THE AFL Academy has won its second of two showcase games for 2025 after defeating Coburg by 23 points at Whitten Oval on Sunday. Classy Geelong Falcons defender Josh Lindsay was named best afield after racking up 25 disposals and seven rebound 50s, boosting his stocks as a top 10 prospect.

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Leading at every break with trickles of light rain in Footscray, the Under 18 cohort kicked away to victory with the last three goals of the game. The tall-small combination of Archie Ludowyke and Wesley Walley booted two goals apiece, while midfielder Dyson Sharp (26 disposals, one goal) was back near his best.

AFL ACADEMY 2.5 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 11.13 (79)
COBURG VFL 2.1 | 3.3 | 7.6 | 8.8 (56)

GOALS: A. Ludowyke 2, W. Walley 2, B. Addinsall, D. Annable, C. Curtin, C. Duff-Tytler, L. Emmett, D. Patterson, D. Sharp

BEST: J. Lindsay, D. Sharp, O. Greeves, B. Addinsall, W. Walley, A. Ludowyke

ABSENT: Noah Chamberlain (knee), Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (shoulder), Zeke Uwland (back)

#1-24: By Michael Alvaro

#1 Thomas Burton | Small Defender
Western Jets/Vic Metro

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 2 inside 50s

Burton showed marked improvement from game one, again getting his hands on the ball and providing run, but also disposing in a more measured manner. He fared particularly well by hand, going at 100 per cent efficiency compared to his 57 per cent kicking, and taking some one-grab marks. Burton’s energetic and attacking style helped the Academy surge forward, particularly with overlap run and repeat efforts to win the loose ball.

#2 Beau Addinsall | Midfielder/Forward
Suns Academy/Queensland

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 3 clearances, 1 goal

Addinsall was on track to be in the conversation for best afield before the main break, with 10 of his 16 total disposals coming in the first half. He was productive as ever in transition, carrying the ball and waxing with teammates as they ran in waves. The Queenslander was unluckily pinged for running too far in the opening term but it didn’t stop him from accumulating in all parts of the ground. His ability to shrug tackles and read the fall of the ball at stoppages got him a goal in the first quarter, and he used his agility to make poised decisions in tight spots.

>> Preseason Q&A: Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)

#3 Lachlan Carmichael | Defender
Swans Academy/NSW-ACT

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles

Carmichael was again relatively quiet as the likes of Lindsay, Patterson and Burton proved the main rebounding threats from defence. Still, the Swans Academy prospect made good of his moments with a couple of clean intercept marks, not afraid to compete overhead. He ventured high up the ground in search of opportunities on the overlap, though they were limited.

#4 Willem Duursma | Defender
Gippsland Power/Vic Country

Stats: 20 disposals, 8 marks, 4 rebound 50s

Duursma was another big improver from game one, particularly in terms out output, with plenty of the ball down back. He built into the game nicely with 14 of his 20 touches coming after half time, having just one ineffective disposal in an efficient performance. The pick one contender played with more presence and less hesitation on the attack, utilising his foot skills and driving up the ground with good intent. He also leant on his aerial ability to clunk some intercept marks, including one which he had no right to win from back position. Despite that moment, Duursma can continue to develop his contest work and apply more body pressure as a defender. He eventually got a run at the centre bounces in term four.

>> Race to #1: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)

#6 Josh Lindsay | Defender
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country

Stats: 25 disposals, 20 uncontested possessions, 7 rebound 50s

Lindsay is making a habit of standing up in showcase games and was named best afield for the Academy on Sunday. He did largely as he pleased across half-back, distributing the ball with 19 kicks at an efficiency rate of 84 per cent. He was busy as ever on the rebound, hardly wasting a kick as he darted out of defence and looked to change angles creatively. Lindsay’s ball handling was also clean, making a couple of good reads to intercept or shark the ball of hands. His constant motion and foot skills made him difficult to contain, racking up 20 uncontested possessions.

>> Star Turn: Josh Lindsay (National Futures)

#7 Dylan Patterson | Defender/Midfielder
Suns Academy/Queensland

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Patterson was again impressive with his speed and line-breaking ability from defence before shifting into the midfield. He still has improvement to make with his kicking, audibly being frustrated with one turnover to the wing and delivering a couple of balls out of bounds. He tidied up after half time with more measured darting passes, and is capable of getting good penetration on his kicks. He proved as much with a long-range goal on the run in term four after receiving the hand-off. That kind of play is what makes him so dangerous, and his pace draws opposition attention at stoppage.

>> Star Turn: Dylan Patterson (Queensland Futures)

#8 Ben Rongdit | Defender
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (Geelong NGA)

Stats: 3 disposals, 2 marks, 1 inside 50

Rongdit only found the ball a few times but only needs those moments to show his potential. His closing speed to spoil and willingness to compete aerially were impressive, even standing bravely under a high ball to take one of his two marks. Few prospects display such defensive intensity as the competitive left-footed prospect, who is part of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy (NGA).

#10 Wesley Walley | Forward/Wing
Subiaco/Western Australia (West Coast NGA)

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals

The Academy had little trouble finding Walley as he hit up on strong leads, with half of his disposals coming from marks. His speed, leap and clean hands were useful when presenting at the kicker, getting good separation from his opponents and managing to snaffle the pill overhead or below his knees. Walley’s running patterns and reading of the play were sound and he bagged a couple of set shot goals for his efforts, this time finishing well after a less accurate game one. Among Walley’s best moments was a contest to bring the ball to ground with a leap through the back of his opponent, before recovering the spill and blazing towards goal.

>> Preseason Q&A: Wesley Walley (Subiaco)

#20 Daniel Annable | Midfielder/Forward
Lions Academy/Queensland

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

While less prolific than in game one where he was named the Academy’s best, Annable showed plenty of high-level craft. He has a great knack for snapping goals and did so to cap off his national duties in style during the last quarter. The Queenslander seems more than capable in his second position up forward, able to work up the ground or score when stationed deeper. He put aside his usual grunt work in this game to spread hard and more often be the receiver with 10 uncontested possessions, but still showed he could shrug tackles and handle himself physically.

>> Preseason Q&A: Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)

#21 Harley Barker | Wing/Forward
Sturt/South Australia

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks, 2 clearances

Barker started out with a shaky possession but soon found his feet to have another strong performance in national colours. He was a constant outlet in space, displaying great understanding of the wing role to rack up seven marks and aid the Academy’s transitional play. He went at a terrific 88 per cent disposal efficiency to ensure the ball moved fluently and effectively. Barker’s speed off the mark was useful in a few instances and he unselfishly centred the ball to give Hetherton a shot on goal in term four, capping off a good day by foot.

>> Preseason Q&A: Harley Barker (Sturt)

#23 Sam Cumming | Midfielder/Forward
North Adelaide/South Australia

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 3 clearances

Cumming started forward and posted only four touches to half time, but willed himself into the game with more midfield minutes after the main break. The South Australian could hardly be faulted for effort as he competed hard with the ball in dispute and found reward by setting up a pair of goals in term three. Cumming fed Sharp a slick handball before hitting up Ludowyke by foot as both converted their chances. His vision was terrific in both instances.

#24 Louis Emmett | Ruck/Key Forward
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 clearances, 1 goal

Emmett made significant strides from his game one performance, competing more willingly and boosting his output. He got on his bike to find 15 touches around the ground, presenting well as a forward and roaming as a ruck. The Oakleigh Chargers tall made good use of his time one-out up inside 50, especially in the second term where he handled a floater from Onley before converting the set shot goal. Emmett’s mobility was evident as he covered the ground and showcased decent skills for his size, even following up to notch five stoppage clearances.

>> Race to #1: Louis Emmett (Oakleigh Chargers)

#25-39: By Declan Reeve

#25 Koby Evans | Midfielder/Forward
Perth/Western Australia (West Coast NGA)

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Evans showed plenty of promise after missing the Academy’s first match against Richmond, demonstrating his strong athletic base and work rate around the ground well. Stationed at centre bounces in the first half, Evans was hard at the contest and did well to win the ball in tight. He worked hard to be a marking option for teammates in possession, getting to good spots and delivering some nice passes by foot when giving time to compose. He then moved forward in the second half and worked up the ground to create contests on the wings, showing good competitiveness to occasionally win the ball despite being outnumbered. Across the four quarters, Evans showed that he has plenty of tricks to lose opponents, and will be looking to tidy up his disposal when under pressure through the year. 

>> Preseason Q&A: Koby Evans (Perth)

#26 Oliver Greeves | Midfielder/Defender
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 4 clearances

Greeves will consistently deliver through the year, as the big bodied midfielder again looked near untouchable in the contest and worked hard with his side in possession to move the ball forward. Greeves’ ball use was tidier than his previous outing as he often got good penetration behind his kicks, and he demonstrated his work rate well to follow up and get handball receives to keep his side moving quickly. With the Academy side possessing so many midfielders, Greeves spent a bit of time in the defensive 50 in the second half, showing his strength overhead and vision as he looked to change lanes on the rebound.

#27 Taj Murray | Ruck
North Adelaide/Northern Territory

Stats: 8 disposals, 5 tackles, 8 hitouts

Sharing ruck duties with Duff-Tytler and Emmett, Murray was arguably the most effective in the role across the four quarters as he showed off his impressive vertical leap for the taps, and ability to impact on the follow-up – unfortunately giving away some free kicks with his tackling efforts. Murray showed some keen ball use when he won it, able to quickly execute handballs out of congestion and picking good options when delivering by foot. 

>> Player Focus: Taj Murray (North Adelaide)

#28 Riley Onley | Midfielder/Forward
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance

Onley struggled to have an impact on the game as he spent most of the day out on the wing, a position relatively unfamiliar to him. The moments Onley looked best were when he had taken a mark, with one coming as he got loose in transition deep in the forward 50, before quickly centring it to a teammate for an easy goal. He looked a little frustrated at times and took it out on Coburg’s Josh D’Intinosante with a late shepherd at half-forward.

#29 Fred Rodriguez | Midfielder
South Fremantle/Western Australia

Stats: 6 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 clearances

The West Australian was another player who struggled to work his way into the game, but managed to show off his trademark class with ball in hand and tried hard to impact around stoppages defensively when put in the midfield, even getting a free kick for holding the ball early in the game.

>> Preseason Q&A: Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle)

#30 Dyson Sharp | Midfielder/Forward
Central District/South Australia

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 tackles, 9 inside 50s, 1 goal

Showing marked improvement from his first appearance in the Academy jumper, Sharp led his side for disposals, clearances and tackles in a display that showcased his work rate and sheer tenacity around the contest. Whilst his ball use could still do with tidying up, Sharp consistently followed up to amend any errors and looked to get his side moving forward with most touches, registering nine inside 50s across the game. Sharp was impactful aerially as well, cutting off attempted lane changes from Coburg coming out of their back half, and presented hard as a target from Academy kick-ins. He capped off his day with a well deserved goal for his efforts, getting a handball receive from a contest close to goal and converting easily. 

>> Race to #1: Dyson Sharp (Central District)

#33 Cody Curtin | Key Defender/Forward
Claremont/Western Australia

Stats: 3 disposals, 2 marks, 1 goal

It was a mixed day for Curtin, once again starting the defensive 50 without having any real impact there. When swung forward he looked to will himself into the game, chasing opposition more intently and pushing up the ground to create more contests for his side. He got himself on the scoreboard in the final term when he took a strong mark in fast play up forward, converting from just past the 50-metre line.

>> Preseason Q&A: Cody Curtin (Claremont)

#34 Cooper Duff-Tytler | Ruck/Key Forward
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 7 hitouts, 1 goal

The pick one fancy had the opportunity to show his wares outside of the centre square, spending more time up forward than he typically does and demonstrating some strong leading and cleanliness closer to goal. Duff-Tytler’s sole major came from a free kick he earned in the goalsquare, competing harder for the ball than his opponent, and he could’ve had a couple more with one set shot falling short and another drifting to the right from a difficult angle. Despite the extended time up forward, he was still impressive with his stints in the ruck, doing as he typically does with his clean ball use and follow-up work from stoppage.

>> Race to #1: Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons)

#35 Jasper Hay | Key Defender
Tasmania Devils/Tasmania

Stats: 5 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle

Whilst not prolific stats-wise, recruiters would’ve been impressed with the competitiveness Hay displayed on the last line of defence and his positioning around marking contests, reading the ball well to take a couple of marks out the back. Hay just found ways to get a fist into nearly every marking contest he was around, at times out-manouvering his opposition to avoid being shepherded out of it.

>> Preseason Q&A: Jasper Hay (Tasmania Devils)

#36 Liam Hetherton | Key Forward
Murray Bushrangers/NSW-ACT

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles

Hetherton was one who tried all day, constantly pushing up the field to present as an option for his side coming out of the defensive 50, but at times struggled to get enough separation to take marks on his chest. Despite the hard work not always paying off, he managed to demonstrate some good decision making with ball in hand, handing off to runners after marks and looking to spread wide with his kicks.

>> Star Turn: Liam Hetherton (NSW-ACT Futures)

#37 Matthew LeRay | Wing/Forward
Central District/South Australia

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 2 inside 50s

LeRay was particularly good in the second half, where he worked hard on the outside to get handball receives from contests or present as a marking target around the ground, able to show off his cleanliness overhead. LeRay clearly wanted to demonstrate his running ability, more often than not looking to run with ball in hand as far as possible before delivering a longer kick forward, but demonstrated that he can compose with the ball after a mark to take shorter options, or weight his kicks well when going longer and not under pressure.

>> Preseason Q&A: Matthew LeRay (Central District)

#38 Archie Ludowyke | Key Forward
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals

As is typical of the Sandringham tall, Ludowyke proved a handful for his opposition as he worked hard forward of the ball to gain separation and lead into good spots, managing to adjust to the physicality of his more mature opponents well after the first couple of contests. He managed both of his goals over the mark, with his second coming from a difficult angle on the boundary line. 

>> Preseason Q&A: Archie Ludowyke (Sandringham Dragons)

#39 Kalani White | Key Forward/Defender
Suns Academy/Queensland (Melbourne F/S)

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles

Swapping positions with Curtin at half time, White was arguably more impressive in the defensive half where he was able to win more of the ball and demonstrate his clean ball use by hand and foot. White has a knack for being in the right spot, but currently lacks of little polish to hold all the marks he’s in the area for, almost getting mark of the year early on as the Academy exited defensive 50. To make up for this, White took a one-handed chest mark whilst jumping on his opponents head in the defensive goalsquare in the third quarter.

>> Preseason Q&A: Kalani White (Suns Academy)