THE 2025 Under 17 Futures trials are set to go down on Saturday, with Casey Fields setting the scene for the annual double-header. Vic Country plays host to NSW/ACT at 10:30am in Cranbourne East, before Vic Metro locks horns with Queensland at 12:45pm. Both games will be streamed live on YouTube.

>> SQUADS: 2025 Under 17 Futures trials

Players born in 2008 will take centre stage with hopes of earning selection in the National Futures showcase game on AFL Grand Final day. Those not named in Saturday’s squads still have a chance to earn a call-up in that game, with injuries and the final APS round rendering likely starters unavailable.

NEED TO KNOW

GAME 1:

Who: Vic Country vs. NSW/ACT
When: Saturday August 9, 10:30am (AEST)
Where: Casey Fields, Cranbourne East
Watch: Click here!

GAME 2:

Who: Vic Metro vs. Queensland
When: Saturday August 9, 12:45pm (AEST)
Where: Casey Fields, Cranbourne East
Watch: Click here!

ONES TO WATCH

VIC COUNTRY:

Vic Country entered the Under 18 National Championships with an list of eight bottom-age train-on players. Half of them ended up being used, including crafty small forwards Marlon Neocleous and Marcus Prasad. Both starred at Under 16 level for the ‘Big V’ during last year’s carnival.

Gippsland Power tall Wil Malady will hope to replicate some of his representative form from the last couple of years when he likely spearheads the attack. Watch out for Coates Talent League teammates Cody Templeton and Xavier Ladbrook to also impress, in midfield and at either end of the ground.

Along with Templeton, Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Gus Kennedy was unused among Vic Country’s Under 18 training squad. He’ll look to impose some power on the contest alongside in-form Bushrangers forward Blake Newton, who recently booted five goals to take out Player of the Week honours.

NSW/ACT:

There’s some serious quality at NSW/ACT’s disposal, headlined by Giants Academy member Ethan Matthews. The classy ball user has mostly cut his teeth in defence but may well see added responsibility in midfield or on the wing. His poise should shine having racked up decent VFL experience this year.

Another bottom-ager with recent VFL experience is Aidan McCartney. The rangy marking forward is tied to the Swans Academy, but also comes under father-son eligibility with North Melbourne. Another layer of interest is that his father Jason is currently Greater Western Sydney’s (GWS) Head of Football.

The Swans’ talent pool extends to Will Jenkin, who will take the field without twin brother Guy. The wingman is a prolific outside runner who can also ply his trade off half-back. Under 16 MVPs Conrad Blackwell-Smith (Sydney) and Charlie Harper (GWS) are others to watch for the Rams.

Harper is a tall defender who boards at school in Melbourne, and thus represents the Oakleigh Chargers. He’ll likely line up down back alongside Under 15 All-Australian Lucas Roberts, who is also part of the Giants Academy, and Swan Cody Beavis. Together, they should have the airways covered.

VIC METRO:

Vic Metro called upon only two bottom-agers during this year’s Under 18 National Championships, though neither will be available on Saturday. Squad member Lewis Houndsome has been named, though, set to front up in the ruck-forward rotation. He’s an imposing, mobile aerial presence at 199cm.

Elsewhere, club-tied talent is sure to be prominent. North Melbourne father-son candidate Sam Harris will likely get a run on-ball alongside Calder Cannons teammate Blake Justice, who is part of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy (NGA). Both have shown great promise of late in the Coates Talent League.

Western Bulldogs NGA member Khaled El Souki is another to watch in the small forward division, offering high impact-per-possession and great goal sense. He’ll likely operate at the feet of Houndsome and Oakleigh high-flyer Flynn Woolhouse, who kicked a bag of four goals against Dandenong in Round 11.

QUEENSLAND:

Queensland will field arguably the best group of top-end talent, along with Vic Country’s best batch. One of the most recognisable names is Cooper Hodge, the son of Hawthorn champion Luke. The tough midfielder-forward is tied to the Lions Academy along with his father-son eligibility at the Hawks.

He and fellow Lions pair Matthew Owen and Caylen Murray have been exposed to Brisbane’s VFL side. Owen is a hard-running accumulator, while Murray is a classy outside player whose movement and ball use are sure to impress. The latter earned an opportunity in the Allies squad as a wing/defender.

Another gun prospect in the Queensland ranks is Suns Academy standout Archie Hill. He was captain and MVP for Gold Coast at last year’s Under 16 National Championships, offering plenty of drive off half-back. Look for the Maroons to get the ball in his and Murray’s hands as much as possible in transition.

Another couple of prospects out of the Suns program are Leroy Kaesler and Jake Callinan. The former is a pressure small who can hit the scoreboard and pinch-hit through midfield. The latter is a bigger body at 190cm, able to hold his own on the inside and provide a chop-out in the front half.

PREDICTIONS

Vic Country’s spread of talent is arguably the best of the lot on Saturday. They have established smalls and plenty of power through the middle, along with developable tall pillars at either end of the ground. NSW/ACT should get good service out of its tall intercept defenders, and boasts decent pace around the square. It’ll be tough to match Vic Country’s midfield quality, so the Vics should get up in that clash.

The Queensland-Metro clash promises to be the tighter of the two, on paper. Metro’s midfield height and depth is sure to make an impact, along with their solid tall forwards and typical transitional runners. Queensland’s top-end players should count for plenty, along their willingness to get stuck in and run hard to compliment their class. By way of home ground advantage, Metro in a close one.