THE VIC Country Under 18 summer squad has now completed its two training camps, with the 24 selected players convening in Morwell most recently. Under coach Rhett McLennan, the Big V will hope to break through for its first championship since 2015. We profile each member of the squad.

>> ANNOUNCEMENT: 2025 Victorian summer training squads

2025 VIC COUNTRY SUMMER HUB SQUAD

BREAKDOWN:

AFL Academy members: 5
National Futures players: 6

By age:

2007-born (top-age): 18
2008-born (bottom-age): 6

By region:

Bendigo Pioneers: 3
Dandenong Stingrays: 6
Geelong Falcons: 4
Gippsland Power: 6
GWV Rebels: 2
Murray Bushrangers: 3

>> 2024 Scouting Notes: National Futures | Vic Country Futures
>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Metro Summer Hub Squad

PROFILED

Tairon Ah-Mu | Dandenong Stingrays
Ruck/Key Forward | 198cm | 06/06/2007

A hulking unit, Ah-Mu has already imposed himself on the footballing pathway. The 198cm key position prospect is a difficult matchup one-out inside 50 and can chop-out in the ruck, where his physical presence is valuable at the contest. Ah-Mu, who is part of Melbourne’s NGA but not eligible to join the Dees through said ties, booted 22 goals in 11 CTL games for Dandenong Stingrays last season. He also spearheaded Haileybury College’s attack under the tutelage of Essendon great Matthew Lloyd.

Tanner Armstrong | Murray Bushrangers
Utility | 178cm | 27/02/2008

Richmond NGA

A prospect who has thrived in each third of the ground, Armstrong earned Under 16 All-Australian honours last year before making three CTL appearances with the Murray Bushrangers. The tough and versatile talent looked comfortable in a running role out of defence, though adapted his work rate and pressure game to the Bushies’ forwardline to help make the step up to Under 18 competition. Richmond’s youthful resurgence will only be helped by his status as an NGA member.

Harry Dean | Murray Bushrangers
Tall Defender | 193cm | 13/11/2007

Carlton F/S

Having had his Coates Talent League debut cut short due to injury last year, Dean has made positive strides heading into his top-age campaign. The son of 1995 premiership Blue, Peter is already a good size at over 190cm and can impact aerially – he hurt himself upon landing after flying for a speccy last year. Dean also moves quite well and is a lean type of tall, lending towards promising versatility.

Willem Duursma | Gippsland Power
Utility | 191cm | 21/06/2007

One of many ‘brothers-of’ to come through the pathway, Duursma has three siblings who have already been drafted in Xavier, Yasmin, and Zane. He projects as the tallest and perhaps most talented of the lot, able to play in virtually any position with outstanding athletic upside. Also a talented basketballer, he reads the play well, is composed, and has a clean set of hands. Duursma has most often cut his teeth on the wing but was an All-Australian defender last year and can play inside or up forward.

Josh Granger | Dandenong Stingrays
Key Defender | 196cm | 06/02/2007

Somewhat of an unknown as far as exposed CTL form goes, Granger’s bottom-age debut remains his one and only appearance. Having shown some nice signs in that game with his competitiveness and mobility, Granger was pegged as a developing tall who could play in each third of the ground last year. He was also part of the Brighton Grammar squad which went undefeated en route to the 2024 APS title.

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves | Dandenong Stingrays
Forward/Wing | 185cm | 16/11/2007

Hibbins-Hargreaves took little time to break into Dandenong’s Under 18 outfit after representing Vic Country at Under 16 level in 2023, and emerged as a clutch goalkicker in 2024. The versatile talent booted multiple majors in eight of his 16 outings for the Stingrays, including a best of four from 21 touches and seven marks. He boasts good aerial range and handles the ball one-touch, while also possessing slick skills by hand and foot – traits applicable to playing both up forward or on the wing.

Harley Hicks | GWV Rebels
Small Forward | 178cm | 26/07/2007

A crafty small whose turn of speed can light up the play, Hicks gained exposure in the GWV Rebels side which qualified for last year’s Coates Talent League Grand Final. He played 10 games after debuting in Round 3, averaging 8.6 disposals but getting better with each outing. Hicks is wonderfully clean at ground level and has been touted for greater midfield minutes as a top-ager.

Xavier Ladbrook | Gippsland Power
Key Defender/Forward | 197cm | 16/10/2008

Ladbrook was a member of the title-winning Vic Country Under 16 side last year, most often plying his trade as a key defender but also enjoying stints up forward. The versatile and mobile 197cm prospect is capable of flying for high marks as an interceptor, and while a relatively low-possession type, rebounds the ball quite well. His reading of the play serves him well at either end of the ground and while yet to make his CTL debut, he is one of just six bottom-agers in the Country hub.

Max Lee | Dandenong Stingrays
Defender/Midfielder | 183cm | 24/07/2007

Lee was part of the Dandenong Stingrays’ leadership group last year as a bottom-ager, indicating how well regarded he is within the program. He played the first six games of the Coates Talent League season before being struck down by injury, averaging 10.5 disposals per outing. He was set to cut his teeth running off half-back in 2024 but also spent time up on the wing and through the centre bounces.

Josh Lindsay | Geelong Falcons
Defender/Midfielder | 182cm | 07/04/2007

Lindsay’s crowning bottom-age moment was saved for last, as he was named best afield for Team Heppell in the National Futures match. He gathered 20 disposals and seven marks that day operating off a wing, impressing with his incisive left-foot kicking and sound decision making. Lindsay also made seven appearances for Coates Talent League minor premier, Geelong Falcons, averaging 17 disposals per game with plenty of time spent running and distributing off half-back.

Wil Malady | Gippsland Power
Tall Forward | 188cm | 12/10/2008

Malady was the hero of Vic Country’s dramatic Under 16 title last year, kicking a golden point in added time against South Australia. He went on to play seven CTL games with Gippsland Power, kicking goals in each of them for a tally of 11 – including a high of three. At 188cm, Malady is a lean tall whose marking ability makes him a threat inside 50. He takes the ball at the top of his reach and hits the scoreboard prolifically. As one of six bottom-agers in the squad, he’s in line for a bottom-age Under 18 debut.

Hugo Mikunda | Geelong Falcons
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 13/03/2007

Mikunda quickly established himself in the Geelong Falcons’ side last year, playing 12 games and helping the region take out the minor premiership. He hit top form in the middle of the season with added exposure in midfield, going on to average 15.3 disposals and 3.2 inside 50s with highs of 23 (twice) and 10 respectively. A smaller crafty type, Mikunda is scrappy at times but can navigate stoppages and make things happen forward of centre. He turned out for the Vic Country Futures squad last year.

Zachary O’Keefe | Gippsland Power
Midfielder/Forward | 177cm | 22/03/2007

Another small midfielder in the mix, O’Keefe has been part of the Country Under 16 and 17 setups before stepping into the Under 18 squad. He played 15 CTL games with Gippsland Power last year, averaging 15.3 disposals, 4.3 tackles, and 3.5 inside 50s across a solid bottom-age campaign. The tough, smart and agile utility showcased a good ability to navigate traffic and uses the ball well going forward, while also applying himself defensively. He can play inside, outside, or even in attack.

Riley Onley | Murray Bushrangers
Midfielder | 194cm | 30/03/2007

Onley is among the rare breed of tall midfielders who measure up at over 190cm, but also move well and have sound fundamentals. He uses his size to advantage, taking the game on from stoppages by either stepping around opponents or bullocking through them. Onley has a clean set of hands and good end product when heading inside 50, as shown throughout his three-game stint with Vic Country’s Under 18s last year. After debuting in 2023, he has made seven CTL appearances for Murray Bushrangers.

Jack Pickett | Geelong Falcons
Tall Forward | 192cm | 06/03/2008

While yet to make his CTL debut with Geelong Falcons, Pickett showed enough during last year’s Under 16 carnival to suggest he has the talent to join Country’s Under 18 squad as a bottom-ager. With a promising aerial game and strong hands, Pickett has plied his trade as a ruck through the juniors but will likely develop into a spearhead forward. His marking ability and mobility are valuable traits for the Torquay product who measures up at just under key position height.

Marcus Prasad | Dandenong Stingrays
Small Forward/Midfielder | 167cm | 23/03/2008

Melbourne NGA

Another highly talented bottom-ager to make the cut over summer, Prasad is the smallest of the bunch. That hasn’t held him back from excelling throughout the pathway, earning Under 16 All-Australian honours and going on to debut for Dandenong Stingrays last year. Prasad’s evasiveness and clever ball use are standout traits, while his defensive pressure will serve him well as a small forward. He has also shown an ability to impact at the centre bounces and is tied to Melbourne’s NGA.

Ben Rongdit | Geelong Falcons
Defender | 183cm | 10/05/2007

Geelong NGA

One to watch for Cats fans as an Next Generation Academy member, Rongdit is embedded in the Geelong region – also tied to the Falcons and Geelong Grammar. He catches the eye with an outrageously good vertical leap which he leans on to make intercepts. Rongdit competes just as hard at ground level and while still quite raw, has enormous upside as a competitive defender. He has played the majority of his football at APS level, but made one Coates Talent League appearance last year.

Jobe Scapin | Gippsland Power
Utility | 187cm | 01/05/2007

One of six Gippsland Power prospects in the summer squad, Scapin has showed his wares in each third of the ground. The smooth moving utility arguably looks most at home running off half-back, but has traits applicable to the wing and has spent time up forward. While not an overly high possession winner, averaging 11.9 in his 13 CTL games last year, Scapin has the class to impact with each touch. His running game makes him a valuable connection piece with the versatility AFL clubs value highly.

Toby Sinnema | Dandenong Stingrays
Wing | 179cm | 11/12/2007

Melbourne NGA

After making his CTL debut as a 16-year-old in 2023, Sinnema went on to establish himself in the Dandenong Stingrays side by playing all 17 games last year – more than any other bottom-ager. The classy left-footer has spent time training with Melbourne over the preseason, where he is tied as a Next Generation Academy member. Sinemma has mostly cut his teeth as a wingman given his ability to connect the lines with run on the outside. He takes the game on with his long kicking, too.

Mitchell Stevens | Gippsland Power
Defender | 184cm | 15/08/2007

Adelaide F/S

One of the many club-tied players in the Vic Country hub, Stevens is somewhat of a unique one given his aligned team is interstate. The son of 101-game premiership Crow, Mark, Mitchell is a running defender who gets into nice positions on the overlap and is not afraid to bring the game forward. He’s just as aggressive and prolific on the intercept, proving as much across 16 CTL games with Gippsland Power last year. A mainstay in the side, Stevens averaged 12.4 disposals, 2.8 marks and as many rebound 50s.

Archie Taylor | GWV Rebels
Small Defender | 178cm | 25/05/2007

A remarkably reliable figure throughout his bottom-age campaign, Taylor played all 19 games as GWV Rebels made their first Grand Final in 27 years. The speedy small defender took on plenty of responsibility, often entrusted with the kick-in duties while also matching up on the opposition’s best forwards. His distribution was sound across an average 15.3 disposals and 5.4 rebound 50s, helping set up play from the back. Taylor also gained exposure in midfield and does his best work facing forward.

Cody Walker | Bendigo Pioneers
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 26/01/2008

Carlton F/S & Richmond NGA

Already receiving much fanfare, Walker was named Under 16 All-Australian captain to go with MVP honours in the title-winning Vic Country side. The powerful midfielder is a clearance winner who can utilise his athletic ability to shift to the outside. His work rate and ground coverage are exceptional traits, while a long boot allows him to launch frequent attacks. Walker, the son of Andrew, is tied to Carlton via father-son eligibility but is also a Richmond NGA member. He made his CTL debut with Bendigo Pioneers last year and turned out for Echuca’s seniors – coached by his dad.

Shaun Watson | Bendigo Pioneers
Tall Utility | 193cm | 29/05/2007

Watson is among those to have made their CTL debuts as a 16-year-old, playing four games for Bendigo Pioneers back in 2023. He converted that into 14 appearances as a bottom-ager las year, showing his wares across a range of roles. The 193cm utility often featured in midfield and even got a run there in the Vic Country Futures side, while also providing a marking presence at either end of the ground. Watson is a sound interceptor and competes hard one-on-one, also using his big frame to impact at stoppages.

Hunter Wright | Bendigo Pioneers
Midfielder/Forward | 187cm | 20/10/2007

Named Bendigo Pioneers’ Rising Star in 2024, Wright is another prospect out of said region who has gained exposure in a variety of roles. He plied his trade on both sides of midfield – inside and out – while also having a go up forward, showcasing his potential and versatility. Wright averaged 13.1 disposals and kicked five goals across 14 CTL appearances last season. He snared two majors twice and managed a high of 23 touches against eventual grand finalists, GWV Rebels in Round 14.