missed wide.
Lochie Burrows
Grew into the game well, having some moments of important composure. Backed himself to find space when he got the footy, tending to drive his legs and give himself the chance to creatively distribute. Showed terrific football smarts in the last quarter, handballing into an opponent's legs near the boundary line to win a lasso free kick.
Western Australia
Leo Steed
Of the two teams which have played twice, no player has been at such a high standard across both matches. His energy at stoppages and breakaway speed at centre clearance was again on display as he stepped through traffic with ease and found space. His third quarter was particularly influential, winning a pair of centre clearances and sending Western Australia deep into attack. His work rate to get to contests and provide an option on the spread was exemplary as was his ability to stand up in tackles when the opponents were able to lay a hand on him.
George Gale
Laid some strong tackles and seemed to continue to find himself in space in transition through sheer work rate. Was a potent link in Western Australia's ball movement chain, playing with an air of composure and seemingly always able to find an option in dangerous territory. Also took some strong grabs when he needed to relieve pressure or present up the line and laid some crunching tackles to blend physicality onto a game where his running power and skill helped keep his side in the contest.
Harvey Spawton-Guy
His day was highlighted by a second quarter set shot goal from 50 and he presented well all day, with the four marks he took perhaps belying his liveliness in the front half. Found teammate Frazer Rickson in the first quarter when he could easily have blazed away and set up a Lachie McGlade goal in the second quarter.
Axel Walsh
Took a strong contested mark in the second quarter, immediately saw the seas parted so took off and hit teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy in attack in an impressive display of confidence. Took a strong mark on the lead later that quarter, and would kick a snap goal in congestion to give his side an important spirit-booster. Later in the game, floated back into defence and took a crucial intercept contested mark, with that aerial power complementing his 10 hitouts as the second ruck.
Benji Van Rooyen
Had the job of opposing Harry Van Hattum and competed manfully for the second consecutive week. Took three strong contested marks and was not afraid to get his hands on the footy around the contest, while his competitiveness was also underlined by a strong holding the ball tackle in the third term, which resulted in a shot on goal, which he kicked into the man on the mark Regardless, another strong showing from the AFL Academy member.
Tom Brown
Is known as a dour and competitive defender in Western Australia and that is exactly what he brought on Saturday. Took four intercept marks and was willing to engage in a wrestle or absorb body contact while standing under a high ball to take a grab. Showed an ability to read and protect the drop zone consistently and proved impassable in a defence that was often challenged. Also showed an ability to get involved in counterattack in the first quarter – an area of his game he's had less opportunity to showcase.
Lachie McGlade
Nearly got a good look in the first quarter, getting goal side of his opponent but the kick inside 50 did not have the depth and then took a pair of chances in the second term. Also showed the ability to outmark an opponent one-on-one and set up another Western Australian goal making him an important piece for an attack starved of opportunity which managed just five goals. Lively and dynamic when given a look.
South Australia
Kodah Edwards
A statement game from the South Australian captain. Was the leader of a midfield brigade which smashed its opponents, consistently getting first hands on the footy and always distributing with class and composure. When he had time and space, he hit punchy targets and always took the most direct route to goals. A centre clearance in the third quarter which found Anthony Long in the goal square immediately after an Allies major took the wind out of the opposition's sails. But the highlight of his day was a running goal from 50 which rounded off his day perfectly. Also had some important moments of defensive intent in the rare instances where South Australia was on the back foot, doing some important things in a goalless first quarter, before a holding the ball free kick in the last quarter proved the perfect footnote.
Jacob McNicol
Was part of a dominant engine room and was a forceful front half player for South Australia. Showed an ability to outmuscle his direct opponents in one-on-one marking contests and his vision and composure to hit up targets inside 50 throughout the day was another feature. Found vice captain Cain Florance in the first quarter and set up one of Anthony Long's goals later in the day where some players would have had eyes for goals on both occasions. He was also clean which allowed him to breakaway from contest on occasion and his ball security was strong.
Jack Slattery
Kicked three of his six goals in the second quarter when South Australia built the commanding lead, leading up dangerously to the ball carrier, and then showed his ability to stand tall in a contest, which resulted in a third quarter goal. He was also involved up the field in launching an Anthony Long goal, and finished with a set shot finish close to the boundary line from 50 metres out. A 192cm player, his ability to create separation on the lead was impressive.
Anthony Long
After six shots in the first game, Long had seven on Sunday, again finishing with the three goals. The highlight of his day was a snap over his shoulder in the second quarter, showing great dexterity and composure in traffic. Alike the first game, his ability to find space inside 50 and lead to dangerous areas made him a target his midfielders often looked to, and he ran the game out well, often getting high up the ground to set up forward thrusts, particularly in the second half.
Jack Leys
After missing the first game with a minor hamstring injury, Leys got the first possession of the game on Sunday and was consistent across four quarters. His kicking efficiency and clean skills helped South Australia move the ball throughout the afternoon and the Richmond father-son prospect also showed an ability and willingness to get overlap possession.
Kale Matthews-Hampton
Won an important one-on-one contest in the first quarter when the Allies were pressing, and it set the tone for a strong afternoon. The Sturt defender showed not only an ability to intercept, but to then take off and become dangerous on slingshot when he effected turnover, winning multiple possessions in a chain on multiple occasions as he combined aerial presence, daring run and athleticism. Has had some authoritative moments in the first two games.
Jake Eime
It was another productive outing for Eime, whose dash again made things happen for South Australia. Like in Game 1, provided great energy, proving to be a high metres-gained player, taking the grass in front of him before assessing his options and making a smart decision.
Charlie Bradford
Kicked four goals, becoming more of a factor as the game went on. His first goal came in the second quarter when he took a contested mark on the goal line and finished around the corner and his set shot kicking thereafter was exemplary. Is hard to move in marking contests and when given a run and jump at the footy, has great reach.
Allies
Caylen Murray
It was a one-man show for the Allies, with Caylen Murray his side's clear standout player in a heavy defeat. Starting in defence, he had plenty to absorb and any time he got the footy, repelled with great speed and purpose, with his willingness to surge it out of the backline with his burning pace making him a dangerous asset. Showed the dare to remain involved in counterattack he started, often getting multiple possessions in a chain, with that run setting up the Allies only third quarter goal. He then got another one in the fourth quarter as he was moved higher up the ground and his basic skill execution and game-breaking operated at a higher level than his teammates. There's no catching him when he gets the ball on the outside and his kicking is arguably as venomous as his pace.
Other talent pathway tidbits
Gippsland Power co-captain Cody Templeton returned from the minor foot concern which ruled him out of the first game of the Under-18s National Championships with four goals, 20 disposals and six tackles in a 118-point win against Bendigo
Top 2027 AFL Draft prospect Oscar Henwood was the most impressive in that game, finishing with 33 disposals and six tackles as the most dominant midfielder on the day.
Vic Country squad member Darcy Harrington pushed his case for selection in the second game, with 37 disposals and 11 tackles for Geelong in its 59-point loss to Dandenong.
