AFL Victoria’s 2019 Young Guns Series wraps up on Saturday, with the program’s third match taking place at Avalon Airport Oval from 11am.

The Young Guns Series gives players aged 22 and under the chance to further develop their game and showcase their skills in front of AFL recruiters, with a host of NAB League Boys and Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL players – along with a handful of community-level footballers – participating in the 2019 program.

* See the initial squad lists for game 3 of the Young Guns Series further down the page.

Three NAB League over-age players were selected in the 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft after competing in this year’s first Young Guns game in May: Mitch Riordan (ex-Dandenong Stingrays/now Gold Coast), Kyle Dunkley (ex-Gippsland Power/now Melbourne) and Cody Hirst (Eastern Ranges/Sydney).

Their graduation to AFL lists comes after seven players who participated in last year’s Young Guns Series were signed by AFL clubs prior to the 2019 season.

VFL coaching games record-holder Gerard FitzGerald – who oversees the Young Guns program – said these outcomes demonstrate the clear role the series now plays in the Victorian talent pathway.

“Within two years, we’ve gone from having an idea that had merit to a concept that has some real belief, in terms of providing an avenue for growth both for players and coaches,” FitzGerald said.

“It was an absolute delight (seeing Dunkley, Riordan and Hirst drafted), and the introduction of the Mid-Season Draft is a good example of how the pathway to the top continues to change – which I believe reinforces the concept behind the Young Guns program.

“There’s no doubt there are a lot of factors responsible for the development of these players, but our idea of trying to bring all that talent together to play games of purpose is the icing on the cake. It gives AFL clubs the chance to have a look at them all playing together against players of similar ability, and I think there’s significant value in that.”

A range of players who featured in one or both of this year’s first two Young Guns games have since gone on to break through or establish themselves at VFL level, such as Campbell Hustwaite (Collingwood VFL), Lachlan Street (Richmond VFL), Liam Mackie (Box Hill Hawks), Darcy Bennett (Werribee) and Tom Mundy (Williamstown).

Meanwhile, several NAB League over-agers have earned multiple VFL games as 23rd players, like Riley Bowman (Sandringham Dragons/Essendon VFL), Sunny Brazier (Northern Knights/Northern Blues), Bailey Schmidt (Dandenong Stingrays/Frankston), Riley Smith (Eastern Ranges/Collingwood VFL) and Daly Andrews (Western Jets/Williamstown).

In addition, Murray Bushrangers ruck Ben Kelly went on to represent the Allies in two games at the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

FitzGerald said he’ll closely follow the progress of all players and coaches who were part of the program after the 2019 series concludes this weekend.

“I’ll be keen on watching the boys on Saturday that I’ve noticed have done things better in game two than in game one or are now showing aspects of their footy that are very exciting,” FitzGerald said.

“We also have Tom Curran coaching the Country team and Trent McMicking into his second year with the City side, and I’m continuing to have really good conversations with those blokes.

“Josh Bourke embraced the program last year as coach of the Country team and to now see him coaching the Sandringham Dragons is a delight, while Luke Daffy clearly showed an interest in the program last year as well and for him to have been appointed the coach of the Geelong Falcons gives me great pleasure.

“It’s about embracing this one-off opportunity – to be prepared to leave the comfort zone of your local club and go into the unknown.”

CITY TEAM (BLACK GUERNSEYS)

COUNTRY TEAM (GREEN GUERNSEYS)