NORTHERN Knights boast a high of nine representative in the 2026 Vic Metro Under 18 squad, which features 29 players from across the six regions. Currently unbeaten atop the Talent League latter, the Knights have had four players earn their way in from outside of the original summer squad.

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Midfielders Harvie Cooke and Max Downes, wingman Toby Krasna, and mobile tall forward Harrison Leeder all earned call-ups among a list of nine fresh faces. Over-age Calder defender Nicholas Staropoli is also in that group having recently garnered interest at the midseason draft.

Staropoli is not the only 2007-born player to have been included, with Western ruck Macauli Buck also being featured. He is one of the 11 train-on players who will vie for selection – five have been called up, while a further six have been moved from the initial summer cohort, meaning there are no omissions.

Sandringham is another region with bulk inclusions. Namely, midfielder Albert MacGowan, small forward George Dimer, and utility Lochie Burrows have earned their shot, while bottom-ager Angus Brown is part of the train-on list. Oakleigh tall forward Sebastian Marsic is the other addition.

Only two bottom-agers – Essendon father-son gun Koby Bewick and key forward Jake Miller – were included in the primary squad, although a further six are amongst the train-ons. 2025 Kevin Sheehan Medalist Baxter Sruk is one of them having had an interrupted start to the year.

Vic Metro boasts a good amount of firepower, headlined by top five talents Harry Van Hattum and Arki Butler. The pair will be supported by fellow AFL Academy members Harrison Chapman, Tate Hodgson, and Lewis Houndsome, as well as rising prospects like Gus Teixeira and Khaled El Souki.

El Souki is part of a small contingent of club-tied players. North Melbourne father-son candidate Sam Harris and Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Blake Justice are in the mix, as is fellow Cannon Tevita Rodan in the training squad. The latter has links to both Essendon and Port Adelaide.

2026 VIC METRO U18 SQUAD

Calder Cannons (4): Koby Bewick*, Sam Harris, Blake Justice, Nicholas Staropoli**
Eastern Ranges (3): Harrison Chapman, Jordan Knapp, Archie Spencer
Northern Knights (9): Harvie Cooke, Max Downes, Sam Gayfer, Tate Hodgson, Lewis Houndsome, Toby Krasna, Harrison Leeder, Kai Parker, Harry Van Hattum
Oakleigh Chargers (2): Seb Marsic, Flynn Woolhouse
Sandringham Dragons (6): Tyson Bradley, Lochie Burrows, Arki Butler, George Dimer, Albert MacGowan, Gus Teixeira
Western Jets (5): Khaled El Souki, Lachlan Hicks, Jake Miller*, Angus Tippett, Billy Wigmore

Train-ons (10): Nathaniel Jenkins*, Tevita Rodan* (Calder), Zac Antonellos, Sam Devers, Jett Flower*, Baxter Sruk* (Eastern), Archie Fogarty, Harper McCullough* (Oakleigh), Angus Brown*, Henry Thomas (Sandringham), Macauli Buck** (Western)

* – denotes bottom-aged | ** – denotes over-aged

SUMMER SQUAD CHANGES

IN: Lochie Burrows, Harvie Cooke, George Dimer, Max Downes, Toby Krasna, Harrison Leeder, Albert MacGowan, Seb Marsic, Nicholas Staropoli

ADDED TRAIN-ONS: Zac Antonellos, Angus Brown, Macauli Buck, Jett Flower, Nathaniel Jenkins

MOVED TO TRAIN-ONS: Sam Devers, Archie Fogarty, Harper McCullough, Tevita Rodan, Baxter Sruk, Henry Thomas

BREAKDOWN

OVER-AGE: 1 (plus 1 train-on)
TOP-AGE: 26 (plus 4 train-ons)
BOTTOM-AGE: 2 (plus 6 train-ons)

CLUB-TIED

FATHER-SON: Koby Bewick (Essendon), Sam Harris (North Melbourne), Tevita Rodan (Port Adelaide)
NGA: Khaled El Souki (Western Bullodgs), Tevita Rodan (Essendon)