The cream of the crop

I think the selectors did a fantastic job, given the difficulty in comparing and subjectively selecting players from divisions one and two. We're picking what we believe were the best performers from the week - 200 players - and that's a separate issue to the players that might be the best performers at AFL level in three years time, so it is a slightly different mindset.

We've selected the side based on the players we felt, over the 12 quarters, had done enough in earning All-Australian honours. But the added difficulty there is that players are regularly rotated on and off the ground, due to the workload demanded of the players.
We then took up the challenge to pick the side based on position, for the second successive year, so we had to get some balance overall.

But there were many players that were contenders including - Matthew Vasilevski (Vic Metro), Chris Schmidt (South Australia), Shawn Colbung (Western Australia), Bachar Houli (Vic Metro), Cyril Rioli (Northern Territory), Albert Proud (Queensland), Chris Smith (Queensland), Matthew Kreuzer (Vic Metro) and Mitchell Brown (Vic Country). They all had excellent championships and caught the eye. But in the end, we had to pick them and announce them when the presentations were made, so here goes…

2006 NAB AFL UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS - ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM

B: Patrick Veszpremi (Vic M), Nathan Brown (Vic C), Mitch Thorp (TAS)

HB: David Armitage (QLD), Lachlan Hansen (Vic C), Ricky Petterd (QLD)

C: Daniel Connors (Vic C), Garry Moss (WA), Shaun Grigg (Vic C)

HF: Leroy Jetta (WA), Scott Gumbleton (WA), Daniel Dzufer (QLD)

F: Tom Hislop (TAS), Tom Hawkins (Vic M), Tom Hurley (SA)

Foll: Matthew Leuenberger (WA), Bryce Gibbs (SA), Leigh Adams (Vic M)

I/C: Craig Bird (NSW/ACT), Nathan Djerrkura (NT), Jarryd Allen (Vic M), Robert Eddy (Vic C)

Coach: David Dickson - Victoria Metropolitan

Assistant coach: Craig McRae - Queensland

Selectors: Chairman - Kevin Sheehan (AFL talent manager), Alan McConnell (AIS-AFL high performance coach), Rick Barham (Sydney recruiting manager), Wayne Hughes (Carlton recruiting manager), Derek Hine (Collingwood recruiting manager) and Shane Rogers (Fremantle Victorian manager)

THE TEAM:

Patrick Veszpremi - Victoria Metropolitan - 180cm, 82kg, Northern Knights/St Marys
Powerful medium defender/midfielder, Veszpremi doesn't turn 17 until September and is therefore ineligible for the 2006 Draft. He is very good in defence or on-ball, with his long goals a feature. Wins contested ball very well and is an excellent kick.

Nathan Brown - Victoria Country - 194cm, 89kg, North Ballarat Rebels/Ballarat
Left-footed tall defender, Brown can also go forward. Cool under pressure, he was voted MVP for his state and topped off consistent championship with 20 possessions and six marks in trying conditions.

Mitch Thorp - Tasmania - 195cm, 85kg, Northern Bombers
Tall defender/forward, Thorp also plays as a tall midfielder. Strong overhead and mobile, he took 26 marks for the championships, had 17 hit outs and averaged 21 possessions. Among Tasmania's best player in all three matches, he won its most valuable player award.

David Armitage - Queensland - 183cm, 79kg, Morningside
Medium midfielder/defender, Armitage attacks the ball strongly and is quick with his hands. Neat left-footer, he averages 20 possessions and provided Queensland with consistent, great drive throughout the championships.

Lachlan Hansen - Victoria Country - 195cm, 92kg, Gippsland Power/Nar Nar Goon
Tall defender, Hansen is very quick and courageous. He is excellent with his strong marking and aggressive spoiling. Received heavy knock in game two and courageously bounced back to play in the final match in a key defensive role.

Ricky Petterd - Queensland - 184cm, 77kg, Broadbeach
Medium defender/midfielder, Petterd averaged 24 disposals in an outstanding championship, which culminated with him winning his state's most valuable player and the Harrison Medal as the best-and-fairest player in division two. He has excellent pace and ability overhead.

Daniel Connors - Victoria Country - 182cm, 77kg, Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca
Medium midfielder, Connors is strong both in the air and in contests. Took one of the marks of the championships and had an excellent carnival. Left-footer, Connors took six marks in extremely wet conditions in final match.

Garry Moss - Western Australia - 178cm, 68kg, East Perth
Small midfielder with neat skills on his preferred left side, he is a courageous playmaker. He averaged 20 possessions and led his team well throughout the championships. He excelled in both rebounding and sending the ball inside 50.

Shaun Grigg - Victoria Country - 189cm, 79kg, North Ballarat Rebels/Redan
Medium midfielder/defender, Grigg uses the ball well on his preferred left side and can push forward to kick goals. A prolific ball-winner, averaging 26 possessions (17 kicks and nine handballs), he also laid 12 tackles for the championships.

Leroy Jetta - Western Australia - 175cm, 73kg, South Fremantle
Small forward/midfielder, Jetta has explosive pace and a great side-step. He reads the ball well off hands and is dangerous near goal. He averaged 24 possessions and worked hard for his team throughout the championships. Jetta was also named All-Australian in 2005.

Scott Gumbleton - Western Australia - 195cm, 92kg, Peel Thunder
Tall forward/defender, Gumbleton possess courage in the air and great hands. A mobile player, he presents in front and averaged seven marks to provide Western Australia with a target up forward.

Daniel Dzufer - Queensland - 186cm, 81kg, Zillmere Eagles
A left-footer midfielder/forward, Dzufer can find space and is strong overhead. He averaged eight marks per match during the championships, along with 19 possessions.

Tom Hislop - Tasmania, 185cm, 85kg, Burnie
Medium midfielder/forward, Hislop averaged 20 possessions and five marks in the championships. He also had the most tackles (24) in division two, highlighting his strong aggressive style. Champion Data player rankings had him score 478 points - one less than Vic Metro's Tom Hawkins.

Tom Hawkins - Victoria Metropolitan, 197cm, 95kg, Sandringham Dragons/Melbourne Grammar School/Finley
Tall forward, Hawkins imposed himself in the championships, taking 25 marks - including 13 contested. He kicked nine goals and eight behinds, was mobile and agile for someone of his size and he won the Larke Medal for division one's best-and-fairest. He was Champion Data's highest ranked division one player with 479 points.

Tom Hurley - South Australia, 178cm, 72kg, Sturt/Rostrevor College
Small midfielder, Hurley reads the game exceptionally well, has clean hands and is very courageous. A prolific ball-winner, he averaged 27 possessions for the championships. He was ranked equal first in the championships for the most disposals, which included 34 touches in the first match. He was a fine leader for his state team.

Matthew Leuenberger - Western Australia, 202cm, 92kg, East Perth
Ruckman with excellent mobility and agility, Leuenberger had 61 hit outs - the most in the championships. His marking in extremely wet conditions in game three was impressive for his team.

Bryce Gibbs - South Australia, 188cm, 79kg, Glenelg/Plympton
Poised, well-balanced medium midfielder, Gibbs' hard-running and footy smarts earned him 74 disposals during the championships, at almost 25 touches per match. He won 34 possessions in his first match against Vic Metro.

Leigh Adams - Victoria Metropolitan, 176cm, 83kg, Eastern Ranges/Woori Yallock
Small midfielder, Adams can play run-with rolls in the midfield or as a small forward. He is quick and reads the game well, while he averaged 24 disposals per match. He captained the Vic Metro side.

Craig Bird - New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, 177cm, 75kg, Nelson Bay
Small midfielder, Bird captained NSW/ACT and accumulated 69 disposals, averaging 23 touches. He had 18 hard-ball gets - the second best in the championships - and laid 17 tackles, which was equal third. He also led the championships in clearances, with 22 at an average of seven per match - four more than his nearest rival.

Nathan Djerrkura - Northern Territory, 174cm, 75kg, Wanderers/Scotch College
Super quick small midfielder/forward, Djerrkura finished the championships in excellent style, with a best-on-ground performance against NSW/ACT. In that final match, he won 24 possessions, 10 marks and two goals. He has outstanding evasive skills and averaged 22 disposals for the championships. He won Northern Territory's most valuable player award.

Jarryd Allen - Victoria Metropolitan, 192cm, 85kg, Calder Cannons/Riddells Creek
Tall defender/ruckman, Allen is also able to go forward. He was a consistent player throughout the championships and was ranked 10th overall in the Champion Data player rankings.

Robert Eddy - Victoria Country, 181cm, 83kg
Medium midfielder, Eddy had the equal most disposals with South Australia's Tom Hurley. He averaged 27 disposals. Eddy was the only player to get over 60 kicks - he recorded 66 kicks. His best-on-ground performance in Vic Country's second match against South Australia was a highlight.