2024 U16 National Championships set to get underway
THE 2024 AFL National Development Championships are set to kick off with a King’s Birthday double-header in Victoria. Trevor Barker Beach Oval plays host to the opening games of Pools A and B, which see Vic Metro take on Vic Country, and the Northern Territory face Tasmania respectively.
>> SCROLL to see the full fixture
The nation’s best and brightest Under 16 talent will be showcased across a month-long span. 10 teams are split between two pools, with the first round of matches being spread across the country before each side converges on Queensland for a five-day carnival in July.
Vic Metro is the reigning Pool A champion after a dramatic final day of action last year, while the Brisbane Lions Academy took out the Pool B trophy. An All Australian squad will be announced post-tournament, along with Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards for either pool and every participating team.
Saturday’s double-header sees Pool B’s Northern Territory and Tasmania kick off proceedings at 11:30am. The Thunder will have 2023 MVP Taj Murray return as one of eight over-agers, along with midfielder Calvin Peris-Chong – the younger brother of Geelong’s Brandan Parfitt.
The Tasmanian side features Tyane Thomas, who played at last year’s tournament and is among a few familiar names. Recent Under 18 debutant Charlie Bovill has also been named after booting five goals in his maiden Coates Talent League game.
An all-Victorian derby is next on the agenda, bouncing down at 2:30pm. Both sides will be relatively familiar with each other having undergone a series of intraclub and competitive trial games after their two regulation Coates Talent League rounds.
Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll have scouting notes from all 15 matches across the carnival, before profiling all the MVPs and All Australian squad members.
>> PROFILED: 2023 AFL U16 All Australian team
>> RECAP: 2023 AFL U16 National Championships
NEED TO KNOW
WHEN: Saturday June 8 – Friday July 12 (fixture below)
HOW TO WATCH: Click here!
SQUADS: Click here!
POOL A
South Australia
Vic Country
Vic Metro
Western Australia
POOL B
Brisbane Lions Academy
Gold Coast Suns Academy
GWS Giants Academy
Northern Territory
Sydney Swans Academy
Tasmania
FIXTURE
| DATE | HOME TEAM | VENUE | TIME |
| Sat, June 8 | Northern Territory vs Tasmania | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 11:30am |
| Sat, June 8 | Victoria Metro vs Victoria Country | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 2:30pm |
| Sat, June 22 | Soth Australia vs Western Australia | Thebarton Oval | 11:00am |
| Sat, June 29 | GWS Giants vs Sydney Swans | Manuka Oval | 12:00pm |
| Sun, June 30 | GC Suns vs Brisbane Lions | Brighton Homes Arena | 11:00am |
| Mon, July 8 | Sydney Swans vs Northern Territory | People First Stadium | 10:00am |
| Mon, July 8 | GC Suns vs GWS Giants | People First Stadium | 12:25pm |
| Mon, July 8 | Brisbane Lions vs Tasmania | People First Stadium | 2:50pm |
| Tue, July 9 | Victoria Metro vs South Australia | People First Stadium | 10:00am |
| Tue, July 9 | Victoria Country vs Western Australia | People First Stadium | 12:30pm |
| Thu, July 11 | Brisbane Lions vs GWS Giants | Fankhauser Reserve | 9:30am |
| Thu, July 11 | Tasmania vs Sydney Swans | Fankhauser Reserve | 11:45am |
| Thu, July 11 | Northern Territory vs GC Suns | Fankhauser Reserve | 2:00pm |
| Fri, July 12 | Western Australia vs Victoria Metro | Fankhauser Reserve | 9:30am |
| Fri July 12 | South Australia vs Victoria Country | Fankhauser Reserve | 11:45am |
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