THE 2022 Northern Academy series got underway earlier in March, with the New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland-based talent pathways locking horns over two rounds thus far. It comes as all four Under 18 academies – representing the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants, and Sydney Swans – are again set to compete in the NAB League next month.

Starting in Round 1 on April 2, they will play across the first four rounds before the best and brightest prospects combine to make up the Allies squad at this year’s Under 18 National Championships. We have compiled all the Academy Series results and replays thus far, and list the future fixtures these Northern clubs have ahead of them.

>> SCROLL to see the Academies’ NAB League fixtures

ROUND 1 | March 12/13

GWS and Sydney combined their respective Under 17 to 19 squads to compete in two matches on March 12. The sides shared a win apiece, with game one going 12.7 (79) to 10.11 (71) in favour of the Giants, while game two ended 14.13 (97) to 8.5 (53) in favour of the Swans. GWS won the tiebreaker of sorts, taking out the Under 16 clash 9.10 (64) to 8.6 (54).

All three games can be viewed via the links below:

Game 1 (Under 17-19): https://youtu.be/Z_wPh5EBmOY 
Game 2 (Under 17-19): https://youtu.be/kKWN_d9KXBM 
Game 3 (Under 16): https://youtu.be/Z618iddWMdM

Up in Queensland, an Academy triple-header saw the Lions and Suns go head-to-head across three categories. It was Gold Coast who took out all three games, with their girls Under 18s, and boys Under 17s and Under 18s all picking up comfortable Q-Clash wins over their local rivals. Looking specifically at the male results, the scorelines ended up 17.8 (110) to 6.8 (44) in the Under 17s, and 15.13 (103) to 4.4 (28) in the 18s clash.

All three games can be viewed via the link below:

QLD Academies triple-header: https://youtu.be/zq47eLxbMxc

ROUND 2 | March 20

After competing in their home states for local rival hitouts, the four pathway programs mingled for a day of Academy Series action in Burpengary on March 20. In both Under 18 matches, it was the visiting NSW academies which picked up wins.

The top-age academies put on a couple of thrilling shows, starting off with a Jay Summers goal after the siren which saw GWS triumph 6.10 (46) to 6.7 (43) over Brisbane in game one. Sydney downed Gold Coast 9.12 (66) to 9.6 (60) afterwards, leaving the Swans’ Under 17 side to follow suit with a 13.7 (85) to 8.9 (57) victory.

All three games can be viewed via the link below:

Round 2 triple-header: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTj75tZYQY

In other news, the game between Gold Coast and GWS scheduled for this Sunday in New South Wales had been postponed until May 8, due to ongoing weather conditions. Nonetheless, the Suns and Lions Under 18s are set to face off in an improvised fixture on Sunday at 10am.

The May 8 triple-header will go ahead as follows:

Sydney vs. Brisbane U18s – 10.30am
GWS vs. Brisbane U17s – 1.00pm
GWS vs. Gold Coast U18s – 3.30pm

Gold Coast has had plenty of match practice so far this year, with the Under 17s and 18s waxing in match simulation and an intraclub hitout, and the Under 18s taking on Surfers Paradise in a tribute game on March 5. GWS is in a similar boat, having had a series of games against the Murray Bushrangers in February.

Among some of the names to watch from each region, Jaspa Fletcher is one who will already be familiar to many keen draft watchers. The smooth mover is tied to Brisbane as a father-son via his father Adrian, and looks a real prospect.

Fletcher was included in this year’s AFL Academy intake, along with Lachlan Cabor (Swans Academy) and Jed Walter (Suns). In an interesting quirk, Lions father-son candidate Will Ashcroft, who is expected to make his nomination decision later this year, was also tied to the Suns Academy as a junior. He now plies his trade in Victoria with the Sandringham Dragons.

Below are the NAB League fixtures for each academy, where you can catch even more of the brightest talents from NSW and Queensland next month.

Brisbane Lions:

Round 1 – vs. Western Jets | Sunday April 3, 12:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Round 2 – vs. Dandenong Stingrays | Sunday April 10, 12:15pm @ Princes Park
Round 3 – Bye.
Round 4 – vs. Eastern Ranges | Sunday April 24, 11:45am @ South Pine Sports Complex

Gold Coast Suns:

Round 1 – vs. Geelong Falcons | Sunday April 3, 2:30pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Round 2 – vs. Eastern Ranges | Sunday April 10, 2:45pm @ Princes Park
Round 3 – Bye.
Round 4 – vs. Western Jets | Sunday April 24, 2:15pm @ South Pine Sports Complex

GWS Giants:

Round 1 – vs. Calder Cannons | Saturday April 2, 11:45am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Round 2 – vs. Murray Bushrangers | Friday April 8, 6:00pm @ Lavington Sports Ground
Round 3 – vs. Sandringham Dragons | Friday April 15, 11:45am @ Trevor Barker Oval
Round 4 – vs. Bendigo Pioneers | Sunday April 24, 11:45am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

Sydney Swans:

Round 1 – vs. Northern Knights | Saturday April 2, 2:15pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Round 2 – vs. Tasmania Devils | Saturday April 9, 1:00pm @ Blacktown International Sportspark
Round 3 – vs. Gippsland Power | Friday April 15, 2:00pm @ Trevor Barker Oval
Round 4 – vs. GWV Rebels | Sunday April 24, 2:15pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve