SOUTH Australia has announced its 34-player squad for the upcoming Under 18 National Championships. Seven changes have been made to the summer training hub, with Central District and South Adelaide boasting a high of six representatives apiece.

>> SCROLL to see the full squad

The Croweaters, coming off a 1-3 record in last year’s carnival, will look to build on that effort in their four games this time around. They open the championships with a clash against the Allies in Blacktown before hosting Vic Metro and Western Australia, and finishing with a trip to face Vic Country.

Tall defender Thomas McKay has earned a call-up as the squad’s sole over-ager (2006-born), having represented the state last year. He is one of four Glenelg players on the roster, after Under 18 captain Tim Alver and livewire forward Gabriel Patterson were also added.

Patterson is one of seven bottom-agers to make the cut. Arguably the best of the lot is tall Central District utility Dougie Cochrane, who took out the 2024 Kevin Sheehan Medal. He has been in fine form for the Bulldogs and leads the SANFL U18s goalkicking charts after a haul of six on the weekend.

>> Player Focus: Dougie Cochrane (Central District)

Patterson and Cochrane also make up some of the familiar names. The former is the son of 96-game former Collingwood player Stephen and brother of recent Magpies draftee Violet. The latter just saw brother Tom make his AFL debut with Port Adelaide, where father Stuart played 54 games.

While neither of the above are father-son eligible, Sturt midfielder Louis Kellaway (son of Duncan) is tied to Richmond. Other family ties include Jevan Phillipou (brother of St Kilda’s Mattes), Jack Cook (son of Tim), and Noah Roberts-Thomson (cousin of Lewis).

Leading the crop this year is Centrals midfielder Dyson Sharp, who is plying his trade at League level. He is one of four National Academy members alongside fellow Bulldog Matthew LeRay, North Adelaide ball magnet Sam Cumming, and hard-running Sturt skipper Harley Barker.

SANFL U18 Academy Manager Tony Bamford will again coach the side, which usually completes a pair of trial games – against the state Under 20s, and then a combined GWS Giants and Sydney Swans Academy outfit (NSW-ACT). Those fixtures are to be confirmed.

Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll profile all 34 squad members.

2025 SA U18 SQUAD

IN: Sam Ainsworth (Norwood), Tim Alver (Glenelg), Tom McKay (Glenelg), Jesse Nye (South Adelaide), Gabe Patterson (Glenelg), Zane Peucker (Woodville-West Torrens), Bryce Sanders (North Adelaide)

SA U18 FIXTURES

Venues TBC

@ Allies | Sunday June 1, 12:00pm
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday June 8, 10:05am
vs. Western Australia | Sunday June 15, 12:00pm
@ Vic Country | Sunday June 29, 1:05pm

>> FIXTURES: 2025 Under 16 & 18 National Championships