After months of training and discussions within and beyond the halls, the 2026 school footy season finally arrived on Friday.
After years of anticipation, players get one chance at being in year 12.
School footy does not adhere to the sporting cliche that there is always next week; with just 10 games on the calendar, there is a cut-throat feel to each contest. An off game can be the difference between conquest and a vanquished season.
The return of schoolboy footy was the clear highlight of the weekend's junior action.
APS standouts
School footy unites the footy legion and divides them neatly into tribes.
People will debate the flow-on effects of school footy's proliferation, but most footy heavyweights and many followers have an allegiance to a school.
The Association Public Schools (APS) competition is the most prominent of the competitions in the country.
Arguably school footy is the sport at its most pure. There is not the scrutiny and professionalism of AFL; the individual development focus of Talent League; or the increasing money focus of local footy.
It is an authentic expression of passion and emotion.
Brighton Grammar knocked off Caulfield Grammar on their deck in a clash of two premiership favourites, while Scotch College defeated a wasteful Melbourne Grammar in the famed Cordner-Eggleston Cup.
Top 2027 prospect Jake Miller was the standout of the most talent-laden game, Brighton Grammar v Caulfield Grammar.
Miller, who is on Tasmania's watch list of 17-year-olds looked a class above, finishing with 4.4 and taking nine marks among his 17 disposals.
Teammate Arki Butler had some staggering moments of class playing mostly in the midfield, while Sandringham captain and well-regarded defender Tyson Bradley finished with nine intercept marks.
Bottom-aged Oakleigh Charger Harper McCullough led the way for Caulfield with 31 disposals and nine clearances.
Richmond father-son prospect Archie Daffy had 26 disposals, six clearances and three goals for Geelong College, standing out as a small midfielder after spending part of pre-season with Richmond.
Lukas Koutoufides, the son of Carlton great Anthony, kicked five goals for Carey Grammar as the linchpin of the forward line and spent time in the ruck.
Koutoufides is 2028 draft eligible and will feature for Vic Metro at the Under-16s Development Championships later in the year.
Powerful, bottom-aged clearance-winning midfielder Jack Condello was also excellent for Carey Grammar, kicking two goals and looking a class above.
Sandringham trio George Dimer, Ollie Bartal and Luke Leo all stood out in Haileybury's comprehensive victory over St Kevin's. Dimer is beginning to attract draft interest as a clean and lively small forward.
First hitout for Bachar Houli Academy
It was a celebratory weekend for the Bachar Houli Academy, which played its first Talent League game on Saturday against GWS Academy.
Despite being comfortably accounted for, plenty of players showed enough to prove the concept of giving them a platform was worthwhile.
Top 20 prospect and Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki, who represents the Western Jets, skippered the Academy which has contributed significantly to his development with the Jets having a bye.
But the standout of the day was 15-year-old Wasim Kaddour, who kicked four goals. Not draft eligible until 2029, he impressed with his forward craft.
Hawthorn NGA stakes claim
It was a breakout game that was a long time coming for Hawthorn Next Generation Academy prospect Keenan Boi.
The small forward was touted as having the best pre-season of anyone at Gippsland Power, with part of his summer spent ensconced in the Hawks' AFL sessions.
After a start to the season which showcased his upside as an athletic an powerful goal-kicker, Saturday was the statement game.
He kicked four goals, and looked cleaner and classier with ball in hand playing off half forward.
It follows a Vic Country trial game where he kicked two first quarter goals before being starved of opportunity as his side suffered a heavy defeat.
Whether the Hawks take him is a separate question given they have arguably the best small forward duo in the game with Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan - but Boi has plenty of traits and upside to get other clubs interested.
Lecras League debut
Following his stand-out game for the AFL Academy against Richmond VFL last week where some recruiters had him pegged as best on ground, Koby Lecras was rewarded with a league debut for West Perth.
The 193cm winger had six disposals and three marks against South Fremantle's senior side in what is likely the first of several games at the level this year.
Gippslanders training at Richmond
AFL Academy pair Wil Malady and Marlon Neocleous have been training with Richmond VFL in the early part of the season.
The pair are from Gippsland and boarding at Caulfield Grammar. While they made the trek back each week for Gippsland's main session last year, it was seen as more practical and better for their development to embed themselves in a VFL program this year.
Both had strong moments in Round 1 of the APS season on Friday.
Early season risers back it up
As will be reflected in Zero Hanger's Power Rankings later this week, Ethan Drever, Jackson Phillips and Clancy Snell have been the standout early risers on 2026 AFL Draft boards.
All again put forward strong performances on the weekend.
Drever was arguably his side's best, carrying a significant load in the midfield against a stronger Gippsland Power line-up.
Phillips found a stack of the footy in the midfield where his clean hands below his knees shone, and he kicked two classy goals on the run.
Snell was typically impenetrable in defence and launched for plenty of marks.
Overlooked father-son stands out
In a scrappy slogfest between the VFL Young Guns and Talent League Young Guns, one player stood out from the rest: Tom McGuane.
The overlooked Collingwood father-son prospect who was also bypassed by Adelaide in the Supplemental Selection Period has yet to feature for a strong Footscray side, playing instead under Dad, Mick, at Keilor so far this year.
Much like what he produced last season across levels, he found the ball at will, won clearances and generated scoring chains - and had shots himself.
Other standouts from a somewhat underwhelming clash were McGuane's Footscray teammate Ged Saunders, Oakleigh Chargers graduate Zane Cochrane and Sandringham's Brodie Atkins - the reigning Morrish Medalist.
Senior debut for 2027 prospect
Jett Flower was named among the best players on senior debut for Wantirna South on Saturday.
The grandson of Melbourne great Robbie, Jett has had a strong start to the year for Eastern Ranges and was viewed as a standout of the Vic Metro trials last week.
The smooth-moving utility was part of Vic Metro's squad at the Under-16s Development Championships last year.
