AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has revealed the 2019 NAB AFL Under-16 All Australian Team following last Friday’s conclusion of the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships in Queensland.
Thirteen NAB League Boys players have been named in the 23-man All Australian Team – seven of which come from title-winning Vic Metro, five from Vic Country and one from Tasmania’s team in Division 2 of the carnival.
Metro went through the Championships undefeated, winning against Country by 18 points in June and then South Australia by 21 points and Western Australia by 67 points last week. Country finished its campaign with a 16-point defeat of SA after losing to Metro and then WA by two points.
See the full AFL Under-16 All Australian Team with comments from Kevin Sheehan on each player below.
DEFENDERS
AUSTIN HARRIS (Queensland): Small defender with great natural speed and agility who is a penetrating left-foot kick. Can play in defence or the midfield and excelled in the championships, winning Queensland’s MVP award in averaging 21.7 disposals, 8.7 marks, 2.3 tackles and 3.3 clearances.
BLAKE MORRIS (Western Australia): Medium defender whose intercept-marking was a feature of his game. Has speed to be able to stay on the lead. Averaged 16.7 disposals, 6 marks, 6.7 rebound-50s and 3.7 tackles to win WA’s MVP award.
SAM BANKS (Tasmania / Tasmania Devils): Medium defender/midfielder who is an excellent distributor of the ball on either side by hand and foot. Won the Allan McLean Medal as Division Two’s best and fairest player averaging 24 disposals, 8.3 marks and 3 tackles.
JOSH SINN (Vic Metro / Sandringham Dragons - pictured, left): Medium defender/midfielder who sets the play up with his line-breaking speed and use of the ball with his penetrating left foot. Excellent leader of the title-winning team averaging 17 disposals, 5.3 marks, 4.3 tackles and 3 clearances across the championships.
RHETT BAZZO (Western Australia): Tall defender who is athletic and strong overhead. Showed good dash from defence and made good decisions on when to mark and spoil. Averaged 11.3 disposals, 4.7 marks and 2.7 rebound-50s throughout the championships.
CAMPBELL CHESSER (Vic Country / Sandringham Dragons): Medium midfielder/defender with explosive pace and is a good ball-user. Reads the game very well and averaged 16.7 disposals, 5 marks and 5.3 tackles across the championships.
MIDFIELDERS
YOUSEPH DIB (Vic Metro / Oakleigh Chargers): Small midfielder who wins his own ball and uses it well on either foot. Creative player who averaged 19 disposals (11 contested possessions), 7.3 tackles and 3.7 clearances across the championships.
BRODIE LAKE (Northern Territory): Tall running wingman or flanker who covers the ground with his running capability, enabling him to get to contest after contest. Averaged 18.7 disposals (13 contested possessions), 5.3 clearances, 4 tackles, 4 inside-50s and 1 goal on his way to winning NT’s MVP award.
TOBY CONWAY (Vic Country / Geelong Falcons): Developing ruckman who emerged as the Championships unfolded, playing his best game in Round 3 against South Australia to be among his team’s best contributors with his clean hands and impressive ruck craft. Averaged 16 hitouts per game and a disposal efficiency of 70% and looks to have significant further physical development in him.
TYLER SONSIE (Vic Metro / Eastern Ranges): Medium midfielder who had an outstanding championships, winning Vic Metro’s MVP award as he averaged 22.7 disposals, 3.3 clearances and 3.3 tackles. A prolific ball-winner with natural goal sense, he kicked 4 goals against Western Australia in the deciding game to help assure his team of the title.
JOSH RACHELE (Vic Country / Murray Bushrangers - pictured, second from left): Small midfielder/forward who was a prolific ball-winner throughout the championships, averaging 26 disposals, 4.3 marks, 2.3 clearances and 4 tackles. A clean ball-handler who is elusive and creative, he won Vic Country’s MVP award as well as the Kevin Sheehan Medal for the Best and Fairest player in Division One.
BEN HOBBS (Vic Country / GWV Rebels - pictured, right): Medium midfielder who has a good balance between winning his own ball and providing run on the outside. Was a prolific ball-winner in the championships, averaging 25.7 disposals (11 contested possessions), 6.7 tackles, 5 clearances and a goal a game.
FORWARDS
JASON HORNE (South Australia): Medium forward/midfielder who captained South Australia and won their MVP award. Averaged 17.7 disposals (9 contested possessions), 4.3 marks, 6 tackles and 4 clearances across the championships.
SAM STENING (New South Wales): Lightly-built key forward who can be difficult to defend because he marks the ball at the highest point and also has the athleticism to recover at ground level. Averaged 15.3 disposals (8 contested possessions), 5 marks, 3.7 shots on goal and 2 assists.
BLAKE HOWES (Vic Metro / Sandringham Dragons): Medium forward who can mark the ball overhead and recover and win it at ground level. A very good finisher who averaged 12.7 disposals (6.7 contested possessions), 3.7 inside-50s and 1.7 goals a game.
NOAH McFADYEN (Queensland): Medium forward with clean hands overhead and at ground level and an exceptional kick for goal. Kicked 8 goals vs Northern Territory to cap off his championships and averaged 10.3 disposals, 5.3 marks and 4.7 goals. Younger brother of Brisbane Lions player Connor McFadyen.
ALEX LUKIC (Vic Metro / Oakleigh Chargers): Mobile tall forward with outstanding goal sense averaging 3 goals per game from his 9.7 disposals and 2 marks. Kicked 5 goals against Western Australia and 4 against Vic Country in a productive championships for a forward.
ISAIAH DUDLEY (South Australia): Small forward with clean hands and innate goal sense. Averaged 18 disposals. 1.7 goals and 8 tackles across the championships, with his 27 disposals and 4 goals in his team’s opening win over Western Australia outstanding.
INTERCHANGE
COOPER HAMILTON (Vic Country / Bendigo Pioneers): Defender who attacks the ball and uses his legs to break the lines. Has the ability to break the game open with his kicking off half back. Averaged 75% efficiency by foot, 8 contested possessions and 3.5 rebound-50s. Twin brother Hugh was also prominent for Vic Country.
COOPER MURLEY (South Australia): Speedster who can play in the midfield or forward. Has the capability to break from contested situations when he wins the ball and close space quickly when the opposition have the ball. During the championships he averaged 17.7 disposals (10 contested possessions), 4 tackles and 1 goal per game.
LACHLAN BROOKS (Vic Metro / Sandringham Dragons - pictured, second from right): Tough midfielder who wins his own ball and has the power to be able to break from contested situations. Improved as the championships went on, averaging 19.7 disposals (7.7 contested possessions), 4.3 clearances and 6.3 inside-50s.
JUDD McVEE (Western Australia): Small midfielder/forward with creative, clean hands and high football IQ. Very good at stoppages, he averaged 16.3 disposals (10 contested possessions), 4 clearances and 3.7 tackles across the championships.
BRADEN ANDREWS (Vic Metro / Oakleigh Chargers): Medium-sized player who has the capability to play in the back line, midfield or forward. Has the power to navigate through congestion and is a good user by hand and foot. Averaged 16.7 disposals (6 contested possessions) and 10.3 handballs.
COACH
Heath Black (Vic Metro)
CAPTAIN
Josh Sinn (Vic Metro)
SELECTORS
Kevin Sheehan (Chairman – AFL)
Luke Power (AFL National Academy Head Coach/Manager)
Troy Selwood (Geelong Cats)
Chris Liberatore (St Kilda)
Mitch Cashion (Hawthorn)
Leon Harris (Brisbane Lions)
