Victoria Metro and the Tasmania were crowned title winners at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.

Victoria Metro claimed the Pool A trophy with a perfect 3-0 record. Metro commenced its campaign with a nine-point win over Victoria Country in the opening game of the carnival, before edging out Western Australia by three points at People First Stadium.

They secured the title with their best performance in the final game, downing South Australia by 57 points at Fankhauser Reserve to complete an unblemished campaign.

Tasmania edged out the Brisbane Lions Academy for the Pool B title. Both teams finished the Championships undefeated, with Tasmania finishing atop the standings with a superior percentage.

The Tasmanians were dominant in all three victories, winning by an average margin of 84 points to finish with a resounding percentage of 335.

STANDINGS

POOL A

POOL B

BEST AND FAIREST AWARDS

Victoria Metro midfielder Baxter Sruk was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best and fairest for Pool A, while Jackson Bridge from the Brisbane Lions Academy claimed the Alan McLean Medal as the Pool B best and fairest.

Sruk was a standout in Victoria Metro’s title-winning campaign, averaging 23 disposals and two goals a game. The powerful left-footed midfielder was prolific in the big win over South Australia, where he booted four goals from 27 disposals.

Bridge was the second successive player from the Brisbane Lions Academy to win the Alan McLean Medal, following Matthew Owen in 2024. The composed defender was prominent across all three games, averaging 18 disposals at 75% efficiency and 8.7. His intercept marking and clean ball-use from defence were hallmarks of his game.

The best and fairest awards and All Australian Team voting panel comprised Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Tarkyn Lockyer (AFL National Academy Manager) and AFL club representatives Liam Woodland (Fremantle), Stephen Wells (Geelong Cats), Kade Nanscawen (Gold Coast Suns) and Adrian Caruso (GWS Giants).

Kevin Sheehan Medal (Pool A best and fairest)
1st: Baxter Sruk (Victoria Metro) - 12 votes
2nd: Axel Walsh (Western Australia) - 10 votes
3rd: Angus Abbonizio (Western Australia) and Kai Ivins (South Australia) - 9 votes

Alan McLean Medal (Pool B best and fairest)
1st: Jackson Bridge (Brisbane Lions) - 14 votes
2nd: Monte Cairns (Sydney Swans) - 13 votes
3rd: Max Gulliver (Tasmania), Duke Marshall-Orr (Sydney Swans), Charlie McClennan (Sydney Swans) - 9 votes

ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

The 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys All Australian Team features players from nine teams.

Pool A title winner Victoria Metro has five representatives in the side, including Kevin Sheehan Medal winner Baxter Sruk, while Pool B title winner Tasmania has two players selected, including Max Gulliver who was selected as captain.

The All Australian Team features three father-son prospects, including Tevita Rodan (son of David) and Louis Salopek (son of Steven) who are both eligible to Port Adelaide, and Koby Bewick (son of Darren) who is eligible to Essendon.

Please click here to read profiles on each player selected in the All Australian Team, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.

TEAM MVP AWARDS

The team MVP winners were selected by the coaching staff of each program:

Brisbane Lions Academy: Jackson Bridge (Sherwood)
Gold Coast Suns Academy: Oliver Bennett (Brothers Kangaroos)
GWS Giants Academy: Cooper French (Ainslie)
Northern Territory: Hugo Timms (Pint)
South Australia: Hugo Semmler (Central District/Gawler Central)
Sydney Swans Academy: Monte Cairns (North Shore Swans)
Tasmania: Lucas Heazlewood (Ulverstone)
Victoria Country: Max Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers/Nyah Nyah West)
Victoria Metro: Baxter Sruk (Eastern Ranges/Rowville Hawks)
Western Australia: James Artemis (East Fremantle/Hammond Park Hurricanes)

RESULTS 

Pool A

Victoria Country 13.5 (83) def by Victoria Metro 14.8 (92)
Victoria Country
Best: Max Thompson, Louis Salopek, Lincoln Brand, Harrison Welsh, Patrick McKenna, Charlie Montebello
Goals: Max Thompson 5, Archie Blood, Lachlan Petrie 2, Corey Ah-Mu, Charlie Fischer, Charlie Montebello, Tom Steinfort
Victoria Metro
Best: Koby Bewick, Harper McCullough, Axton West, Tevita Rodan, Archie King, Angus Brown
Goals: Koby Bewick 3, Jake Miller, Axton West 2, Angus Brown, Oliver Castro, Joshua Destefanis, Archie King, Harper McCullough, Baxter Sruk, Campbell White
Details: Monday, June 9 at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval

Western Australia 4.14 (38) def South Australia 3.8 (26)
Western Australia
Best: Fynn Tomasini, Axel Walsh, Tarkyn Eichner, Jayke Taylor, Rafe Williamson, Finn Gunton
Goals: Will Blaxell, Ashley Clayton, Kye Inferrera, Troy Warner
South Australia
Best: Harvey Chapman, Dean Hatedakis, Zemes Pilot, Taj Garrett, Thomas Gribben, Zane Rooney
Goals: Taj Garrett, Zemes Pilot, Brayden Whimpress
Details: Saturday, June 21 at HIF Health Insurance Oval

Victoria Country 11.10 (76) def by South Australia 11.15 (81)
Victoria Country
Best: Tom Steinfort, Max Thompson, Oliver Boddenberg, Ethan Wood, Macauley Pendergast, Jayden Gourley
Goals: Charlie Fischer, Lachlan Petrie, Lachlan Pring, Max Thompson 2, Corey Ah-Mu, Ted Buchanan, Tom Steinfort
South Australia
Best: Kai Ivins, Hugo Semmler, Taj Garrett, Laurence Andriani, Zane Rooney, Charlie Best
Goals: Kai Ivins 3, Joshua Jarrad, Zemes Pilot, Tate Sampson 2, Percy Burgoyne, Taj Garrett
Details: Tuesday, July 15 at People First Stadium

Victoria Metro 11.9 (75) def Western Australia 11.6 (72)
Victoria Metro
Best: Oliver Bond, Angus Brown, Campbell Rooks, Baxter Sruk, Archie King
Goals: Jake Miller 3, Toby Jeffs, Eli Kravic 2, Griffin Barker, Angus Brown, Oliver Castro, Baxter Sruk
Western Australia
Best: James Artemis, Jacob Kee, Jayke Taylor, Axel Walsh, Angus Abbonizio, Hunter Hearn
Goals: Jayke Taylor 3, James Artemis, Ashley Clayton 2, Angus Abbonizio, Noah Hannaford, Kye Inferrera, Charlie Williams
Details: Tuesday, July 15 at People First Stadium

South Australia 8.10 (58) def by Victoria Metro 17.13 (115)
South Australia
Best: Hugo Semmler, Laurence Andriani, Zane Rooney, Kai Ivins, Harvey Chapman, Joshua Jarrad
Goals: Joshua Jarrad 3, Carter Gallasch, Archie Simpson 2, Kai Ivins
Victoria Metro
Best: Baxter Sruk, Tevita Rodan, Jake Miller, Campbell Rooks, Koby Bewick
Goals: Jake Miller, Baxter Sruk 4, Oliver Castro 2, Lachlan Alexander, Griffin Barker, Toby Jeffs, Eli Kravic, Harper McCullough, Tevita Rodan, Axton West
Details: Friday, July 18 at Fankhauser Reserve

Western Australia 11. 10 (76) def Victoria Country 8.5 (53)
Western Australia
Best: Angus Abbonizio, Fynn Tomasini, Campbell Creyk, James Artemis, Noah Hannaford, Kye Inferrera
Goals: Charlie Williams 3, Campbell Creyk, Beau Mepham, Oscar Richardson 2, Ashley Clayton, Djayvian Narrier
Victoria Country
Best: Jayden Gourley, Kyan Walters, Louis Salopek, Cohen Dent, Oliver Boddenberg, Riley Travaglia
Goals: Max Thompson 3, Kyan Walters, Cohen Dent 2, Nate Mensch, Tom Steinfort
Details: Friday, July 18 at Fankhauser Reserve

Pool B

Tasmania 16.12 (108) def Northern Territory 6.2 (38)
Tasmania
Best: Max Gulliver, Mason Whitney, Ethan Clemons, Samuel Husband, Max Dawkins, Van Johnson
Goals: Max Gulliver 4, Lucas Heazlewood 3, Wesley Redman 2, Harvey Alomes, Thomas Bearman, Oliver Freeland, Max Fuglsang, Jordan Glover, Samuel Husband, Chaice Oliver
Northern Territory
Best: Isaac Herold, Gary Lawford, Deacon Summerville, Jaren Sambo, Hugo Timms, Benjamin Barnard
Goals: Owen Campbell-Shields, Dillon Mallard, Hau-Tze Rock, Sonny Jnr Smiler, Hugo Timms, Gus Trigwell
Details: Monday, June 9 at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval

GWS Giants Academy 6.9 (45) def by Sydney Swans Academy 10.14 (74)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Boston Macri, Cooper French, Chase French, Sebastian Crelley, Rohan Imhoff
Goals: Hayden Donohue 3, Cooper French, Archie Houston, Riley Roberts
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Charlie McClennan, Monte Cairns, Coen Hardy, Duke Marshall-Orr, Laurence Bennell, Hayden McAusland
Goals: Monte Cairns, Duke Marshall-Orr, Charlie McClennan 2, Marcus Hammoud, Dashiel Delaney-Fielding, Charlie Edwards, Abe Race
Details: Saturday, June 28 at Manuka Oval

Brisbane Lions Academy 20.11 (131) def Gold Coast Suns Academy 8.6 (54)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Oliver Morgan, Jackson Bridge, William White, Maxwell Boothey, Zavier Kleinschmidt, Rohan Bickerton
Goals: Maxwell Boothey 3, Tarkyn Benton, Craig Kellerman, Zavier Kleinschmidt, Cooper Stuart, William White 2, Rohan Bickerton, Jackson Bridge, Lachlan Ellen, Riley Mackay, Oliver Morgan, Jasper Rumney, Xavier Salvana
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Oliver Bennett, Jackson Frost, Sam Spearing, Archie Atkinson, Jayden Matterson, Oscar King
Goals: Jackson Frost 3, Oscar King 2, Cameron Camenzind, Joshua Hall, Sam Spearing
Details: Sunday, July 6 at Brighton Homes Arena

Gold Coast Suns Academy 1.1 (7) def by Tasmania 26.15 (171)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Travis Larkins, Jayden Matterson, Harry Cloke, Paddy Fitzgibbon, Sam Spearing
Goals: Joshua Hall
Tasmania
Best: Max Gulliver, Chaice Oliver, Benjamin Russell, Jake Beams, Harrison Millwood, Billy Banks Smith
Goals: Chaice Oliver 7, Jake Beams 4, Max Gulliver, Lucas Heazlewood 3, Thomas Bearman, Samuel Husband, Wesley Redman 2, Henry Chapman, Max Fuglsang, Jordan Glover
Details: Monday, July 14 at People First Stadium

GWS Giants Academy 14.19 (103) def Northern Territory 6.5 (41)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Aiden Henderson, Luke Bechaz, Riley Roberts, Chase French, Cooper French, Rohan Imhoff
Goals: Hayden Donohue, Riley Masters 3, Cooper French, Lachlan Sutherland 2, Coby Bright, Ben Kopievsky, Alex Pound, Brynley Ryan
Northern Territory
Best: Hugo Timms, Tyler Kelly, Gus Trigwell, Hau-Tze Rock, Owen Campbell-Shields, Joel Munnich
Goals: Hugo Timms 2, Benjamin Barnard, Gary Lawford, Fletcha Murphy
Details: Monday, July 14 at People First Stadium

Brisbane Lions Academy 14.8 (92) def Sydney Swans Academy 5.12 (42)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Cash Kinnear, Rohan Bickerton, Zavier Kleinschmidt, Maximus Holden, Archie Wilson, Jackson Bridge
Goals: Rohan Bickerton 4, Maxwell Boothey, Lachlan Ellen, Ryan Hutchings 2, Maximus Holden, Jackson Noble, Jasper Rumney, William White
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Duke Marshall-Orr, Levi Macri, Charlie McClennan, Mason McGroder, Monte Cairns, Euan Richardson
Goals: Charlie Edwards, Zach Marsden, Duke Marshall-Orr, Charlie McClennan, Sebastian Mok
Details: Monday, July 14 at People First Stadium

GWS Giants Academy 9.9 (63) def by Tasmania 12.11 (83)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Cooper French, Cooper Higgins, Aiden Henderson, Riley Masters, Ben Kopievsky, Chase Bartlett
Goals: Brynley Ryan 3, Jed Corbett, Riley Masters 2, Hayden Donohue, Cooper French
Tasmania
Best: Benjamin Russell, Harrison Millwood, Lucas Heazlewood, Campbell Barwick, Mason Whitney, Henry Chapman
Goals: Lucas Heazlewood, Chaice Oliver 3, Thomas Bearman 2, Campbell Barwick, Jake Beams, Max Dawkins, Jordan Glover
Details: Thursday, July 17 at Fankhauser Reserve

Gold Coast Suns 4.5 (29) def by Sydney Swans 15.12 (102)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Oliver Bennett, Klae Green, Cooper Wanders, Travis Larkins, Jayden Matterson
Goals: Oliver Bennett, Cooper Motum, Bryce Schellebeck, Mac Seebeck
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Monte Cairns, Charlie McClennan, Duke Marshall-Orr, Levi Macri, Coen Hardy, Sebastian Mok
Goals: Duke Marshall-Orr, Sebastian Mok 3, Monte Cairns, Dashiel Delaney-Fielding, Thomas Epis 2, Charlie Edwards, Noah Keam, Isaac Wellington
Details: Thursday, July 17 at Fankhauser Reserve

Northern Territory 6.5 (41) def by Brisbane Lions Academy 13.9 (87)
Northern Territory
Goals: Gus Trigwell, Isaac Herold, Gary Lawford, Deacon Summerville, Benjamin Barnard, Hugo Timms
Goals: Jaren Sambo 2, Dwaine Ah Sam, Owen Campbell-Shields, Gary Lawford, Fletcha Murphy
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Jackson Bridge, Noah Rafter, Tarkyn Benton, Zavier Kleinschmidt, Maxwell Boothey, Maximus Holden
Goals: Koby Bau, Rohan Bickerton, Maxwell Boothey, Ryan Hutchings, Oliver Morgan 2, Zavier Kleinschmidt, Jackson Noble, Xavier Salvana
Details: Thursday, July 17 at Fankhauser Reserve

Please click here to watch replays from all matches in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.