The AFL has today announced the teams to compete in the 2023 AFL Futures match which will be played at the MCG ahead of the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The match will feature 45 of the most talented under 17 boys footballers from across the country.
The two teams have been named after former Geelong Cats captain and four-time premiership player Joel Selwood and recently retired West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui.
All players named for the sixth annual AFL Futures match are born in 2006 and will be eligible for selection in the 2024 AFL Draft.
The AFL Futures match provides next year’s draft prospects an opportunity to be part of a high-performance environment and showcase their talent on the big stage as they push for selection for the 2024 AFL Academy Boys program.
Players were nominated by state talent programs, national selectors and AFL clubs, with all states and territories represented across the 46-player squad.
AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “The AFL Futures match is a highlight on the AFL Talent calendar and provides football fans an introduction to the talented young players who are about to enter their draft year.
“We are delighted to be able to play the game ahead of the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final and provide the opportunity for our young stars from across the country to experience the excitement of being part of the biggest day of the AFL season.”
The 2023 AFL Futures squad will arrive in Melbourne on Friday, September 29.
Players will train at The Hangar on Friday afternoon prior to a team dinner at Mercure Albert Park where they will be addressed by Selwood and Naitanui.
The 2023 AFL Futures match will commence at 9:35am on Saturday, with all squad members to also attend the 2023 AFL Toyota Grand Final between Collingwood and Brisbane Lions.
Sydney Swans Academy coach Mark McVeigh will coach Team Selwood, with assistants to include Mark Brown (Murray Bushrangers), Lauren Morecroft (Eastern Ranges) and Jeromey Webberley (Tasmania Devils).
Victoria Metro under 16 coach Andrew Sturgess will coach Team Naitanui with assistants to include Mitch Hahn (Brisbane Lions Academy), Tony Bamford (South Australia U18) and Mel Hickey (Geelong Falcons).
HOW TO WATCH: The 2023 AFL Futures match will be broadcast live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
2023 AFL FUTURES MATCH
Team Selwood vs. Team Naitanui
Saturday, September 30 at 9:35am
MCG
TEAM SELWOOD
(White jumper)
1. Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton Grammarians)
2. Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton Districts & Old Scholars)
3. Phoenix Hargrave (South Adelaide/Reynella)
4. Joe Harrison (Sydney Swans Academy/Warners Bay)
5. Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons/Old Haileybury)
6. Isaac Kako (Calder Cannons/Pascoe Vale)
7. Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power/Leongatha)
8. Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges/Glen Waverley)
9. Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons/South Melbourne Districts)
10. Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst)
11. Malakai Champion (Subiaco/Mines Rovers)
12. Kade Herbert (Woodville-West Torrens/Bute)
13. Austin van der Struyf (Claremont/Claremont)
14. Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels/Bacchus Marsh)
15. Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha)
16. Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays/Narre North Foxes)
17. Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers/North Albury)
18. Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit)
19. Oliver Warburton (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Swans)
20. Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels/Redan)
27. Oliver Dean (Tasmania Devils/North Launceston)
28. Flynn Penry (GWV Rebels/Cobden)
29. Tyler Welsh (Woodville West-Torrens/Henley)
TEAM NAITANUI
(Blue and green jumper)
1. Ben Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton Districts & Old Scholars)
2. Sid Draper (South Adelaide/Willunga)
3. Mitch Woods (Sydney Swans Academy/Penshurst)
4. Clay Shadforth (NT Academy/South Adelaide/Palmerston)
5. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head)
7. Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst)
8. Lucca Grego (Western Jets/Keilor)
9. Zak Johnson (Northern Knights/Old Ivanhoe Grammarians)
10. Leonardo Lombard (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach)
11. Sam Marshall (Brisbane Lions Academy/Sandringham Dragons/St Bedes Mentone)
12. Ricky Mentha (NT Academy/Gippsland Power/Morwell)
13. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers/Richmond)
14. Joel Cochran (Sydney Swans Academy/East Sydney)
15. Tom Gross (Oakleigh Chargers/Old Trinity Grammarians)
16. Nash King (Calder Cannons/Wallan)
17. Harry O’Farrell (Calder Cannons/Maribyrnong Park)
18. Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers/Moama)
19. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards)
20. Luke Trainor (Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton Grammarians)
21. Rome Burgoyne (Woodville-West Torrents/Port District)
27. Tom Luck (Woodville-West Torrens/Central Yorke)
28. Tom Gillett (Brisbane Lions Academy/Sherwood)
