VIC Country has announced its 32-player squad for the 2024 AFL Under 18 National Championships, with its opening match on the horizon this weekend. The Victorians begin their campaign with a clash against South Australia at IKON Park this Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>> SCROLL for the full squad & fixture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite currently sitting second last on the Coates Talent League ladder, GWV Rebels have contributed a high of nine players to the squad, including two AFL Academy members. Murray Bushrangers also boast a strong contingent with six representatives, along with Dandenong Stingrays (five).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with the remaining four Country regions, two players have been selected out of the Metro-aligned Oakleigh Chargers – Jasper Alger<\/a> and Finn O’Sullivan<\/a>. The latter is among seven National Academy members to feature in a roster which is heavy on top-agers (2006-born).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only four bottom-agers (2007-born) made the cut; namely Willem Duursma<\/a>, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves<\/a>, Riley Onley<\/a>, and Ben Rongdit<\/a>. Dandenong Stingrays tall Riak Andrew<\/a> stands alone as the sole over-ager (2005-born) to feature, and is the brother of rising Gold Coast Sun, Mac<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the quirks of the squad, twins Jack<\/a> and Matt Whitlock<\/a> have been included. While capable of playing at opposite ends of the field to each other, they have most recently featured in the same forward 50 for Murray – to decent levels of success, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the club-tied players to feature is River Stevens<\/a>, the son of former North Melbourne champion Anthony<\/em><\/strong>. Duursma is the brother of three currently listed AFL\/W players, while Harry Charleson<\/a>‘s brother Lachie<\/strong> was drafted to Port Adelaide last year, and O’Sullivan is a cousin of Carlton’s Sam Walsh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After their opening game against the Croweaters on Sunday, Vic Country has a 20-day break until its away trip to Western Australia on June 29. The Big V then takes on the Allies on July 7 in Queensland, before finishing with a derby against Vic Metro on July 14 back at IKON Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n AFL Academy members:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Archer Day-Wicks, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor, Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay, Noah Mraz, Tobie Travaglia*, Jack Whitlock*, Matt Whitlock*<\/p>\n\n\n\n * \u2013 denotes injury replacement<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n By age:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2005-born (over-age): 1 By region:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bendigo Pioneers: 4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bendigo Pioneers (4):<\/strong> Dandenong Stingrays (5):<\/strong> Geelong Falcons (4):<\/strong> Gippsland Power (2):<\/strong> GWV Rebels (9):<\/strong> Murray Bushrangers (6):<\/strong> Oakleigh Chargers (2):<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n vs. South Australia | Sunday June 9, 12:30pm @ IKON Park <\/p>\n\n\n\nSQUAD BREAKDOWN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2006-born (top-age): 27
2007-born (bottom-age): 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong Stingrays: 5
Geelong Falcons: 4
Gippsland Power: 2
GWV Rebels: 9
Murray Bushrangers: 6
Oakleigh Chargers: 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n2024 VIC COUNTRY UNDER 18 SQUAD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
James Barrat
Archer Day-Wicks
Connor Evans
Tobie Travaglia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Riak Andrew
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
Cooper Hynes
Harvey Langford
Noah Mraz<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xavier Ivisic
Lachie Jaques
Ben Rongdit
River Stevens<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Willem Duursma
Xavier Lindsay<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Floyd Burmeister
Harry Charleson
Jonty Faull
Oliver Hannaford
Sam Lalor
Mitchell Lloyd
Jack Ough
Flynn Penry
Rhys Unwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe Berry
Riley Onley
Cohen Paul
Oliver Warburton
Jack Whitlock
Matt Whitlock<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jasper Alger
Finn O’Sullivan<\/p>\n\n\n\n2024 VIC COUNTRY UNDER 18 FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
vs. Western Australia | Saturday June 29, 12:30pm @ Claremont Oval
vs. Allies | Sunday July 7, 10:35am @ Brighton Homes Arena
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday July 14, 10:35am @ IKON Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n