WITH both Round 1 games played out in Pool A of the Under 16 National Development Championships, attention will now turn to the Queensland leg of the series next month. Before the remaining fixtures, we highlight 15 players who impressed for Vic Country and Metro, South Australia, and Western Australia.

SCOUTING NOTES:
Western Australia vs. South Australia
Vic Country vs. Vic Metro

FIXTURE:

Tuesday July 15

Vic Country vs. South Australia
10:00am @ People First Stadium

Vic Metro vs. Western Australia
12:30pm @ People First Stadium

Friday July 18
South Australia vs. Vic Metro
9:30am @ Fankhauser Reserve

Western Australia vs. Vic Country
11:45am @ Fankhauser Reserve

ONES TO WATCH

Laurence Andriani (South Australia)
Midfielder | 170cm | 19/08/2009

Andriani packs a punch and despite being the smallest player on this list, is one of the most influential. He’s hard at it on the inside but also carves the opposition up with is running on the spread, able to rack up possessions at will. The left-footed midfielder was prolific in game one against WA, posting 30 touches, 10 tackles, and eight clearances. He leads the SANFL Under 16s for disposals and clearances.

James Artemis (Western Australia)
Midfielder | 176cm | 05/03/2009

Having made his name with a game-saving tackle on his WAFL Colts debut in Round 5, Artemis helped break open a contested slog against South Australia. His explosive turn of speed and willingness to surge the ball forward defied wet conditions in Joondalup, and surely with drier conditions in Queensland (touch wood), he can continue to showcase his fierce style of two-way play for Western Australia.

Koby Bewick (Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 177cm | 10/01/2009

Bewick is a player with outrageous smarts, drawing comparisons to another father-son gun in Nick Daicos. Tied to Essendon, the son of Darren, reads the ball off packs and has an innate ability to predict where his next disposal will come. He makes clever runs in attacking phases and can hit the scoreboard, as he did with three goals against Vic Country. He also debuted with 28 disposals for Calder Cannons.

Lincoln Brand (Vic Country)
Midfielder | 188cm | 19/05/2009

Brand is among the group of Victorians to have already broken through at Coates Talent League level, debuting for Murray Bushrangers with 16 disposals and six marks. He’s already a great size at 188cm and is a composed user in tight spots, able to keep his arms up to dish the ball out. Brand also gets the job done defensively, putting his body on the line with tackles and gutsy intercept marks.

Harvey Chapman (South Australia)
Tall Defender | 194cm | 10/08/2009

Returning for his second state Under 16 campaign, Chapman is South Australia’s captain and general in defence. He starred in SA’s talent showcase and carried that form into game one of the champs, amassing 33 disposals, 10 marks, and 18 rebound 50s. The left-footer has a penetrating kick and takes intercept marks for fun, reading the play better than most. He’s a brick wall across the defensive half.

Taj Garrett (South Australia)
Midfielder | 182cm | 05/01/2009

A dominant force at Under 16 level, Garrett joins Chapman in returning for his second state champs campaign. He came in on the back of consecutive 40-disposal performances for Sturt and has begun to find the goals with regularity. Garrett leads the SANFL Under 16 competition for marks and kicks, credit to his hard running and clean set of hands. He was typically prolific amid tough conditions in game one.

Harper McCullough (Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 176cm | 29/05/2009

Hailing from Beaconsfield, McCullough is already embedded in Caulfield Grammar’s First XVIII. He plays with a competitive edge, burrowing under packs and bursting to the outside with explosive speed. McCullough is gutsy as they come and also makes his presence felt defensively, laying hard tackles and getting involved in a bit of niggle. A great player to watch.

Zemes Pilot (South Australia)
Forward/Midfielder | 190cm | 08/06/2009

Pilot has all the traits of a modern football prospect. He’s a superb athlete at 190cm, possessing great speed and a spring-heeled vertical leap, making him extremely versatile for his size. Pilot, who was also part of SA’s squad last year, can impact aerially as a forward marking target while doubling as a dynamic midfielder. He hasn’t gone without a goal in the SANFL Under 16s and is set to make his Under 18 debut.

Tevita Rodan (Vic Metro)
Defender | 179cm | 18/02/2009

A prospect tied to two clubs, Rodan is father-son eligible to Port Adelaide (son of David) while being part of Essendon’s Next-Generation Academy. Like Calder Cannons teammate Bewick, he has already made his Coates Talent League debut and shows signs of having his father’s line-breaking speed. He was used as a rebound defender for Vic Metro against Country, taking the game on and making plays on repeat.

Louis Salopek (Vic Country)
Midfielder | 184cm | 16/02/2009

Another club-tied talent in the Victorian crop, Salopek is the son of 121-game former Port player Steven. He has already represented Dandenong Stingrays twice at Coates Talent League level and was a standout for Vic Country in game one, racking up 32 disposals and 11 clearances in midfield. The left-footer is relentless with his work rate at stoppages and will continually put his side on the front foot.

Hugo Semmler (South Australia)
Ruck | 199cm | 01/09/2009

To highlight just how dominant a ruck Semmler is at SANFL Under 16 level, he leads the league for hitouts with 270 – the next best total being 172. He’s also among the top three for contested marks and is a reliable target in open play. Semmler boasts a strong leap, good mobility, and a clean set of hands – useful for doubling as a key forward. He had a tough matchup in game one but possesses great qualities.

Baxter Sruk (Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 182cm | 18/07/2009

Another Sruk coming through the Eastern Ranges pathway, Baxter projects as the best of the lot. He’s a powerhouse through midfield, boasting sweet left-foot kicking and the ability to drive his legs through traffic. Sruk made a statement in game one, wheeling away to snap the sealing goal against Vic Country having gathered 20 disposals and five clearances. Few will be able to match him physically.

Max Thompson (Vic Country)
Small Forward | 175cm | 06/03/2009

Thompson was among the standouts in Vic Country’s opening game, showcasing innate goal sense to slot five majors in a losing side. He’s classy with ball in hand and finds the target by foot more often than not, while working into dangerous spaces in the forward half. Thompson has also featured on a wing for Bendigo Pioneers, booting a goal in each of his first two Coates Talent League appearances.

Axel Walsh (Western Australia)
Ruck | 200cm | 20/01/2009

Walsh has early claims on being top of the crop having dominated game one against SA, posting 23 disposals, seven marks, and 29 hitouts. He was physically imposing in the ruck contest and dropped back to clunk several intercept marks, even in incredibly tough conditions. Axel is the brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier and booted two goals in his WAFL Colts debut. He was part of WA’s squad last year.

Troy Warner (Western Australia)
Small Forward | 173cm | 18/03/2010

Warner’s name immediately jumps off the page as the brother of Sydney’s Chad and Corey, but offers plenty of his own quality. What’s more, he’s a bottom-ager in this category and the only 2010-born player on this list. Warner projects as a crafty small forward with quick feet and crafty ball use, able to work out of tight spots by linking up with teammates. He kicked the sealing goal for WA in game one.