A STAR-STUDDED Vic Country outfit – headlined by potential number one pick Cody Walker and a host of top-end talents particularly from the Gippsland region – is ready to go ahead of next week’s AFL Under 18 Championships. Vic Country take on the Allies up in Blacktown to kick off proceedings, and have named a 31-player squad.

While Country is without talented forward Jack Pickett (ACL) for the national carnival, they have half a dozen National Academy members in the squad. Walker and Tanner Armstrong both have ties to Richmond through the NGA, though the former has his heart set on following dad Andrew to Princes Park, while the latter has been solid throughout Murray Bushrangers’ campaign and is one the yellow and black fans will be keen to see on the national stage.

Winning last year’s MVP for his side in the Under 17 Futures game alongside Walker, Noah Williams is another Geelong Falcons star to keep tabs on, while Dandenong’s Darcy Szerszyn – who recently returned from injury – is another National Academy member. Twin towers Xavier Ladbrook and Clancy Snell provide great aerial ability and kicking skills for their size, and could be utilised up either end. Though having missed a bulk of the Talent League season, Wil Malady oozes X-factor and was the hero for this groups’ Under 16s-winning campaign.

Looking across the squad there is no shortage of excitement machines with Power small forwards Keenan Boi and Marlon Neocleous capable of doing plenty of damage from ground level. Wil Antrobus is in red-hot form for Dandenong Stingrays, and he and bottom-age Pios prospect Max Thompson have the potential to provide stacks of run and carry out of defence.

Ethan Drever is GWV Rebels’ leading prospect following consistent midfield performances, while Stingrays’ ball-winner Jackson Phillips has also had a remarkably strong season. Capable of the incredible, Gippsland Power hard nut Cody Templeton could play forward or midfield, while Nate Mensch (Geelong) is father-son eligible to the Cats next year. One player who will be impossible to miss is 210cm Cohen Dent who has been dominating for Gippsland Power, and the bottom-age ruck could incredibly continue to grow over the next 18 months.

Gippsland boasts a squad-high nine players, followed by Geelong Falcons’ seven, Dandenong Stingrays’ six and Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ five. Bendigo Pioneers (three) and Murray Bushrangers (Armstrong) complete the 32-player team.

2026 VIC COUNTRY SQUAD: