Vic Country & Metro summer squads revealed
THE 2026 Vic Country and Metro summer squads have been announced, with 51 of the state’s brightest prospects earning selection. Both sides contain five bottom-age (2009-born) players, while Victoria’s 11 National Academy members gain automatic entry, and nine club-tied players have been included.
>> SCROLL to see the full squads
Leading the 2026 eligible crop is Carlton father-son gun Cody Walker. He’s one of two Bendigo Pioneers in the Country squad, alongside 2025 Under 16 MVP Max Thompson. Metro equivalent and Kevin Sheehan Medallist Baxter Sruk has also been named among a group of five Eastern Ranges.
Gippsland Power is the most represented Country region with eight players on the roster. That includes AFL Academy members Xavier Ladbrook and Wil Malady, along with Hawthorn Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Keenan Boi. Livewire small Marlon Neocleous is also back after debuting last year.
An even Metro crop sees each region represented at least thrice, with reigning premier Eastern contributing five players along with Northern and Western. The Knights boast the most National Academy members with three – Lewis Houndsome, Tate Hodgson, and Harry Van Hattum.
Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll profile each player in both squads.
VIC COUNTRY SUMMER SQUAD
Bendigo Pioneers (2): Max Thompson*, Cody Walker
Dandenong Stingrays (4): Gus Kennedy, Marcus Prasad, Louis Salopek*, Darcy Szerszyn
Geelong Falcons (7): Ned Badrock, Charlie Hanegraaf, Darcy Harrington, Jack Pickett, Fletcher Pulleine, Tom Steinfort*, Noah Williams
Gippsland Power (8): Keenan Boi, Cohen Dent*, Hamish Gill, Xavier Ladbrook, Wil Malady, Marlon Neocleous, Clancy Snell, Cody Templeton
GWV Rebels (2): Ethan Drever, Toby Hellessey*
Murray Bushrangers (2): Tanner Armstrong, Angus Williams
* – denotes bottom-age (2009-born)
VIC METRO SUMMER SQUAD
Calder Cannons (4): Koby Bewick*, Sam Harris, Blake Justice, Tevita Rodan*
Eastern Ranges (5): Harrison Chapman, Sam Devers, Jordan Knapp, Archie Spencer, Baxter Sruk*
Northern Knights (5): Sam Gayfer, Tate Hodgson, Lewis Houndsome, Kai Parker, Harry Van Hattum
Oakleigh Chargers (3): Archie Fogarty, Harper McCullough*, Flynn Woolhouse
Sandringham Dragons (4): Arki Butler, Tyson Bradley, Gus Teixeira, Henry Thomas
Western Jets (5): Khaled El Souki, Lachlan Hicks, Jake Miller*, Angus Tippett, Billy Wigmore
* – denotes bottom-age (2009-born)
Vic Country & Metro summer squads revealed
THE 2026 Vic Country and Metro summer squads have been announced, with 51 of the state’s brightest prospects earning selection. Both sides contain five bottom-age (2009-born) players, while Victoria’s 11 National Academy members gain automatic entry, and nine club-tied players have been included. >> SCROLL to see the full squads Leading the 2026 eligible crop […]
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