Twenty-three bottom-age NAB League Boys players participated in the 2019 NAB AFL All Stars match as a curtain-raiser to the AFL Grand Final at the MCG on Saturday.

The two competing teams were filled with the nation’s best under-17 talent and were named after former AFL champions Jonathan Brown (ex-Brisbane) and Nick Dal Santo (ex-St Kilda).

NAB AFL Academy Head Coach Luke Power coached the victorious Team Brown, while Vic Country Under-18 coach Leigh Brown took the reins of Team Dal Santo.

Sydney Swans Academy prospect Braeden Campbell won the NAB Medal for best-on-ground, while highly-rated Murray Bushrangers bottom-ager Elijah Hollands (pictured) was awarded the Cameron Ling Medal for all-round excellence within the AFL Academy Level One program in 2019.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said the fourth annual AFL All Stars match gave AFL clubs an early look at 48 of the top players among the 2020 NAB AFL Draft pool.

“In 2016, the likes of Cameron Rayner (Brisbane Lions), Jack Higgins (Richmond), Darcy Fogarty (Adelaide Crows), Paddy Dow (Carlton), Hunter Clark (St Kilda), Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs), Sam Taylor (GWS Giants) and James Worpel (Hawthorn) played in the game and showed their potential a year ahead of their draft,” Sheehan said.

“Rayner of course become the top draft selection in 2017, with the likes of Taylor (selection 28) and Worpel (45) now looking outstanding later selections as we reflect.”

 

 

TEAM BROWN   4.0   5.2   11.5   16.6 (102)

TEAM DAL SANTO   2.1   5.4   5.5   9.7 (61)

 

Goals

Team Brown: B. Campbell (Sydney Academy) 3, E. Ford (Western Jets) 2, E. Hollands (Murray Bushrangers) 2, R. McInnes (Oakleigh Chargers) 2, B. Coleman (Brisbane Academy) 2, J. Jeffrey (Northern Territory) 2, W. Phillips (Oakleigh Chargers), J. Treacy (Bendigo Pioneers), N. Gribble (Geelong Falcons)

Team Dal Santo: E. Gulden (Sydney Academy), A. Davies (Gold Coast Academy), J. Carroll (WA), C. Durdin (SA), J. Callow (Tasmania Devils), J. Green (GWS Academy), O. Henry (Geelong Falcons), H. Walsh (Geelong Falcons), H. Smith (SA)

 

Best players

Team Brown: B. Campbell, E. Hollands, W. Phillips, E. Ford, J. Bowey (Sandringham Dragons), R. Thilthorpe (SA), C. Downie (Eastern Ranges)

Team Dal Santo: A. Davies, E. Gulden, N. O’Driscoll (WA), C. Michael (Brisbane Academy), J. Western (WA), H. Walsh

 

Key stats-getters (NAB League clubs)

Team Brown:

  • E. Hollands: 24 disposals, six tackles, five clearances, four inside-50s
  • J. Bowey: 22 disposals, six marks
  • W. Phillips: 21 disposals, six marks, 14 tackles, six inside-50s
  • E. Ford: 20 disposals
  • C. Downie: 19 disposals
  • S. Collins (Tasmania Devils): 16 disposals, five marks
  • J. Ugle-Hagan (Oakleigh Chargers): 16 disposals
  • N. Gribble: 15 disposals, five tackles
  • R. McInnes: 14 disposals, five marks, six tackles
  • N. Stevens (GWV Rebels): 13 disposals, five tackles

 

Team Dal Santo:

  • Z. Maher (Murray Bushrangers): 12 disposals, four inside-50s
  • F. Macrae (Oakleigh Chargers): 12 disposals, four marks
  • J. Callow: 11 disposals
  • C. Brand (Calder Cannons): eight disposals, three rebound-50s
  • H. Walsh: seven disposals, 16 hitouts, five clearances