THE 2025 AFL Under 18 National Championships came to a close over the weekend, although the Victorian derby was effectively a dead rubber this time around. South Australia’s undefeated run saw the title donned in the famous tricolours for the first time since 2018. We recap how it all unfolded.

>> Remember the Names: 2025 AFL Under 18 MVPs (PLEASE HYPERLINK UNBOLDED TEXT)

ALLIES

MVP: Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy)
RECORD: 4th | 1-3 | 84.7%

RESULTS:

def. by South Australia 11.10 (76) to 12.11 (83)
def. Western Australia 10.19 (79) to 11.8 (74)
def. by Vic Country 10.10 (70) to 11.16 (82)
def. by Vic Metro 13.8 (86) to 20.8 (128)

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was an up-and-down campaign for the Allies, who were smashed by injuries to key players both before and throughout the series. They were still competitive enough to run eventual champions South Australia the closest of any side, falling just seven points short in game one. They landed on the other side of the ledger in a another close encounter against Western Australia, with star prospect Max King slotting the game-winning goal at the death. Vic Country then proved too good despite goalkicking inaccuracy, while Vic Metro handed the Allies their biggest defeat of the series as they petered out to the tune of 42 points. At full strength, they could well have been a title contender and were raging favourites pre-tournament, but ultimately slotted into fourth with a 1-3 record. What could have been.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MVP: Dyson Sharp (Central District)
RECORD: 1st | 4-0 | 184.0%

RESULTS:

def. Allies 12.11 (83) to 11.10 (76)
def. Vic Metro 15.10 (100) to 5.9 (39)
def. Western Australia 17.14 (116) to 6.4 (40)
def. Vic Country 13.13 (91) to 8.9 (57)

HOW IT HAPPENED

An unblemished campaign saw South Australia claim its first Under 18 title since 2018, when the Croweaters produced three top-five picks. The spread of talent was arguably more even this time around, although captain Dyson Sharp looks a nailed-on Larke Medallist, while twin talls Mitchell Marsh (12) and Aidan Schubert (10) led the competition for goals. SA overcame pre-tournament favourites the Allies by seven points in game one before thundering to an average winning margin of 45 points. That was thanks largely to 61 and 75-point thrashings of Vic Metro and Western Australia at home. The champions then raided Marvel Stadium to finish the job against Vic Country. The mark of the team was its togetherness, which in turn led to unflappable structure and high potency in front of goal.

>> PROFILED: The title-winning South Australian squad

VIC COUNTRY

MVP: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)
RECORD: 2nd | 2-2 | 101.6%

RESULTS:

def. by Western Australia 11.12 (78) to 12.9 (81)
def. by South Australia 8.9 (57) to 13.13 (91)
def. Allies 11.16 (82) to 10.10 (70)
def. Vic Metro 14.10 (94) to 9.10 (64)

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a tournament of two halves for Vic Country, who took time to get going by finished with an even 2-2 record. They were unlucky to lose by three points to Western Australia with the last kick of the game, no less travelling for their opening game. Eventual champions South Australia were next, and overran the Vics after half time for a 34-point win to take the title. A more closely run match saw Country notch its first victory against the Allies, saluting to the tune of 12 points at IKON Park, before going on to claim bragging rights against Vic Metro in game four. It was a strong final performance from the Country boys, headlined by MVP recipient Willem Duursma and five goals to rising small forward Talor Byrne. The result even saw Vic Country snatch second place with superior percentage and head-to-head against Metro.

VIC METRO

MVP: Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges)
RECORD: 3rd | 2-2 | 95.7%

RESULTS:

def. by South Australia 5.9 (39) to 15.10 (100)
def. Western Australia 11.11 (77) to 5.12 (42)
def. Allies 20.8 (128) to 13.8 (86)
def. by Vic Country 9.10 (64) to 14.10 (94)

HOW IT HAPPENED

South Australia ensured Vic Metro entered a baptism of fire to start the series, downing the travelling side by 61 points at Alberton Oval. Despite being handily beaten, the Vics fared much better in their next away venture to defeat Western Australia by 35 points in blustery conditions. That then provided a springboard of momentum for Metro to raid Queensland and come away with a 42-point win over the Allies, who were undermanned but came into the series as a title fancy. It seemed Vic Metro would cement itself as the best of the rest with one game left against rivals Vic Country, although a lacklustre performance in their only home game resulted in a 30-point defeat. The result saw Metro finish with an even 2-2 record, good enough for third behind Country’s superior percentage and head-to-head record.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MVP: Fred Rodriguez (Western Australia)
RECORD: 5th | 1-3 | 67.7%

RESULTS:

def. Vic Country 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78)
def. by South Australia 6.4 (40) to 17.14 (116)
def. by Allies 11.8 (74) to 10.19 (79)
def. by Vic Metro 5.12 (42) to 11.11 (77)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Another side which produced an up-and-down campaign, Western Australia started brightly with its lone victory coming in game one. The Sandgropers edged to a three-point win on home turn against Vic Country, thanks to Hudson Walker‘s goal with the last kick of the game. Their other competitive performance came against the Allies, where they unfortunately fell on the other side of a close game to lose by five points to Max King’s decisive late major. WA was far less competitive against South Australia, going down by 76 points on the road in game two. The Black Swans’ final match was also relatively lacklustre, going down by 35 points to Vic Metro at home, albeit amid a strong breeze.

>> RECAP: 2025 AFL U18s – Western Australia

>> THROWBACK: 2024 AFL Under 18 National Championships