WHILE Gather Round rages on over in Adelaide, the AFL Academy will converge in Melbourne for the first of two exhibition matches. Richmond VFL is the Under 18 outfit’s first opponent, with the matchup slated for Sunday afternoon at RSEA Park. Coburg is up next at Whitten Oval on Sunday April 27.

>> SCROLL for the full squad & predicted lineup

Only two injuries have forced changes to the squad, with top five prospect Zeke Uwland continuing his recovery from stress fractures in his back, while Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves sustained an untimely shoulder injury on the weekend. That means the remaining 26 prospects will take the field.

Stay tuned, Rookie Me Central will have Scouting Notes on ALL 26 National Academy players.

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: AFL Under 18 Academy vs. Richmond VFL
WHEN: Sunday April 13, 1:30pm (AEST)
WHERE: RSEA Park, Moorabbin
HOW TO WATCH: Live stream via AFL website

>> PROFILED: 2025 AFL Academy squad

OPPOSITION REPORT

2025 Record: 3rd | 3-0 | 119.3%

The Tigers have made a perfect start to the season, winning their first three games by an average margin of 13.7 points. Two of those victories were against AFL-affiliated sides, with one coming from a kick after the siren at RSEA Park. Continuing recent trends, Richmond has developed a few strong Mid-Season Draft candidates, with small forward/midfielder Massimo Raso and rebound defender Tom McCarthy in the frame. AFL-listed players will also feature for the Tigers, including a raft of recent draftees.

PREDICTED LINEUP

B: 1. Thomas Burton – 39. Kalani White – 8. Ben Rongdit
HB: 6. Josh Lindsay – 31. Cody Curtin – 3. Lachlan Carmichael
C: 2. Beau Addinsall – 4. Willem Duursma – 29. Fred Rodriguez
HF: 25. Koby Evans – 36. Liam Hetherton – 23. Sam Cumming
F: 10. Wesley Walley – 38. Archie Ludowyke – 22. Noah Chamberlain
FOL: 34. Cooper Duff-Tytler – 30. Dyson Sharp – 20. Daniel Annable

INT: 7. Dylan Patterson, 21. Harley Barker, 24. Louis Emmett, 26. Oliver Greeves, 27. Taj Murray, 28. Riley Onley, 35. Jasper Hay, 37. Matthew LeRay

INJURED: 5. Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (shoulder), 9. Zeke Uwland (back)

STRENGTHS

The Academy is littered with diverse midfield options and has an apt selection of specialist players at both ends of the ground. There is no shortage of ruck/forwards or size in the on-ball mix, with a bunch of hard-working ball winners complimented by versatile and dynamic movers. The group, barring two injuries, has been in relatively good health and form to start the year so should be ready to fire.

DEFENCE

The defence just about picks itself with relatively limited options compared to the other lines. There are fantastic ball users in the squad like Josh Lindsay and Lachlan Carmichael, who will provide plenty of rebound power alongside Thomas Burton. All three can rack up the ball and spark fluent transitional play.

Among the small-medium types, Ben Rongdit is arguably the best defensively and competes hard both aerially and at ground level. In an exhibition match, that kind of trait is invaluable. With Zeke Uwland on the sidelines, Dylan Patterson and Harley Barker are also options to provide run from defence.

In the tall department, Kalani White is an athletic aerialist who has mostly cut his teeth down back. Despite playing forward throughout preseason and in Round 1, Cody Curtin will likely also have to settle at the other end of the ground. Tassie tall Jasper Hay has been pegged for more defensive minutes, too.

MIDFIELD

As usual, there is no shortage of midfield depth in the Academy squad. Pick one contender Cooper Duff-Tytler is odds on to be the starting ruck, though Coates Talent League rival Louis Emmett and Territorian Taj Murray will inevitably rotate through there, potentially along with the versatile Hay.

The starting on-ball group will be stacked. Willem Duursma is a good chance to run through there, but could also provide aerial support down back or roll of the wing. Dyson Sharp and Daniel Annable are ferocious inside ball winners who should have no trouble competing with senior opposition.

Speaking of, Fred Rodriguez recently made his WAFL League debut and would be at home at the centre bounces. He’s out on the wing in our hypothetical lineup along with Beau Addinsall, while Sam Cumming is another hard-working accumulator who will be afforded midfield minutes on rotation.

There’s also some serious size on offer. Oliver Greeves, Riley Onley, and Matthew LeRay are all around the 190cm mark and have played near-exclusively on the ball this season. They’ll have to showcase some of their versatility, though Duursma’s nous in different roles may see his magnet moved instead.

Keen runners like Patterson and Barker can also play on either side of the centre square if required, and there are a couple of forwards who may get a run up the field should midfielders rest in attack. Namely, West Australian pair Wesley Walley and Koby Evans offer explosive speed and flair up the field.

FORWARD

HF: 25. Koby Evans – 36. Liam Hetherton – 23. Sam Cumming
F: 10. Wesley Walley – 38. Archie Ludowyke – 22. Noah Chamberlain

Much like the defence, the Academy forwardline is relatively straightforward to pick. Evans and Walley look like the designated small-medium types, though a heap of midfielders are likely to rotate through the attack. With Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves sidelined, that also removes another nailed-on option.

Noah Chamberlain, who can also operate up on the wing, offers further aerial support to a relatively tall attack. Liam Hetherton and Archie Ludowyke are our starting talls after their five-goal hauls in the Coates Talent League, though Curtin and Duff-Tytler could utilise their versatility in the front half.

Elsewhere, Emmett and Murray are genuine ruck-forwards who should get a good run as marking targets. Their mobility is exciting and their presence gives the Academy strong forward 50 ruck options to make use of stoppages. Likewise, Hay could play a similar role if utilised in attack.

FULL AFL ACADEMY SQUAD