Jayden Nguyen, in action during the match between Marsh AFL National Academy Boys and Coburg Lions at Ikon Park on April 13, 2024, will run out for Vic Metro in the Young Guns series. Picture: AFL Photos

A host of Victoria's top prospects in contention for this year's AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft will feature against the state's best under 18 boys footballers in the 2024 Young Guns Series, which begins this weekend.

The two-game series will see the Young Guns take on Victoria Metro and Victoria Country under 18 teams over the next two weeks.

The Young Guns will play Victoria Metro at Werribee's Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday, April 20 from 4:20pm. They will then take on Victoria Country on Sunday, April 28 at Windy Hill from 11:00am.

The Young Guns comprises players eligible for selection in the 2024 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, which will be held on Wednesday, May 29.

The team is selected from nominations submitted by AFL club recruiters, along with input from VFL clubs and Coates Talent League programs.

All players selected for the Young Guns are aged 19 or under as of January 1, 2024. The team features prospects who compete in the VFL or as overage players in the Coates Talent League Boys competition.

The past two No.1 picks in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, Ryan Maric and Jai Culley, both represented the Young Guns before being selected by West Coast.

Other current AFL-listed players who have represented the Young Guns in recent years include Essendon midfielder Sam Durham, Hawthorn's Massimo D'Ambrosio, Gold Coast recruit Sam Clohesy and Round 4 AFL Rising Star nominee Harvey Gallagher from the Western Bulldogs.

Calder Cannons assistant coach Matt O'Connor will again serve as head coach of the Young Guns, with Jon Mole (Dandenong Stingrays), Mathew Dunham (Bendigo Pioneers), Simon Abrahams (Eastern Ranges) and Joshua Schwandt (Calder Cannons) serving as assistants.

Victoria Metro and Victoria Country will use the Young Guns Series as a trial ahead of selecting their final squads to compete at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys.

Players who aren't named to play for Victoria Metro and Victoria Country in the Young Guns Series remain eligible for selection in the final squads to compete at the Championships.

Continue below to see the squads for this week's match between the Young Guns and Victoria Metro. Squads for the clash between the Young Guns and Victoria Country will be announced next week.

HOW TO WATCH: Both games in the 2024 Young Guns Series will be available to watch live and free on the AFL website.

Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Ben Hopkins will represent the Young Guns in the 2024 Young Guns Series. Picture: AFL Photos

YOUNG GUNS SERIES – GAME 1
Young Guns vs Victoria Metro U18
Saturday, April 20 at 4:20pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
 
YOUNG GUNS

#

FIRST NAME

SURNAME

HT

STATE LEAGUE CLUB

COMMUNITY CLUB

1

Thomas

Hanily

178

Gippsland Power (CTL)

Leongatha

2

Tobyn

Murray

180

Geelong Cats (VFL)

Colac

3

Tarkyn

O'Leary

178

Sandringham (VFL)

Noble Park

4

Oskar

Smartt

180

Essendon (VFL)

Keilor

5

Oliver

Poole

183

Bendigo Pioneers (CTL)

Echuca United

6

Ryan

Brodie

182

Calder Cannons (CTL)

Strathmore

7

Liam

Kershaw

185

Geelong Falcons (CTL)

St Joseph's 

8

Dayton

Uerata

184

Bendigo Pioneers (CTL)

Sandhurst

9

Cooper

Lord

184

Sandringham Dragons (CTL)

Old Scotch

10

Ben

Hopkins

190

Dandenong Stingrays (CTL)

Langwarrin

11

Geordie

Payne

184

Tasmania Devils (CTL)

North Launceston

12

Kade

De La Rue

183

North Melbourne (VFL)

Beaconsfield

13

Ry

Cantwell

187

Eastern Ranges (CTL)

North Ringwood

14

Will

McLachlan

181

Geelong Falcons (CTL)

Colac

15

Kobe

Shipp

188

Casey Demons (VFL)

Beaconsfield

16

Lachie

McArthur

190

Western Jets (CTL)

Keilor

17

Ryan

Eyre

191

Calder Cannons (CTL)

Castlemaine

18

Cooper

Trembath

193

Eastern Ranges (CTL)

Park Orchards

19

Riak

Andrew

192

Dandenong Stingrays (CTL)

Berwick

20

Ned

Maginness

194

Sandringham Dragons (CTL)

East Brighton

21

Remy

Maclean

196

Eastern Ranges (CTL)

East Ringwood

22

Max

Mapley

199

Tasmania Devils (CTL)

Clarence

23

Iliro

Smit

200

Eastern Ranges (CTL)

Montrose

24

Joe

Pike

203

Geelong Falcons (CTL)

Barwon Heads

 
VICTORIA METRO

#

FIRST NAME

SURNAME

HT

STATE LEAGUE CLUB

COMMUNITY CLUB

1

Massimo

Raso

171

Western Jets

Keilor

2

Lachy

Dovaston

175

Eastern Ranges

Blackburn

3

Jayden

Nguyen

177

Calder Cannons

Aberfeldie

4

Luke

Quaynor

178

Oakleigh Chargers

Doncaster East

5

Weston

Barker

176

Western Jets

Yarraville-Seddon

6

Jak

Ryan

176

Eastern Ranges

Woori Yallock

7

Damon

Hollow

180

Calder Cannons

Epping

8

Lucas

McInerney

180

Northern Knights

Heidelberg

9

Cody

Anderson

180

Eastern Ranges

Healesville

10

Nash

King

181

Calder Cannons

Wallan

11

Luke

Kennedy

181

Sandringham Dragons

Ormond

12

Lucca

Grego

184

Western Jets

Keilor

14

Thomas

Wenzel

184

Oakleigh Chargers

Hawthorn Citizens

15

Liam

Farrar

188

Northern Knights

Diamond Creek

16

Xavier

Kardachi

185

Western Jets

Sunshine

17

Keighton

Matofai-Forbes

185

Western Jets

Keilor

18

Seth

Macdonald

188

Eastern Ranges

Lysterfield

19

Gabriel

Stumpf

194

Northern Knights

Warrandyte

20

Riley

White

194

Eastern Ranges

Park Orchards

26

Louis

Emmett

200

Oakleigh Chargers

Glen Iris

27

Adrian

Cole

197

Sandringham Dragons

St Bede's/Mentone

28

Lucas

Impey

199

Western Jets

Darley

29

Lucas

Tovey

198

Oakleigh Chargers

Blackburn

30

Thomas

Sims

199

Northern Knights

Montmorency