SOUTH Australia’s 38-player squad has been announced ahead of the 2024 Under 18 National Championships. The Croweaters are set to kick off the competition next month as they host title holders, the Allies at Thebarton Oval on Sunday May 26.

>> SCROLL for the full squad & fixture

An emerging mid-season draft prospect, four National Academy members, and a host of father-son guns headline the squad. Of those selected, 26 fall into the top-age category (2006-born), 11 are bottom-agers (2007-born), and only one is an over-ager (2005-born).

South Adelaide tall forward Noah Howes is the over-ager in question, and makes the cut having recently come into mid-season draft calculations. He booted three goals from 10 disposals and six marks in an impressive SANFL League against Adelaide in Round 1.

Howes is one of four squad members with senior experience. Crows father-son candidate Tyler Welsh got his first taste of top flight football in the same game, while top prospect Sid Draper and Eagles midfielder Kade Herbert both made the grade as bottom-agers last year.

Draper and Welsh are also among the four players also in the AFL Academy. While the former is currently nursing a shin injury, the latter will turn out in national colours alongside Glenelg twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale against VFL opposition this Saturday at IKON Park in Melbourne.

The Camporeale boys are father-son eligible at Carlton, while Port Adelaide has first dibs on Louie Montgomery (North Adelaide) and Rome Burgoyne (Eagles) under the same rule. Next Generation Academy member Benny Barrett (South Adelaide) is also tied to the Power.

The famous names don’t stop there. Ned Atkinson‘s father Brodie played seven games with Adelaide and St Kilda, while bottom-ager Jevan Phillipou is the son of three-game Footscray player Sam, and brother of current-Saint Mattaes. Don’t forget Ned Bowman, who recently rose for a viral speccy.

It would be remiss not to mention the state’s best bottom-age talent, including last year’s Kevin Sheehan Medallist Dyson Sharp. The midfielder was an Under 16 All Australian last year alongside Central District teammate Joshua Reichelt, while Sam Cumming is one to watch after his early-season exploits.

2024 SA UNDER 18 SQUAD

Central District (7):
Charlie Nicholls
Tallan Rosenzweig
Ryan Lane-Ellis
Dyson Sharp*
Josh Reichelt*
Aidan Schubert*
Matt LeRay*

Glenelg (5):
Ben Camporeale
Lucas Camporeale
Harry Ramm
Angus Clarke
Luke Candy*

North Adelaide (4):
Evan Bradley
Louie Montgomery
Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier*
Sam Cumming*

Norwood (3):
Jacob Newton
Ned Bowman
Noah Daw*

South Adelaide (7):
Noah Howes**
Sid Draper
Phoenix Hargrave
Jacob Sheean
Dakota Sterzl
Benny Barrett
Ryan Borlace

Sturt (3):
Alex Dodson
Ned Atkinson
Harley Barker*

Woodville-West Torrens (9):
Tyler Welsh
Charlie West
Harry Dodd
Tate Delmenico
Kade Herbert
Rome Burgoyne
Jett Hasting
Jevan Phillipou*
Logan Hughes*

* – denotes bottom-ager (2007-born)
** – denotes over-ager (2005-born)

2024 SA UNDER 18 FIXTURE

vs. Allies | Sunday May 26, 10:05am @ Thebarton Oval
vs. Vic Country | Sunday June 9, 1:05pm @ TBC (VIC)
vs. Western Australia | Sunday June 16, 10:05am @ TBC (SA)
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday June 30, 10:05am @ TBC (SA)

TBC = to be confirmed.

>> FULL FIXTURE: 2024 AFL Under 16 & 18 National Championships