THE 2026 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. Western Australia and the Giants Academy were crowned champions of Pools A and B respectively after undefeated campaigns. We recap how it all unfolded.

>> Remember the Names: 2026 AFL Under 16 MVPs

POOL A

Champion: Western Australia
Kevin Sheehan Medal: Troy Warner (Western Australia)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MVP: Logan Treverton (Central District)
Record: 2nd | 2-1 | 139.8%

Results:
def. by Western Australia 9.2 (56) to 9.14 (68)
def. Vic Country 16.7 (103) to 12.8 (80)
def. Vic Metro 17.6 (108) to 6.7 (43)

How it happened:

In hindsight, the Croweaters were handed a tough start against the eventual champions, but stood a good chance to knock them off at home in wet conditions. WA was too strong on that day, but SA found top form in the Queensland leg of the tournament – beating both Victorian sides. Vic Country fell first in what was one of the most entertaining games at this level in recent memory, with the tri-colours getting the better of a genuine shootout. They once again brought up triple-figures against Vic Metro to briefly have the title in their grasp via percentage, only for WA to end up winning its third fixture.

VIC COUNTRY

MVP: Eamon Hyde (Murray Bushrangers)
Record: 3rd | 1-2 | 98.2%

Results:
def. Vic Metro 15.13 (103) to 8.7 (55)
def. by South Australia 12.8 (80) to 16.7 (103)
def. by Western Australia 4.10 (34) to 8.15 (63)

How it happened:

Despite finishing with a negative record, Vic Country could take a couple of positives out of their campaign. Starting off with a win against rivals Vic Metro, the Country cohort flexed its scoring muscle and continued in a similar vein against South Australia. Only, the Croweaters ended up getting the better of that shootout, as both sides played a brilliant brand of attacking footy. Game three brought less success, as eventual champion Western Australia coasted to the title in a stifling defeat.

VIC METRO

MVP: Louis Grinter (Oakleigh Chargers)
Record: 4th | 0-3 | 50.4%

Results:
def. by Vic Country 8.7 (55) to 15.13 (103)
def. by Western Australia 6.8 (44) to 8.23 (71)
def. by South Australia 6.7 (43) to 17.6 (108)

How it happened:

Things couldn’t have been much different from last year for Vic Metro, who went from undefeated to winless. They struggled to score at times, kicking only six goals in two of their three games, while twice leaking over 100 points at the other end of the ground. The Vics’ average losing margin was 46 points, with ironically their narrowest defeat coming at the hands of eventual champion, Western Australia. Although, in that game, WA posted over 30 scoring shots (8.23) to salute by 27 points.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MVP: Troy Warner
Record: 1st | 3-0 | 150.7%

Results:
def. South Australia 9.14 (68) to 9.2 (56)
def. Vic Metro 8.23 (71) to 6.8 (44)
def. Vic Country 8.15 (63) to 4.10 (34)

How it happened:

A flawless run to the title broke Western Australia’s nine-year drought at this level, with co-captain Troy Warner crowned the best player in Pool A. The Sandgropers defied the odds to beat South Australia away in game one, getting the better of the conditions on a wet day. The Queensland leg went smoother, with the champions toppling both Victorian sides despite some wayward goalkicking. They utterly dominated Vic Metro to post 8.23, while their 8.15 against Vic Country was also enough thanks to a sturdy defence and outstanding ball movement. A richly deserved crown after two wet-weather games.

POOL B

Champion: GWS Giants Academy
Alan McLean Medal: To be confirmed.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY

MVP: Darcy Pearson
Record: 3rd | 2-1 | 90.0%

Results:
def. by Suns Academy 4.7 (31) to 11.12 (78)
def. Northern Territory 12.9 (81) to 10.9 (69)
def. Tasmania 11.10 (76) to 9.8 (62)

How it happened:

After handily dropping their first game in a junior Q-Clash at home, the Lions quickly bounced back with two wins down on the Gold Coast. Both wins didn’t come without scares, though. Brisbane was made to come from behind to edge past the Northern Territory, booting four unanswered goals in the last 13 minutes to snatch victory. A third-quarter surge was the difference against Tasmania in game three, with the Lions breaking a half time deadlock via a run of five goals into the wind-advantaged end.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY

MVP: Hunter Weatherley
Record: 2nd | 2-1 | 139.2%

Results:
def. Lions Academy 11.12 (78) to 4.7 (31)
def. Swans Academy 9.10 (64) to 6.4 (40)
def. by Giants Academy 9.3 (57) to 10.12 (72)

How it happened:

Gold Coast was 15 points away from the Pool B title, going down by that margin in Thursday’s makeshift final against GWS. The Suns started out on a high note, comfortably accounting for the Lions Academy in their game one Q-Clash. They were tested against the Swans but again found a way to win, leading from the 13-minute mark of the opening term and kicking away late. Their tussle with the Giants was another close one, but the Suns couldn’t maintain the rage after a fast start with the wind at their backs.

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY

MVP: Alexander Maher
Record: 1st | 3-0 | 150.6%

Results:
def. Swans Academy 10.16 (76) to 8.7 (55)
def. Tasmania 13.9 (87) to 6.8 (44)
def. Suns Academy 10.12 (72) to 9.3 (57)

How it happened:

GWS seemed to have all the answers in their three games, producing similar scorelines in a consistent run to the title. The Giants’ midfield shone in each encounter, forming the base for their undefeated campaign. They accelerated after half-time to defeat Sydney in game one, before a dominant eight-goal to one opening half set up their victory over Tasmania. Game three saw the Giants fall behind early on in the final against Gold Coast, but they duly recovered and held firm in a tense final quarter.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

MVP: Billy Brown
Record: 6th | 0-3 | 67.4%

Results:
def. by Tasmania 6.5 (41) to 17.7 (109)
def. by Lions Academy 10.9 (69) to 12.9 (81)
def. by Swans Academy 10.10 (70) to 11.11 (77)

How it happened:

It is a travesty that the NT couldn’t quite come away with a win from their three games, given they were in the box seat to take out two of them. They kicked six of the first seven goals against Brisbane to lead by as many as 32 points but ran out of gas after half time, conceding the lead midway through the final term. The loss to Sydney was even more heartbreaking, leading by 26 points at three-quarter time but being overrun with five unanswered goals thereafter. Still, the improvement is noticeable and continued.

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY

MVP: Noah Keam
Record: 5th | 1-2 | 81.9%

Results:
def. by Giants Academy 8.7 (55) to 10.16 (76)
def. by Suns Academy 6.4 (40) to 9.10 (64)
def. Northern Territory 11.11 (77) to 10.10 (70)

How it happened:

The Swans were handed a rough draw in hindsight, made to duke it out against the two sides who fought for the title on the final day. Sydney trailed at every break and couldn’t quite keep up with eventual champion GWS in game one, before going down in similar fashion to the Gold Coast. Game three was a thriller though, with the Swans trailing by 26 points heading into three-quarter time and piling on five unanswered goals to snatch an unlikely comeback win over the Northern Territory, leaving on a high note.

TASMANIA

MVP: Jordan Stevenson
Record: 4th | 1-2 | 105.4%

Results:
def. Northern Territory 17.7 (109) to 6.5 (41)
def. by Giants Academy 6.8 (44) to 13.9 (87)
def. by Lions Academy 9.8 (62) to 11.10 (76)

How it happened:

Tasmania made a bright start to its campaign, hitting triple-figures in a dominant win over the Northern Territory to open Pool B proceedings. Failing to conjure the same scoring output thereafter, Tassie’s two defeats came on the end of conceding significant scoring runs. GWS piled on seven goals to one in the opening half to set up a comfortable victory, while Brisbane broke a half time deadlock with five unanswered goals in the third term to form an unassailable lead. They were otherwise very competitive.

>> THROWBACK: 2025 AFL Under 16 National Championships