Squads announced for 2025 Young Guns series
SQUADS for game one of the annual Young Guns series have been announced, with the collation of over-agers set to take on Vic Metro at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday April 27. The game will commence at 11:00am, followed by a clash against Vic Country at the same venue on Sunday May 4.
>> SCROLL to see the full squads & predicted lineups
The two-game talent showcase allows budding prospects from Victoria and Tasmania to audition for the AFL Mid-Season Draft (MSD), slated for May 28. It also acts as an extended try-out for those vying for a spot on the Vic Country and Vic Metro Under 18 rosters after last week’s trial games in Werribee.
>> VIC U18 TRIALS: Game 1 Scouting Notes | Game 2 Scouting Notes
Nominations for both sides were submitted by AFL club recruiters with assistance from relevant Victorian Football League (VFL) and Coates Talent League (CTL) clubs. The number one selections at the past three Mid-Season Drafts – Geordie Payne, Ryan Maric, and Jai Culley – all represented the Young Guns.
Of those selected, CTL newcomers Rod Ali (Eastern Ranges) and Zac Walker (Gippsland Power) have made waves in defence. Athletic Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels key forward Floyd Burmeister joins them in strong MSD consideration after his promising start to the season.
Bucking the trend of 2006-born talent are 2005-born talls Ayden McCarroll and Lucas Impey – both Western Jets exports. A couple more over-agers snuck into the Vic Metro lineup, with Calder Cannons powerhouse Cooper Herbert and Sandringham Dragons forward Sam Buck lining up for the Big V.
NEED TO KNOW
WHO: Young Guns vs. Vic Metro U18
WHEN: Saturday April 27, 11:00am
WHERE: Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
HOW TO WATCH: Live stream via AFL website
YOUNG GUNS SQUAD
| # | NAME | HT | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 6 | Charlie Rozenes | 172 | Sandringham Dragons Sandringham VFL | Old Collegians |
| 8 | Sam Toner | 184 | Richmond VFL | Narre Warren |
| 9 | Rod Ali | 186 | Eastern Ranges | Mitcham |
| 10 | Jhett Haeata | 185 | Sandringham Dragons Richmond (VFL) | Beaumaris |
| 11 | Oliver Depaoli-Kubank | 178 | Tasmania Devils | Ulverstone |
| 12 | Tom Evans | 180 | Bendigo Pioneers | Echuca |
| 13 | Coen Ainsworth | 180 | Murray Bushrangers | Wodonga Bulldogs |
| 14 | Hugh White | 183 | Northern Knights | Doncaster East |
| 15 | Adrian Cole | 197 | Dandenong Stingrays North Melbourne VFL | St Bedes/Mentone |
| 16 | Gus Papal | 193 | Calder Cannons | Aberfeldie |
| 17 | Zac Walker | 191 | Gippsland Power | Phillip Island |
| 18 | Noah Yze | 191 | Oakleigh Chargers Casey Demons VFL | Old Melburnians |
| 19 | Charlie Orchard | 190 | Dandenong Stingrays | Langwarrin |
| 20 | Max Roney | 186 | Tasmania Devils Casey Demons VFL | Cheltenham |
| 21 | Henry Hayes | 189 | Dandenong Stingrays | Rye |
| 22 | Caleb Lewis | 196 | Casey Demons VFL | Dingley |
| 23 | Jez Rigoni | 189 | Oakleigh Chargers Sandringham VFL | Wangaratta Rovers |
| 24 | Seth MacDonald | 189 | Eastern Ranges Richmond VFL | Rowville |
| 25 | Kobe George | 188 | Geelong Falcons | Bell Park |
| 27 | Floyd Burmeister | 199 | GWV Rebels | Redan |
| 28 | Zac Harding | 199 | Murray Bushrangers | Wodonga Bulldogs |
| 29 | Lucas Impey | 200 | Williamstown VFL | Darley |
| 35 | Ayden McCarroll | 209 | Western Jets | Williamstown CYMS |
PREDICTED LINEUP
B: 9. R. Ali – 17. Z. Walker – 19. C. Orchard
HB: 12. T. Evans – 15. A. Cole – 20. M. Roney
C: 11. O. Depaoli-Kubank – 14. H. White – 24. S. MacDonald
HF: 10. J. Haeata – 27. F. Burmeister – 21. H. Hayes
F: 6. C. Rozenes – 35. A. McCarroll – 8. S. Toner
FOL: 29. L. Impey – 18. N. Yze – 23. J. Rigoni
INT: 13. C. Ainsworth, 16. G. Papal, 22. C. Lewis, 25. K. George, 28. Z. Harding
VIC METRO SQUAD
| # | NAME | HT | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 1 | Tyson Gresham | 169 | Northern Knights | South Morang |
| 2 | Ricky Theodoropoulos | 170 | Sandringham Dragons | Bentleigh |
| 3 | Hussien El Achkar | 171 | Calder Cannons | Pascoe Vale |
| 4 | Adam Sweid | 175 | Calder Cannons | Pascoe Vale |
| 5 | Sebastian Murphy | 176 | Northern Knights | Montmorency |
| 6 | Lachy Dovaston | 177 | Eastern Ranges | Blackburn |
| 7 | Thomas McGuane | 178 | Western Jets | Keilor |
| 8 | Bennett Martin | 179 | Sandringham Dragons | St Bedes/Mentone |
| 9 | Mitchell Moate | 181 | Northern Knights | Epping |
| 10 | Blake Chambers | 182 | Eastern Ranges | Rowville |
| 11 | Charlie Sizer | 185 | Eastern Ranges | North Ringwood |
| 12 | Oskar Ainsworth | 186 | Western Jets | Williamstown CYMS |
| 13 | Hamish Bird | 187 | Calder Cannons | Aberfeldie |
| 14 | Xavier Bamert | 186 | Sandringham Dragons | Collegians |
| 15 | Hunter Holmes | 187 | Oakleigh Chargers | Old Melburnians |
| 16 | Sacha Levine | 188 | Sandringham Dragons | Ormond |
| 17 | Xavier Taylor | 191 | Eastern Ranges | East Ringwood |
| 18 | Andrew Barker | 191 | Eastern Ranges | Mooroolbark |
| 22 | Cooper Herbert | 193 | Calder Cannons | Laurimar |
| 24 | Jackson Barber | 195 | Calder Cannons | Aberfeldie |
| 25 | James McDaid | 195 | Western Jets | Bacchus Marsh |
| 27 | Sam Buck | 198 | Sandringham Dragons | St Bedes/Mentone |
| 28 | Macauli Buck | 198 | Western Jets | Werribee Districts |
| 29 | Kayne Watt | 199 | Sandringham Dragons | Caulfield Grammarians |
PREDICTED LINEUP
B: 17. X. Taylor – 25. J. McDaid – 18. A. Barker
HB: 8. B. Martin – 24. J. Barber – 16 S. Levine
C: 10. B. Chambers – 14. X. Bamert – 15. H. Holmes
HF: 22. C. Herbert – 27. S. Buck – 2. R. Theodoropoulos
F: 3. H. El Achkar – 29. K. Watt – 6. L. Dovaston
FOL: 28. M. Buck – 4. A. Sweid – 7. T. McGuane
INT: 1. T. Gresham, 5. S. Murphy, 9. M. Moate, 11. C. Sizer, 12. O. Ainsworth, 13. H. Bird
Squads announced for 2025 Young Guns series
SQUADS for game one of the annual Young Guns series have been announced, with the collation of over-agers set to take on Vic Metro at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday April 27. The game will commence at 11:00am, followed by a clash against Vic Country at the same venue on Sunday May 4. >> SCROLL […]
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