SOUTH Australia announced its squad for the upcoming 2025 AFL Under 16s Championships, with 30 players selected for the tournament. The Croweaters will be out to avenge their heartbreaking defeat to Vic Country in last year’s carnival, where they were a golden point away from taking out the title.

Looking ahead to the 2025 edition and the 30-player squad includes four players who are already experienced at the level, with Sturt duo Taj Garrett and Harvey Chapman, South Adelaide’s Zemes Pilot and Norwood’s Charlie Best all featuring for a second consecutive season.

Port Adelaide and Hawthorn fans will keep a close eye on Percy Burgoyne who is the latest in the Burgoyne family dynasty, this time being the son of 400-gamer, Shaun. He alongside Archie Faulkner – who is the son of 18-game Bulldog Cameron and therefore not eligible – are the two AFL-linked players through generations.

Additionally, Billy Nicholls (Fremantle’s Charlie) and Lucas Marshall (Port Adelaide’s Kyle) are the younger siblings with ties to the top level. Heath Younie will lead the side which includes two bottom-age players in Glenelg’s Zane Rooney and Sturt’s Jacob Westley.

Sturt possesses the most players in the squad with six, ahead of Central District and Norwood on five apiece. Glenelg and West Adelaide each have four, while North Adelaide (three), South Adelaide (two) and Woodville-West Torrens (one) round out the eight sides.

The Croweaters begin training on Wednesday, May 28 at Mount Barker ahead of two trial matches against South Adelaide and Prince Alfred College on June 11 and 25 respectively. In between those trial matches, the Croweaters will take on Western Australia in Perth on June 21, before finishing off the carnival in Queensland against both Victorian teams.

2025 SA U16 Squad (*Bottom Age Player)