THE TIME is now for this year’s budding AFL Draft crop, with the 2026 AFL Under 18 National Championships set to get underway on Saturday. A 10-game fixture awaits as five teams battle it out for the title, currently held by South Australia. Find out all you need to know about the marquee event.

>> Power Rankings: Pre-Championships Top 30

WHO

Five teams will compete in the Under 18 Boys championships; the Allies, Vic Country, Vic Metro, South Australia, and Western Australia. The Allies squad is comprised of talent spanning across five states and territories; ACT, Northern Territory, NSW, Tasmania, and Queensland. As usual, Victoria is split into its metropolitan and regional pools.

Being an Under 18 competition, the majority of selected players are in their conventional draft year – meaning they turn 18 by the end of 2026. That 2008-born crop is supported by over-age players (2007-born) who continue to press their case after being overlooked last year, along with a smattering of the most talented bottom-age (2009-born) prospects.

>> SCROLL to see all the squads

WHAT

The Under 18 National Championships mark the premier event on the footballing pathway calendar. It brings all the top draft prospects from around the country together with state pride on the line, and a chance to impress AFL club recruiters. It is simply the biggest stage there is in junior football.

At the end of any championship series is the title, currently held by South Australia after last year’s undefeated run. Each team plays against each other once in the round robin tournament, with the team that finishes atop the standings at the conclusion of the carnival to be crowned champions.

If two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team that won the head-to-head matchup between those teams. If more than two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team with the highest percentage.

Individual honours are also up for grabs. The top honour is the Larke Medal, awarded to the competition’s best and fairest player. Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards will also be handed out among each side, while the All-Australian team will be decided by AFL pathway staff and club recruiters.

>> RECAP: 2025 AFL Under 18 National Championships

WHEN & WHERE

Western Australia v South Australia
Saturday June 13, 12:15pm @ Mineral Resources Park

Vic Country vs. Allies
Sunday June 14, 12:45pm @ Blacktown ISP

Western Australia vs. Vic Metro
Saturday June 20, 10:15am @ Cockburn Central

South Australia vs. Allies
Sunday June 21, 1:00pm @ Alberton Oval

Vic Metro vs. Allies
Sunday June 28, 11:00am @ Mars Stadium

Vic Metro vs. South Australia
Friday July 3, 3:15pm @ Marvel Stadium

Vic Country vs. Western Australia
Friday July 3, 5:45pm @ Marvel Stadium

Vic Country vs. South Australia
Wednesday July 8, 10:30am @ Mars Stadium

Allies vs. Western Australia
Wednesday July 8, 1:00pm @ Mars Stadium

Vic Country vs. Vic Metro
Sunday July 19, 11:00am @ Mars Stadium

HOW TO WATCH & FOLLOW

Every match of the Under 18 National Championships will be streamed live via the official AFL website and app. The AFL’s match centre will also provide live scores and stats. Rookie Me Central will be in attendance for all 10 fixtures, with Scouting Notes on the top performing players to follow, along with all the latest news on individual honours.

SQUADS

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ALLIES:

1 – Sonny Smiler (Northern Territory), 2 – Brynley Ryan (Giants Academy), 3 – Cooper French (Giants Academy), 4 – Guy Jenkin (Swans Academy), 5 – Lachie Price (Swans Academy), 6 – Jake Beams (Tasmania Devils), 7 – Archie Devine (Tasmania Devils), 10 – Archie Hill (Suns Academy), 12 – Cooper Hodge (Lions Academy), 14 – Caylen Murray (Lions Academy), 15 – Matthew Owen (Lions Academy), 16 – Archie Watts (Lions Academy), 17 – Henry Meaney (Swans Academy), 18 – Ben Barnard (Northern Territory), 19 – Jackson Bridge (Lions Academy), 20 – Ben Pignatelli (Swans Academy), 21 – Jake Medved (Swans Academy), 22 – Hugo Timms (Northern Territory), 23 – Ethan Matthews (Giants Academy), 24 – Charlie Bovill (Tasmania Devils), 25 – Will Morahan (Swans Academy), 26 – Mason McGroder (Swans Academy), 27 – Reece Thompson (Lions Academy), 28 – Coen Hardy (Swans Academy), 29 – Taj Murray (Northern Territory), 30 – Jonah Harris (Suns Academy), 31 – Aiden McCartney (Swans Academy)

>> MORE: Allies squad announcement

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

1 – Josh Bell (West Adelaide), 2 – Laurence Andriani (West Adelaide), 3 – Blake Karpany (Woodville-West Torrens), 4 – Jacob McNicol (Glenelg), 5 – Sam Tassone (North Adelaide), 6 – Jake Eime (Central District), 7 – Zacky Young (North Adelaide), 8 – Lachie Werts (Sturt), 9 – Dean Hatedakis (West Adelaide), 10 – Kai Ivins (Norwood), 11 – Jack Leys (Woodville-West Torrens), 12 – Gabe Patterson (Glenelg), 14 – Cain Florance (South Adelaide), 15 – Kodah Edwards (South Adelaide), 16 – Taj Garrett (Sturt), 17 – Hudson Boal (South Adelaide), 18 – Harvey Croker (Glenelg), 19 – Memphis Webb (North Adelaide), 20 – Ben Copping (Glenelg), 21 – Jack Nelson (Sturt), 22 – Jack Gordon (Central District), 23 – Hugo Jaeschke (Sturt), 25 – Anthony Long (West Adelaide), 26 – Thomas Gribben (Norwood), 27 – Archie Van Dyk (South Adelaide), 28 – Kale Matthews-Hampton (Sturt), 30 – Harvey Chapman (Sturt), 31 – Charlie Bradford (West Adelaide), 32 – Dougie Cochrane (Central District), 34 – Jack Slattery (Woodville-West Torrens), 35 – Kai Edwards (Glenelg), 36 – Harry Franz (Glenelg), 38 – Mitch Harris (Woodville-West Torrens), 39 – Ethan Herbert (North Adelaide), 41 – Jobe Janeway (Glenelg), 43 – Lincoln Pitt (West Adelaide)

>> MORE: South Australia squad announcement

VIC COUNTRY:

1 – Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers), 2 – Tanner Armstrong (Murray Bushrangers), 3 – Gus Kennedy (Dandenong Stingrays), 4 – Ethan Drever (GWV Rebels), 5 – Noah Williams (Geelong Falcons), 6 – Marlon Neocleous (Gippsland Power), 7 – Max Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers), 8 – Wil Antrobus (Dandenong Stingrays), 9 – Wil Malady (Gippsland Power), 10 – Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power), 11 – Jackson Phillips (Dandenong Stingrays), 12 – Charlie Hanegraaf (Geelong Falcons), 13 – Levi Macumber (Gippsland Power), 14 – Archie Elliott (GWV Rebels), 15 – Cooper White (Dandenong Stingrays), 16 – Oscar Henwood (Gippsland Power), 17 – Keenan Boi (Gippsland Power), 18 – Ned Badrock (Geelong Falcons), 19 – Darcy Szerszyn (Dandenong Stingrays), 20 – Andrio Sousa (Dandenong Stingrays), 22 – Klay Nicholls (GWV Rebels), 24 – Darcy Harrington (Geelong Falcons), 26 – Leo Ellerton (GWV Rebels), 27 – Eamon Austin (Bendigo Pioneers), 31 – Jack Pickett (Geelong Falcons), 33 – Xavier Ladbrook (Gippsland Power), 34 – Clancy Snell (Gippsland Power), 35 – Jett Elek (Geelong Falcons), 36 – Nate Mensch (Geelong Falcons), 37 – Jackson O’Brien (GWV Rebels), 38 – Cohen Dent (Gippsland Power)

>> MORE: Vic Country squad announcement

VIC METRO:

1 – George Dimer (Sandringham Dragons), 2 – Harper McCullough (Oakleigh Chargers), 3 – Harvie Cooke (Northern Knights), 4 – Khaled El Souki (Western Jets), 5 – Koby Bewick (Calder Cannons), 6 – Jordan Knapp (Eastern Ranges), 7 – Toby Krasna (Northern Knights), 8 – Sam Harris (Calder Cannons), 9 – Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons), 10 – Max Downes (Northern Knights), 11 – Tevita Rodan (Calder Cannons), 12 – Archie Spencer (Eastern Ranges), 13 – Lachie Burrows (Sandringham Dragons), 14 – Zac Antonellos (Eastern Ranges), 15 – Jett Flower (Eastern Ranges), 16 – Lachie Hicks (Western Jets), 17 – Arki Butler (Sandringham Dragons), 18 – Albert MacGowan (Sandringham Dragons), 19 – Kai Parker (Northern Knights), 20 – Billy Wigmore (Western Jets), 21 – Sam Devers (Eastern Ranges), 22 – Nic Staropoli (Calder Cannons), 23 – Blake Justice (Calder Cannons), 24 – Harrison Chapman (Eastern Ranges), 25 – Archie Fogarty (Oakleigh Chargers), 26 – Henry Thomas (Sandringham Dragons), 27 – Harrison Leeder (Northern Knights), 28 – Sam Gayfer (Northern Knights), 29 – Angus Tippett (Western Jets), 30 – Flynn Woolhouse (Oakleigh Chargers), 31 – Seb Marsic (Oakleigh Chargers), 32 – Jake Miller (Western Jets), 33 – Tyson Bradley (Sandringham Dragons), 34 – Lewis Houndsome (Northern Knights), 35 – Tate Hodgson (Northern Knights), 36 – Harry Van Hattum (Northern Knights), 37 – Nathaniel Jenkins (Calder Cannons), 38 – Macauli Buck (Western Jets), 39 – Angus Brown (Sandringham Dragons), 40 – Baxter Sruk (Eastern Ranges)

>> MORE: Vic Metro squad announcement

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

1 – Axel Walsh (East Perth), 3 – Benji Van Rooyen (Claremont), 4 – Cooper Ramsay (East Fremantle), 5 – Frazer Rickson (Subiaco), 6 – Mitchell Stirling (Peel Thunder), 7 – Byron Foster (South Fremantle), 8 – Hudson Graham (South Fremantle), 9 – Koby LeCras (West Perth), 10 – Harvey Spawton-Guy (West Perth), 11 – Conor Bushe-Jones (South Fremantle), 12 – Elijah Dennis (Claremont), 13 – Cody Lee (Perth), 14 – Maxim Collins (West Perth), 15 – Jacob Kee (Claremont), 16 – Ben Wood (East Fremantle), 17 – Noah Hannaford (East Fremantle), 19 – Oscar Richardson (East Fremantle), 20 – Fynn Tomasini (Perth), 21 – Heath Wilson (South Fremantle), 22 – Tom Brown (Claremont), 23 – George Gale (Claremont), 24 – Elijah Williams (Claremont), 25 – Lucas Robinson (South Fremantle), 26 – Garrison Kenh (East Perth), 27 – Marcus Motton (East Fremantle), 29 – Harper Banfield (Claremont), 30 – Rafe Williamson (West Perth), 32 – Sam O’Brien (Subiaco), 33 – Robert Farmer (Claremont), 34 – Lachlan Sheldrick (Claremont), 35 – Heath Mellody (Claremont), 36 – Campbell Creyk (West Perth), 37 – Noah Braun (Claremont), 38 – Sheldon Pickett (Swan Districts), 39 – Hunter Hearn (East Fremantle), 40 – James Artemis (East Fremantle), 42 – Ethan Turner (East Perth), 43 – Lachlan McGlade (East Perth), 44 – Leo Steed (Swan Districts), 45 – Cameron Maynard (South Fremantle), 47 – Jayden Clarke (Perth), 48 – Taj Allan (Swan Districts), 49 – Kyan Perera (Subiaco), 50 – Finlay Yeo (East Fremantle)

>> MORE: Western Australia squad announcement