THE AFL Academy will convene for its second of two showcase fixtures on Sunday in a clash against Coburg at Whitten Oval. After fighting back in a 13-point loss to Richmond’s VFL affiliate a fortnight ago, the elite Under 18 squad will try its hand against a standalone club boasting Mid-Season Draft prospects.

>> SCROLL for the full squad & predicted lineup

Queenslanders stole the show against Richmond, with Lions Academy star Daniel Annable named best afield. Suns-aligned guns Beau Addinsall and Dylan Patterson also impressed, while Oliver Greeves stood up to the rigours of senior opposition and Cooper Duff-Tytler showed his pick one credentials.

As was the case in game one, there is set to be a few absentees for the clash. Leading prospect Zeke Uwland will miss most of the year as he recovers from stress fractures in his back, while Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves was sighted sporting a sling last time out, and WA’s Koby Evans also missed.

>> Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Richmond VFL

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: AFL Under 18 Academy vs. Coburg VFL
WHEN: Sunday April 27, 12:00pm (AEST)
WHERE: Whitten Oval, Footscray
HOW TO WATCH: Live stream via AFL website

>> PROFILED: 2025 AFL Academy squad

OPPOSITION REPORT

2025 Record: 14th | 1-3 | 103.2%

Coburg is poised just a game outside the Wildcard places, but just as far off bottom spot with a 1-3 record. The Lions’ strong percentage was boosted by a breakthrough victory last time out, defeating Williamstown by 51 points. Two of their losses have come against AFL-aligned teams in Collingwood (24 points) and Richmond (13), while also going down to Southport in a three-point thriller. Mid-Season Draft prospect Cooper Keogh is a must-watch in the ruck along with the emergence of Donovan Toohey. Coburg also has prolific recent VFL representatives Flynn Gentile and Jack Bytel on its list.

PREDICTED LINEUP

B: 1. Thomas Burton – 31. Cody Curtin – 4. Willem Duursma
HB: 6. Josh Lindsay – 35. Jasper Hay – 7. Dylan Patterson
C: 21. Harley Barker – 26. Oliver Greeves – 29. Fred Rodriguez
HF: 2. Beau Addinsall – 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: 3. Lachlan Carmichael, 8. Ben Rongdit, 24. Louis Emmett, 27. Taj Murray, 28. Riley Onley, 37. Matthew LeRay, 39. Kalani White

INJURED: 5. Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (shoulder), 9. Zeke Uwland (back), 25. Koby Evans

Check out our game one preview for an in-depth look into how the Academy may line up.

FULL AFL ACADEMY SQUAD