THREE undefeated teams take to the field in Round 2 of the National Under 18 Championships, with South Australia facing Round 1 losers Vic Country, and the Allies hosting Vic Metro. A number of teams have been bolstered with the return of big names such as Nick Blakey, Riley Bowman and Jack Bytel set to play in round 2. Vic Metro and South Australia head in as favourites, but the Allies are as close to full strength as available and will be keen to cause an upset, as will Vic Country against a strong South Australian side.  

ALLIES V. VIC METRO

Saturday, June 16, 11am

Southport, Queensland

The Allies have retained a relatively stable squad for their clash with Vic Metro, making just the three changes, with Nick Blakey headlining the ins. The key forward heads straight to full-forward with Caleb Graham the unlucky omission from the first game. Murray Bushrangers’ Mathew Walker has also come into the side at the expense of Michael Mummery, while Thomas Matthews lines up at half-back in a straight swap for Ryan Gilmore. For Vic Metro, they have shuffled the magnets with seven changes, including a forced change with Riley Collier-Dawkins out through injury. Potential 2019 number one draft pick and round one hero, slotting four goals, Noah Anderson is amongst the omissions, along with top 30 hopeful Joe Ayton Delaney. Other outs include Sandringham quartet Angus Hanrahan, Jack Mahony, Alastair Richards and James Rendell. Replacing them is AFL Academy member Jack Bytel, bottom-age talents Matthew Rowell and Dylan Williams, half-back Xavier Fry, Western’s Daly Andrews, tall Joe Griffiths and defender-turned-forward Jack Evans.

Allies:

B: 36. Matthew McGuiness – 37. Jacob Koschitzke – 11. Keidean Coleman
HB: 47. Nicholas Baker – 48. Dirk Koenen – 17. Thomas Matthews
C: 20. Fraser Turner – 10. Chayce Jones – 28. Matthew Green
HF: 19. Bailey Scott – 41. Mathew Walker – 8. Baxter Norton
F: 31. Connor McFadyen – 49. Nick Blakey – 9. Blair Rubock
R: 40. Kieren Briggs – 26. Thomas Green – 46. Tarryn Thomas
INT: 18. Lachlan McDonald – 13. Ethan Jackson – 12. Mitchell O’Neill – 45. Jack Tomkinson – 16. James Peatling

IN: Thomas Matthews, Mathew Waker, Nick Blakey
OUT: Ryan Gilmore, Caleb Graham, Michael Mummery

Vic Metro:

B: 16. Noah Answerth – 27. Will Kelly – 25. Stefan Radovanovic
HB: 14. Isaac Quaynor – 28. Ben Silvagni – 23. Buku Khamis
C: 9. Daly Andrews – 15. Bailey Smith – 13. Lachlan Sholl
HF: 3. Zac Butters – 36. Ben King – 6. Curtis Taylor
F: 4. Rhylee West – 37. Joe Griffiths – 17. Jack Evans
R: 35. Thomas Hallebone – 18. Xavier O’Halloran – 12. Tom McKenzie
INT: 8. James Rowbottom – 19. Jack Bytel – 21. Dylan Williams – 5. Matthew Rowell – 10. Xavier Fry

IN: Daly Andrews, Joe Griffiths, Jack Evans, Jack Bytel, Dylan Williams, Matthew Rowell, Xavier Fry
OUT: Noah Anderson, Angus Hanrahan, Jack Mahony, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Joe Ayton-Delaney, Alastair Richards, James Rendell  

SOUTH AUSTRALIA V. VIC COUNTRY

Sunday, June 17, 11am

Adelaide Oval, South Australia

South Australia returns to the field after a week off to face the winless Vic Country. The Croweaters have made six changes to the team that belted Western Australia by 89 points in the standalone Round 3 clash. Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy member Kai Pudney comes in to the team, along with James Siviour who returns from injury. Also into the team is Tate Coleman at half-back, Kade Chandler at half-forward, Job Colwell in a pocket and Finn Betterman on the bench. For Vic Country, Riley Bowman is the key tall inclusion, swapping with Bailey Schmidt, while Country have also omitted Dane Hollenkamp in favour of some speed, bringing in Matty Lloyd and Cooper Stephens. Injuries to Jye Caldwell and Mitch Riordan have forced Country’s hand, with Jake Frawley and Jai Taylor coming into the team. Gippsland bottom-ager Brock Smith is the fifth omission.

South Australia:

B: 27. Jez McLennan – 33. Tyler Martin – 10. Martin Frederick
HB: 7. Tate Coleman – 37. Riley Grundy – 13. Connor Rozee
C: 22. Jacob Kennerley – 16. Tom Lewis – 9. Jake Tarca
HF: 4. Kade Chandler – 47. Hugo Munn – 14. Izak Rankine
F: 24. Job Colwell – 42. Jack Lukosius – 2. Hayden Sampson
R: 40. James Braidwood – 34. Jackson Hately – 22. Luke Valente
INT: 29. Kai Pudney – 44. James Siviour – 25. Tom Sparrow – 43. Will Gould – 11. Finn Betterman

IN: Tate Coleman, Kade Chandler, Job Colwell, Kai Pudney, James Siviour, Finn Betterman
OUT: Oscar Chapman, Ben Jarvis, Aaron Nietschke, Mihail Lochowiak, Robert Irra, Tobin Cox

Vic Country:

B: 5. Xavier Duursma – 39. Connor Idun – 13. Thomas Berry
HB: 15. Lachlan Ash – 25. Kyle Reid – 6. Laitham Vandermeer
C: 10. Zac Foot – 19. Sam Fletcher – 24. Matty Lloyd
HF: 30. Oscar Brownless – 29. Bailey Williams – 27. Zane Barzen
F: 12. Caleb Serong – 35. Hudson Garoni – 3. Toby Bedford
R: 36. Riley Bowman – 8. Ned McHenry – 2. Sam Walsh
INT: 26. Matt McGannon – 14. Sam Flanders – 7. Jai Taylor – 20. Cooper Stephens – 16. Jake Frawley

IN: Matty Lloyd, Riley Bowman, Jai Taylor, Cooper Stephens, Jake Frawley
OUT: Mitch Riordan, Jye Caldwell, Bailey Schmidt, Dane Hollenkamp, Brock Smith