The teams to compete in the opening game of the 2026 Young Guns Series have been confirmed.
The first clash of the two-game series will pit the Talent League Young Guns against the newly-established VFL Young Guns at Williamstown’s DSV Stadium on Saturday, April 25 from 2:00pm.
The Talent League Young Guns predominantly features players born in 2007 who are competing as overage players in the Talent League competition this season and are eligible to be selected in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The team also includes a small selection of 17-year-old players in contention to compete at this year’s Marsh AFL National Championships, in addition to VFL-listed players who have recently exited a Talent League program.
Among the players to have represented the Talent League Young Guns in recent years are Sam Durham, Massimo D’Ambrossio, Cooper Trembath, Jai Culley and Cooper Lord.
The VFL Young Guns is a new concept for the 2026 season.
The team comprises VFL-listed players from Victorian-based clubs who have not had had regular exposure at VFL level.
All players selected for the VFL Young Guns are aged 22 years or younger as of January 1, 2026, who were nominated for the team by their VFL club and AFL recruiters.
Saturday’s match provides these players with an additional development opportunity and the chance to showcase their talent in front of AFL recruiters.
Box Hill Hawks Head of Development Jesse Cucinotta will coach the VFL Young Guns, while the Talent League Young Guns will be coached by Dandenong Stingrays assistant Leigh Stewart.
The clash between the Talent League Young Guns and VFL Young Guns will be played ahead of the Round 5 Smithy’s VFL clash between Williamstown and Werribee.
The Talent League Young Guns will take on a Victoria Country under 18 team next week in the second game of this year’s Young Guns Series.
2026 YOUNG GUNS SERIES – GAME 1
Talent League Young Guns vs VFL Young Guns
Saturday, April 25 at 2:00pm
DSV Stadium, Williamstown
Free entry
TALENT LEAGUE YOUNG GUNS
|
# |
PLAYER |
DOB |
HT |
CLUB |
|
1 |
Tyson Gresham |
21-Jun-07 |
169 |
Carlton VFL |
|
2 |
Tyson Scoble |
04-May-05 |
177 |
North Melbourne VFL |
|
3 |
Jordan Knapp |
05-Jan-08 |
179 |
Eastern Ranges |
|
4 |
Felix Kneipp |
01-Jan-07 |
180 |
North Melbourne VFL |
|
5 |
Jay-De Varlet |
26-Jul-07 |
181 |
Richmond VFL |
|
20 |
Sam Harris |
17-Jan-08 |
181 |
Calder Cannons |
|
21 |
Aaron Sharkie |
20-Jan-07 |
184 |
Richmond VFL |
|
22 |
Oliver Wilson |
22-Jan-07 |
186 |
Gippsland Power |
|
23 |
Oliver Griffin |
04-Jun-07 |
186 |
Sandringham Dragons |
|
24 |
Oscar Cail |
11-Sep-07 |
186 |
Bendigo Pioneers |
|
25 |
Kobe Williams |
30-Oct-07 |
186 |
Western Jets |
|
26 |
Hunter Wright |
20-Oct-07 |
188 |
Geelong VFL |
|
27 |
Goy Jiath |
20-Jul-07 |
189 |
Gippsland Power |
|
28 |
James Milner |
27-Jun-07 |
189 |
Oakleigh Chargers |
|
29 |
Harrison Hewitt |
26-Jan-05 |
190 |
Footscray VFL |
|
31 |
Nicholas Staropoli |
21-Dec-07 |
190 |
Calder Cannons |
|
32 |
Dylan Linden |
18-Feb-07 |
191 |
Dandenong Stingrays |
|
33 |
Noah McMenamin |
22-Mar-07 |
192 |
Western Jets |
|
34 |
Bailey Warfe |
16-May-07 |
193 |
Bendigo Pioneers |
|
35 |
Jonah Walker |
16-Jun-07 |
195 |
Gippsland Power |
|
36 |
Jacob Marron |
27-Nov-07 |
195 |
Western Jets |
|
37 |
Jai Leach |
24-Nov-07 |
198 |
Oakleigh Chargers |
|
38 |
Jett Elek |
17-Apr-07 |
201 |
Geelong Falcons |
|
39 |
Marcus Krasnadamskis |
18-Jun-07 |
201 |
Eastern Ranges |
|
40 |
Kayne Watt |
30-Jan-07 |
203 |
Sandringham Dragons |
VFL YOUNG GUNS
|
# |
PLAYER |
DOB |
HT |
CLUB |
|
1 |
Tom McGuane |
27-Aug-07 |
178 |
Footscray Bulldogs |
|
2 |
Nash King |
05-Jan-06 |
180 |
Werribee |
|
3 |
Ged Saunders |
13-Jun-06 |
179 |
Footscray Bulldogs |
|
4 |
Tom Evans |
22-Feb-06 |
181 |
Carlton |
|
6 |
Tahj De La Rue |
20-May-06 |
183 |
Casey Demons |
|
7 |
Zane Cochrane |
07-Nov-06 |
189 |
Coburg |
|
8 |
Kade De La Rue |
19-Nov-05 |
185 |
Frankston |
|
9 |
Kobe George |
22-Apr-06 |
189 |
Geelong Cats |
|
10 |
Caleb Nancarrow |
31-May-06 |
191 |
Richmond |
|
11 |
Bailey Lloyd |
02-Apr-07 |
177 |
Frankston |
|
12 |
Zach Stevens |
06-Jul-07 |
183 |
Geelong Cats |
|
13 |
Ry Cantwell |
16-Aug-05 |
188 |
Richmond |
|
14 |
Gus Papal |
22-Sep-06 |
194 |
North Melbourne |
|
15 |
Brodie Atkins |
25-Jan-07 |
182 |
Sandringham |
|
17 |
Liam Serong |
07-Aug-04 |
195 |
Coburg |
|
19 |
Eli Pearce |
16-Jan-04 |
193 |
Werribee |
|
25 |
Kye Annand |
14-Oct-03 |
200 |
Geelong Cats |
|
27 |
Zaydyn Lockwood |
25-Jan-06 |
199 |
Richmond |
|
28 |
Julian Galbally |
24-Dec-06 |
202 |
St Kilda |
|
29 |
Alex Lukic |
07-Jan-03 |
196 |
Box Hill Hawks |
|
30 |
Lachlan Monteath |
17-Nov-05 |
198 |
Essendon |
|
31 |
Marcus Zipf |
02-Jan-05 |
201 |
Williamstown |
|
32 |
Xavier Laverty |
12-May-05 |
198 |
Collingwood |
|
EMERGENCY |
||||
|
16 |
Kai Dimattina |
26-Mar-03 |
183 |
Port Melbourne |
