THE 2025 Under 16 National Championships came to a close last week, with the final two rounds playing out across a five-day carnival on the Gold Coast. Vic Metro and Tasmania were crowned champions of Pools A and B respectively after undefeated campaigns. We outline how it happened for all 10 teams.

>> Remember the Names: 2025 AFL Under 16 MVPs

POOL A

Champion: Vic Metro
Kevin Sheehan Medal: Baxter Sruk (Vic Metro)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MVP: Hugo Semmler (Central District)
Record: 3rd | 1-2 | 72.1%

Results:
def. by Western Australia 3.8 (26) to 4.14 (38)
def. Vic Country 11.15 (81) to 11.10 (76)
def. by Vic Metro 8.10 (58) to 17.13 (115)

How it happened:

South Australia fell either side of a couple of gripping contests before petering out against eventual champion, Vic Metro in game three. The Croweaters went down by 12 points in a dour, wet affair against Western Australia, although were highly competitive in the trip to Joondalup. The side’s spirit was on show in a come-from-behind win over Vic Country on the Gold Coast, recovering from a 28-point half time deficit to win at the death via vice-captain Taj Garrett‘s straight set shot. Vic Metro had their number though, winning comfortably on the back of six goals to one in the second quarter. SA was without arguably its best prospect in Zemes Pilot for that game through injury.

VIC METRO

MVP: Baxter Sruk (Eastern Ranges)
Record: 1st | 3-0 | 132.4%

Results:
def. Vic Country 14.8 (92) to 13.5 (83)
def. Western Australia 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72)
def. South Australia 17.13 (115) to 8.10 (58)

How it happened:

Vic Metro stormed to its second title in three years having been made to work for victory in games one and two. It was a case of the cream rising to the top, with MVP and Kevin Sheehan Medallist Baxter Sruk booting the winning goal in both encounters – against Vic Country and Western Australia. After a late scare thanks to Western Australia, the Vics’ stacked midfield group then had their way in game three against South Australia, setting up a 57-point win and comfortably the champions’ greatest margin. Metro showcased consistent scoring power throughout each game and was aided by goals from midfielders, while spearhead forward Jake Miller rose to boot four majors in game three.

VIC COUNTRY

MVP: Max Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers)
Record: 4th | 0-3 | 85.1%

Results:
def. by Vic Metro 13.5 (83) to 14.8 (92)
def. by South Australia 11.10 (76) to 11.15 (81)
def. by Western Australia 8.5 (53) to 11.10 (76)

How it happened:

After clinching last year’s title via golden point, this year marked a very different campaign for Vic Country. The ‘Big V’ was gallant in a pair of tight losses, first going down to rivals Vic Metro by nine points, before losing at the death by five points to South Australia. Country’s best shot at winning came against the Croweaters, having led by 28 points at half time and held the lead until the final two minutes of play. The Vics also fought hard in game three but fell by 23 points to Western Australia, rounding out a winless carnival. Among the positives was MVP recipient Max Thompson leading the Pool A goalkicking with 10 majors, including a bag of five against Vic Metro to put his name up in lights.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MVP: James Artemis (East Fremantle)
Record: 2nd | 2-1 | 120.8%

Results:
def. South Australia 4.14 (38) to 3.8 (26)
def. by Vic Metro 11.6 (72) to 11.9 (75)
def. Vic Country 11.10 (76) to 8.5 (53)

How it happened:

Western Australia was effectively four points away from clinching the Pool A title, with its only defeat coming at the hands of Vic Metro. The Sandgropers came from a fair way back in that game, booting the final three goals and pouring on pressure inside attacking 50 before ultimately falling short. That result middled a pair of wins, the first coming in horrendous conditions against South Australia. Despite goalkicking inaccuracy, WA came out on top at home in Joondalup. Game three against Vic Country was also fruitful as the Black Swans responded to each challenge and finished strongly in a 23-point win. It came after leading by six, two, and nine points at each break to end up boasting a 2-1 series record.

POOL B

Champion: Tasmania
Alan McLean Medal: To be confirmed.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY

MVP: Jackson Bridge
Record: 2nd | 3-0 | 226.3%

Results:
def. Suns Academy 20.11 (131) to 8.6 (54)
def. Swans Academy 14.8 (92) to 5.12 (42)
def. Northern Territory 13.9 (87) to 6.5 (41)

How it happened:

Denied the Pool B title despite winning all three games, the Lions Academy couldn’t quite make up the required percentage gap of 108.91 to champions, Tasmania. Brisbane still won each game comfortably, by an average margin of 58 points. The most comfortable victory came in game one against the Suns Academy, piling on 12 goals in the second half to win big on home turf. Another shellacking was on the cards when they kept the Swans Academy goalless for the first half, going on to salute by 50 points. Surprisingly, it was the Northern Territory who got closest with the 46-point margin to round out proceedings. Four unanswered goals in the final term ensured the Lions got the job done there.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY

MVP: Oliver Bennett
Record: 6th | 0-3 | 22.3%

Results:
def. by Lions Academy 8.6 (54) to 20.11 (131)
def. by Tasmania 1.1 (7) to 26.15 (171)
def. by Swans Academy 4.5 (29) to 15.12 (102)

How it happened:

With plenty of talk about Gold Coast’s prolific talent academy, the Suns came away winless after their three games. Signs were ominous after going down to Brisbane by 77 points on the road, before becoming the host side for games two and three. Tasmania registered a record win at People First Stadium, restricting Gold Coast to a single goal in the process. It came shortly after half time, with the Suns leaking exactly 40 points in each of the first three quarters. They fronted up better against the Swans Academy in game three, although ended up suffering a 73-point loss. It was always going to be a tough fixture for the Suns having ended up drawing both undefeated teams in Tasmania and the Lions.

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY

MVP: Cooper French
Record: 4th | 1-2 | 106.6%

Results:
def. by Swans Academy 6.9 (45) to 10.14 (74)
def. Northern Territory 14.19 (103) to 6.5 (41)
def. by Tasmania 9.9 (63) to 12.11 (83)

How it happened:

Greater Western Sydney (GWS) can hang its hat on running eventual champion Tasmania the closest by some margin, improving to only go down by 20 points in game three. It came on the back of a 62-point win over the Northern Territory just two days prior, with the Giants accelerating to boot 10 goals to two in the second half. Rewinding all the way back to game one, and a Sydney Derby saw the Swans claim bragging rights to the tune of 29 points. GWS played host at Manuka Oval in Canberra but fell behind in term two and couldn’t find an answer for the Swans’ consistent scoreboard pressure. A 1-2 record was the end result, finishing fourth in Pool B ahead of two winless sides.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

MVP: Hugo Timms
Record: 5th | 0-3 | 40.3%

Results:
def. by Tasmania 6.2 (38) to 16.12 (108)
def. by Giants Academy 6.5 (41) to 14.19 (103)
def. by Lions Academy 6.5 (41) to 13.9 (87)

How it happened:

Despite another winless campaign, the Northern Territory showed marked improvement and was competitive for large stints across the three games. Drawing what ended up being two undefeated teams in Tasmania and the Lions Academy was unlucky, though the NT proved consistent enough to kick exactly six goals in each outing, including a 6.5 (41) scoreline in two of them. The Territorians were seconds away from a quarter time lead against Tasmania, and headed into the main break only eight points adrift from GWS. They also proved plucky against the Lions Academy, hanging in the contest until three-quarter time but eventually being overrun. Overall, it was as positive as a winless series can be.

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY

MVP: Monte Cairns
Record: 3rd | 2-1 | 131.3%

Results:
def. Giants Academy 10.14 (74) to 6.9 (45)
def. by Lions Academy 5.12 (42) to 14.8 (92)
def. Suns Academy 15.12 (102) to 4.5 (29)

How it happened:

The Swans cast themselves as the best of the rest outside of two undefeated teams in Pool B, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Lions Academy. Sydney ended up going down by 50 points in that game having been held goalless until the 21st minute of term three. Things were much better in the bookend fixtures, including a 29-point Sydney Derby win on the road against GWS. The Swans applied consistent scoreboard pressure after building a handy buffer in term two, having trailed by a point at quarter time. Game three marked Sydney’s biggest margin of victory, 73 points against the Suns Academy. The Swans kept their opponents goalless in terms two and four to win comfortably.

TASMANIA

MVP: Lucas Heazlewood
Record: 1st | 3-0 | 335.2%

Results:
def. Northern Territory 16.12 (108) to 6.2 (38)
def. Suns Academy 26.15 (171) to 1.1 (7)
def. Giants Academy 12.11 (83) to 9.9 (63)

How it happened:

It was a barnstorming run to the title from Tasmania, marking promising signs for the state’s likely first draft as a licensed AFL team in 2027. Tassie’s average margin of victory sat at a remarkable 85 points, carried by their 164-point win over the Suns Academy in game two. Chaice Oliver booted a new state record of seven goals as his side put on a clinic, posting exactly 40 points in each of the first three quarters. Tasmania was run closest by the Giants Academy in game three but did enough to not only win by 20 points, but win the title via percentage – 108.91 clear of fellow undefeated team, the Lions Academy. Game one yielded a 70-point salute over the Northern Territory after trailing at quarter time.

>> THROWBACK: 2024 AFL Under 16 National Championships