The 2023 AFL Academy boys squad will feature in the league's Gather Round schedule in a curtain-raising hitout for the Round 5 clash between Brisbane and North Melbourne.
The match, to be held at Adelaide Hills in Mount Barker, will see the AFL's top 2023 draft prospects go head-to-head with a senior opponent, who will be confirmed at a later date.
Adding to the AFL's inaugural Gather Round, where all 18 AFL clubs will play in South Australia across four days and three venues, some of the best young talent will also be on show as the AFL Academy squad arrives in South Australia for training camp.
Highly-rated Bendigo Pioneers talent Harley Reid, WA defender Daniel Curtin, Glenelg forward Ashton Moir and Foster product Zane Duursma are among the AFL Academy's 30-player squad for 2023 and are likely to feature in the curtain-raiser.
The 2022 AFL Academy squad held a match against Collingwood's VFL side in May last year, where the Magpies won by 22 points. The exhibition match saw eventual AFL draftees Will Ashcroft, George Wardlaw and Aaron Cadman all on show.
While not confirmed, the AFL would be likely to consider a local side to face the Academy outfit, with a SANFL club a likely opponent for the squad of teenagers.
The South Australian state league is schedule for a league bye during the weekend of Gather Round.
“We are thrilled to have the AFL Academy come together in South Australia and experience the excitement of Gather Round," National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said.
“The players selected in the AFL Academy represent the future of the AFL and we look forward to them putting their talents on show in front of South Australian football fans.
“Players in the AFL Academy take part in high performance and personal development programs which have been established to best prepare them for entry into elite football programs.”
The Gather Round clash between Brisbane and North Melbourne at Adelaide Hills will commence at 12:40pm local time on Saturday, April 15.
2023 AFL Academy Boys Squad
| NAME | SURNAME | STATE | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB | ||
| Lachlan | Cabor | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Shellharbour | ||
| Nate | Caddy | VIC M | Northern Knights | Yarrambat | ||
| Jack | Callinan | TAS | Tasmania Devils | Clarence | ||
| Caiden | Cleary | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Sydney University | ||
| Daniel | Curtin | WA | Claremont | West Coast | ||
| Jack | Delean | SA | South Adelaide | Reynella | ||
| Zane | Duursma | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Foster | ||
| Mitchell | Edwards | WA | Peel Thunder | South Mandurah | ||
| William | Green | VIC M | Northern Knights | Northcote | ||
| Riley | Hardeman | WA | Swan Districts | Caversham | ||
| William | Lorenz | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | Boroondara Hawks | ||
| Kane | McAuliffe | SA | North Adelaide | Central Augusta | ||
| Colby | McKercher | TAS | Tasmania Devils | Launceston | ||
| Ashton | Moir | SA | Glenelg | Plympton | ||
| Connor | O'Sullivan | NSW/ACT | Murray Bushrangers | Albury | ||
| William | Patton | SA | West Adelaide | Mitcham | ||
| Nathan | Philactides | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | Blackburn | ||
| Ethan | Read | QLD | GC SUNS Academy | Palm Beach Currumbin | ||
| Archer | Reid | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Inverloch-Kongwak | ||
| Harley | Reid | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers | Tongala | ||
| Archie | Roberts | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Hampton Rovers | ||
| Jake | Rogers | QLD |
|
Broadbeach | ||
| Ryley | Sanders | TAS | Sandringham Dragons | North Launceston | ||
| Cooper | Simpson | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | Mount Martha | ||
| George | Stevens | VIC C | GWV Rebels | South Warrnambool | ||
| Koltyn | Tholstrup | WA | Subiaco | Newtown-Condingup | ||
| Orlando | Turner | NT | West Adelaide | South Alice Springs | ||
| Jed | Walter | QLD | GC SUNS Academy | Palm Beach Currumbin | ||
| Nick | Watson | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | East Ringwood | ||
| Darcy | Wilson | VIC C | Murray Bushrangers | Wangaratta Rovers |
