Michael Alvaro

All Michael's posts
Lawrence to give draft “one more go” in new-look role

AFTER being overlooked at the end of his top-age campaign last year, Giants Academy product Luke Lawrence is preparing to give the AFL Draft “one more go” in 2023. The 18-year-old comes with a plan and expects to put his name forward for draft contention thanks to a revised role, devised by academy coach Tadhg […]

PODCAST | Game Sense: Episode 18 – SANFLW Rd 1

EPISODE 18 of Game Sense has dropped, with the team reconvening to break down all the action from Round 1 of the SANFL Women’s season. Host Michael Alvaro and Rookie Me Central Chief Editor Peter Williams run through all the results, before breaking down how Round 2 may play out, and discussing a key technicality […]

Richardson, Graham gain ground in preseason

BILLY Richardson and Will Graham were two of six Queenslanders to have run out on AFL Grand Final day in last year’s Under 17 Futures match, and are now primed to make a splash as top-agers. The Sunshine State products, of the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns academies respectively, have had different paths to […]

2023 Preseason Testing Top 5s – Swans Academy

THE SWANS Academy convened in Sydney this month to partake in their annual preseason testing event, under the eye of Rookie Me. Under 18 talent from both the boys and girls squads underwent a range of physical tests; from vertical jumps, to sprints and endurance running. >> SCROLL for all top five results Explosive over-ager Bililign Robertson […]

2023 Preseason Testing Top 10s – GWS Giants Academy

THE GWS Giants Academy convened in Canberra this month to partake in their annual preseason testing event, under the eye of Rookie Me. Under 18 talent from both the boys and girls squads underwent a range of physical tests; from vertical jumps, to sprints and endurance running. >> SCROLL for all top 10 results Over-ager […]

Read, Rogers ready to light up the Gold Coast sky

THE GOLD Coast Suns Academy boasts some prime AFL Draft talent in 2023, headlined by a trio of National Academy inductees. Among them are nippy midfielder-forward Jake Rogers and mobile ruckman Ethan Read, both of whom sat down with Rookie Me Central for a Q&A at the recent Queensland preseason testing event. >> Squad: 2023 […]

SANFL Women’s Player Focus: Lucy Boyd (West Adelaide)

WEST Adelaide secured a drought-breaking win in the opening SANFL Women’s round on Saturday, with plenty of emerging talent on show for both Westies and Glenelg. One such talent was tall utility Lucy Boyd, a bottom-ager who showed her wares in defence against a couple of high-level opponents. She’s the subject of our Round 1 […]

Swans Academy guns ready to fire in 2023

THE 2023 season is fast approaching for budding AFL Draft prospects around the nation, including a couple of national academy members tied to the Sydney Swans. Powerful pair Lachlan Cabor and Caiden Cleary are raring to go ahead of their respective top-age campaigns, throughout which they are set to wax with one another quite often. […]

Famous names light up SANFL U18 testing

FAMOUS names and draft prospects alike lit up the recent SANFL Under 18 preseason testing event, where South Australia’s top juniors were put through their paces. Season proper is set to get underway on March 25, and plenty of promising talents look in good stead to hit the ground running. >> SCROLL to see the […]

Suns announce 2023 U18 boys academy

THE 2023 Gold Coast Suns Under 18 boys academy has been finalised, with 40 players selected among a bumper squad. Spanning four age groups (2004-2007 born), the latest intake features a trio of AFL Academy members and players who will strut their stuff in vast expanses of the nation. Set to briefly turn out in […]

Squad | 2023 GIANTS Academy: U18 Boys

GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) has released its Under 18 and 16 male squads for the 2023 season, with 52 players making the cut in the elder category. Three Giants Academy graduates were drafted to Western Sydney last year, and there promises to be a few more in the frame over the next year. We highlight […]

VFL & VFLW Round 1 fixtures revealed

THE AFL has released Round 1 fixtures for the 2023 VFL and VFLW seasons, set to both get underway on the weekend of March 24-26. Aligning with Round 2 of the AFL Premiership season, the opening weekend of state league action will see both competition’s premiers unfurl their flags. >> SCROLL to see the full […]

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