SQUADS | 2025 Young Guns vs. Vic Country
SQUADS for game two of the annual Young Guns series have been announced, with the collation of over-agers moving on to face Vic Country at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday morning. The game will commence at 10:30am, with the Young Guns looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Vic Metro.
>> 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.
>> Scouting Notes: 2025 Young Guns vs. Vic Metro
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 for the Young Guns, CTL newcomer Rod Ali (Eastern Ranges) has made waves in defence. Athletic Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels key forward Floyd Burmeister joins him in strong MSD consideration after his promising start to the season.
Calder Cannons over-ager Cooper Herbert is an inclusion for the Young Guns having turned out for Vic Metro last week. Bendigo Pioneers utility Connor Evans also comes into the lineup, while Murray Bushrangers ruck Zac Harding will swap out to represent Vic Country this week.
Vic Country has named an extended squad of 25, including star prospect Willem Duursma. Bendigo Pioneers midfielder Hunter Wright and Carlton father-son hopeful Harry Dean are among the rising prospects set to impress in a side littered with midfielders who can roll forward.
>> Victorian U18 trials: Game 1 Scouting Notes | Game 2 Scouting Notes
NEED TO KNOW
WHO: Young Guns vs. Vic Country U18
WHEN: Sunday May 4, 10:30am
WHERE: Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
HOW TO WATCH: Live stream via AFL website
YOUNG GUNS SQUAD
| # | NAME | HT | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 5 | Connor Evans | 182 | Bendigo Pioneers | Kangaroo Flat |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 26 | Cooper Herbert | 191 | Calder Cannons | Laurimar |
| 27 | Floyd Burmeister | 199 | GWV Rebels | Redan |
| 29 | Lucas Impey | 200 | Williamstown VFL | Darley |
| 35 | Ayden McCarroll | 209 | Western Jets | Williamstown CYMS |
PREDICTED LINEUP
B: 9. R. Ali – 16. G. Papal – 19. C. Orchard
HB: 12. T. Evans – 15. A. Cole – 25. K. George
C: 11. O. Depaoli-Kubank – 14. H. White – 20. M. Roney
HF: 18. N. Yze – 27. F. Burmeister – 21. H. Hayes
F: 6. C. Rozenes – 35. A. McCarroll – 8. S. Toner
FOL: 29. L. Impey – 10. J. Haeata – 24. S. MacDonald
INT: 5. C. Evans, 13. C. Ainsworth, 22. C. Lewis, 26. C. Herbert, 23. J. Rigoni
VIC COUNTRY SQUAD
| # | NAME | HT | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 1 | Talor Byrne | 174 | GWV Rebels | Koroit |
| 2 | Thomas Matthews | 171 | Gippsland Power | Moe |
| 3 | Archie Taylor | 178 | GWV Rebels | Cobden |
| 4 | Zachary O’Keefe | 177 | Gippsland Power | Maffra |
| 5 | Hugo Mikunda | 180 | Geelong Falcons | Bell Park |
| 6 | Mitchell Stevens | 185 | Gippsland Power | Heyfield |
| 8 | Max Lee | 183 | Dandenong Stingrays | Edithvale-Aspendale |
| 9 | Hunter Wright | 188 | Bendigo Pioneers | Golden Square |
| 10 | Jaidi Jackson-Leahy | 183 | Bendigo Pioneers | Strathfieldsaye |
| 11 | Toby Sinnema | 180 | Dandenong Stingrays | Devon Meadows |
| 12 | Finlay Lockhart | 191 | Bendigo Pioneers | Sandhurst |
| 13 | Rilley Aquilina | 181 | Geelong Falcons | St Josephs |
| 14 | Jesse Mellor | 185 | Geelong Falcons | Geelong West Giants |
| 15 | Harry Dean | 193 | Murray Bushrangers | Lavington Panthers |
| 16 | Jobe Scapin | 187 | Gippsland Power | Inverloch-Kongwak |
| 17 | Jessie Johnstone | 185 | Bendigo Pioneers | Tongala |
| 18 | Brodie Atkins | 181 | Gippsland Power | Drouin |
| 19 | JayDe Varlet | 181 | Dandenong Stingrays | Beaconsfield |
| 20 | Sam Lewis | 186 | Dandenong Stingrays | Red Hill |
| 23 | Willem Duursma | 191 | Gippsland Power | Foster |
| 24 | Harry Moon | 196 | Murray Bushrangers | Rochester |
| 25 | Jett Elek | 201 | Geelong Falcons | Lara |
| 28 | Fraser Marino | 197 | Dandenong Stingrays | Bonbeach YCW |
| 29 | Jonah Walker | 191 | Gippsland Power | Bairnsdale |
| 30 | Zac Harding | 199 | Murray Bushrangers | Wodonga |
PREDICTED LINEUP
B: 8. M. Lee – 24 H. Moon – 3. A. Taylor
HB: 6. M. Stevens – 15. H. Dean – 23. W. Duursma
C: 4. Z. O’Keefe – 20. S. Lewis – 11. T. Sinnema
HF: 14. J. Mellor – 30. Z. Harding – 10. J. Jackson-Leahy
F: 2. T. Matthews – 25. J. Elek – 29. J. Walker
FOL: 28. F. Marino – 9. H. Wright – 18. B. Atkins
INT: 1. T. Byrne, 5. H. Mikunda, 12. F. Lockhart, 13. R. Aquilina, 16. J. Scapin, 17. J. Johnstone, 19. J. Varlet
SQUADS | 2025 Young Guns vs. Vic Country
SQUADS for game two of the annual Young Guns series have been announced, with the collation of over-agers moving on to face Vic Country at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday morning. The game will commence at 10:30am, with the Young Guns looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Vic Metro. >> SCROLL to […]
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