QUEENSLAND has claimed the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships Division Two title, going through undefeated on their home turf.

Bar a close opening round clash against NSW-ACT, Queensland, led by coach Adrian Fletcher, was largely unchallenged throughout the carnival.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA CLAIM UNDER 16s CHAMPIONSHIPS DIVISION ONE TITLE

Kobe Tozer was one of a number of standouts from Queensland. The Brisbane Lions Academy member stands at 194cm, averaging 16 disposals, six marks and three goals per game at the Under 16 Championships. Tozer is very agile, marks well overhead and has some tricks inside 50. He presented well on the lead and was close to winning Queensland’s MVP for the carnival. Tom Wischnat was another star for Queensland with the 188cm forward using his big frame to help him outmuscle his opponents. Wischnat is strong overhead and booted eight goals for the carnival.

Mitch Fitzpatrick was Queensland’s MVP, playing most of the carnival across half-back. Fitzpatrick reads the play well and was able to rebound the ball efficiently out of the defensive half of the ground. A surprise packet was Hewago “Ace” Paul Oea, a Papua New Guinean prospect who kicked nine goals in the last two games. The forward showed off his speed and is a name to keep an eye on.

For NSW/ACT, Liam Delahunty was the clear standout. The 191cm forward won the Alan McLean Medal as the best player in Division Two. Delahunty booted nine goals for the carnival, including a bag of five against Northern Territory. He is a smart player who can mark the ball well in the air. Delahunty could develop into one of the better key forwards in the 2019 draft pool, and is tied to the GWS Giants Academy. Jackson Barling – the son of Tim Barling (who played 27 AFL games for Richmond and Sydney) possesses clean hands and has both midfield and forward craft. Barling has a nice set shot and moves well as a medium sized forward at 181cm. Sam Thorne won NSW/ACT’s MVP as one of their more consistent players right throughout the carnival. Thorne booted seven goals for the Championships and had one of his best games against Northern Territory at Metricon Stadium in round two. The small forward currently stands at 172cm and is linked with the Sydney Swans Academy.

Standing out in the number one guernsey was Tasmania’s MVP Jared Dakin. The 178cm midfielder/small forward showed some promise and has a good footy IQ. Dakin knows where the goals are, booting three goals for the carnival and was one of their best in Tasmania’s big win over Northern Territory. Midfielders Bailey Gordon and Will Peppin impressed in round one, using their smarts around the ground to get to the right positions. Tasmania won just the single game for the carnival and from the outlook it appears to be another bleak draft representation from Tasmania at this early stage.

For Northern Territory, all eyes were on Maurice Rioli jnr – with the 14 year-old Richmond father-son prospect providing good glimpses despite playing far outside his own age group. He found 15 disposals against Tasmania, using it well on his right foot, willing to win the ball in the contest. Rioli is already 176cm and 74kg, so will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years. Possesses good vision and the signs bode well for the future. Their MVP Dominic Forbes played as a rebounding defender and is a skillful right footer. Forbes uses it effectively by hand and the 186cm player will be one of their possible draftees in 2019. Barrindi Ngurrwuthun playted as a ruckman, and, standing at just 190cm, showed off some very impressive athletic traits and is a player to track.

South Warrnambool teenager Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was the Boomerangs standout, showing off a decent leap and good agility – two traits that have boded him well having played basketball. Manfred Kelly won the World XVIII MVP.

MVP:

NSW/ACT: Sam Thorne
Queensland: Mitch Fitzpatrick
Tasmania: Jared Dakin
Northern Territory: Dominic Forbes
Boomerangs: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
World XVIII: Manfred Kelly

2017 Alan McLean Medal: Liam Delahunty (NSW/ACT)

2017 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships Division TWO results:

ROUND 1

Queensland 13.13 (91) d NSW/ACT 13.8 (86) 

Goals
Queensland: Wischnat 4, Jefferey 2, Tozer 2, Gore 2, Scroulk, Budarick, Conroy
NSW/ACT: Delahunty 4, Barling 4, Thorne 2, Ellem, Wilks, Russell 

Best
Queensland: Wischnat, Griffiths, Liessi, Fitzpatrick, Budarick, Martyn
NSW/ACT: Barleing, McGrath, Gaden, Thorne, Delahunty, Edwards, Green 

Tasmania 19.13 (127) d Northern Territory 6.4 (40) 

Goals
Tasmania: Rand 4, Peppin 3, Green 2, Dakin 2, Turner 2, Gordan 2, Paprotny, Cooke, Ireland, Chaplin
Northern Territory: Gindikindi 2, Jeffrey, Ngurrwuthun, Rusca, Palmer 

Best
Tasmania: Gordan, Peppin, Reeves, Ireland, Burrow-Cheng, Dakin, Rand
Northern Territory: Brown, Braun, Rioli, Ngurrwuthun, Lampton, Rusca

ROUND 2

NSW/ACT 20.16 (136) d Northern Territory 1.10 (16)

Goals
NSW/ACT: Delahunty 5, Thorne 4, Barling 4, Ellem 2, McGuire 2, Swaney, Russell, Allen
Northern Territory: Gindikindi

Best
NSW/ACT: Grant, Delahunty, Thorne, Martin, Barling, Rannan
Northern Territory: Forbes, Jungfer, Rosas, Cole, Rioli

Queensland 14.10 (94) d Tasmania 8.4 (52)

Goals
Queensland: Hewago 5, Jeffery 2, Tozer 2, Reville, Wischnat, Joyce, Clayton, Maloney
Tasmania: Routledge 2, Burrows-Cheng, Dakin, Paprotny, Cook, Purton, Chaplin

Best
Queensland: Hewago, Conroy, Wingrave, Griffiths, Fitzpatrick, Fraser
Tasmania: Dakin, Turner, O’Neill, Reeves, Jones, Simpson

Boomerangs 16.10 (106) d World XVIII 5.7 (37)

Goals
Boomerangs: Canerdo 4, Gerrand 3, Ugle-Hagan 2, Lake 2, Johnson 2, Holland, Jetta, Bynder
World XVIII: Hawash, Haddow, C. Walker, Uwandu, Haley

Best
Boomerangs: Smith, Jeffrey, Jetta, Mallard, Canerdo, Lui
World XVIII: Western, Kelly, C. Walker, B. Walker, Chan, Haddow

ROUND 3

NSW/ACT 11.13 (79) d Tasmania 7.10 (52)

Goals
NSW/ACT: Barling 2, Russell 2, Delahunty 2, Mack, McGuire, Thorne, Parker, Allen
Tasmania: Chaplin 3, Walsh 2, Routledge, Simpson

Best
NSW/ACT: Kannan, McGuire, Delahunty, Thorne, Brewer, McGrath
Tasmania: O’Neill, Burrows-Cheng, Dakin, Simpson, Turner

Queensland 17.11 (113) d Northern Territory 6.6 (42)

Goals
Queensland: Tozer 5, Hewago 4, Jeffery 3, Wischnat 3, Gore, Marytn
Northern Territory: Ngurrwuthun 3, Brown, Bruce, Rioli

Best
Queensland: Fitzpatrick, Tozer, Moloney, Jeffery, Liessi, Budarick
Northern Territory: Braun, Jungfer, Lampton, Rusca, Rosas, Brown.

Boomerangs 10.12 (72) d World XVIII 9.10 (64)

Goals
Boomerangs: Ugle-Hagan 4, Jetta 2, Lake, Holland, Gallagher, Gerrand
World XVIII: Haddow 3, B. Walker 2, C. Walker 2, Kelly, Murphy

Best
Boomerangs: Ugle-Hagan, Smith, Mifsud, Jetta, George, Dwyer
World XVIII: Kelly, Haddow, Fuatimau, Western, Walker, Haley.