The AFL has announced the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian Team.

Victoria Metro was rewarded for its dominant performance throughout the National Championships with ten players selected in the team, along with coach Lauren Morecroft.

Metro went through the Championships undefeated to claim its third title victory in five years, winning all four matches by an average margin of 64 points.

Western Australia midfielder-defender Heath Mellody was selected as captain of the All Australian Team and took out the Larke Medal as the carnival’s best and fairest player. Mellody polled 19 votes to win the medal by six votes from teammate Leo Steed.

Mellody produced a standout campaign, averaging 28 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s per match to become the first player from Western Australia to win the Larke Medal since Deven Robertson in 2019.

In addition to winning the Larke Medal, Mellody also claimed Western Australia’s MVP award. Fellow team MVP winners Tyson Bradley (Victoria Metro), Ethan Drever (Victoria Country) and Caylen Murray (Allies) were also selected in the All Australian Team.

Victoria Metro forward Jake Miller was the only bottom-age player to earn selection in the All Australian Team, with all other players selected eligible to be drafted in the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft.

To be eligible for selection in the All Australian Team, a player had to play a minimum of three matches at the Championships.

The All Australian Team and Larke Medal voting panel comprised Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Tarkyn Lockyer (Talent Pathways National Coaching and Performance Manager) and AFL club representatives Jacob Fuller (Hawthorn), Matt Lannan (Melbourne), Liam Shiels (North Melbourne) and Geoff Parker (Port Adelaide).

ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Please click here to read profiles on each player, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.

LARKE MEDAL (BEST AND FAIREST)

Heath Mellody (Western Australia) – 19 votes
Leo Steed (Western Australia) – 13 votes
Caylen Murray (Allies) – 12 votes
Jordan Knapp (Victoria Metro) – 11 votes
Harvie Cooke (Victoria Metro) – 10 votes

TEAM MVP AWARDS

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

Allies: Caylen Murray (Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore)
South Australia: Yet to be selected
Victoria Country: Ethan Drever (GWV Rebels/Ballarat)
Victoria Metro: Tyson Bradley (Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton Grammarians)
Western Australia: Heath Mellody (Claremont/Wembley Downs)

HUNTER HARRISON MEDAL

The Hunter Harrison Medal is presented to the best player in the Academy Series, which involves non-Victorian Academy teams competing in the Talent League in the lead up to representing the Allies at the National Championships.

This year's Hunter Harrison Medal winner was Ethan Matthews of the GWS Giants Academy.

STANDINGS

Recent winners: 2026 - Victoria Metro; 2025 - South Australia; 2024 - Victoria Metro; 2023 – Allies; 2022 - Victoria Metro; 2021 and 2020 - Championships cancelled due to COVID-19; 2019 - Western Australia; 2018 - South Australia; 2017 - Victoria Metro

RESULTS

Western Australia 11.12 (78) def South Australia 10.6 (66)
Western Australia
Best: Leo Steed, George Gale, Harper Banfield, James Artemis, Heath Mellody, Lachlan McGlade
Goals: James Artemis, Cameron Maynard, Lachlan McGlade, Frazer Rickson 2, Oscar Richardson, Leo Steed, Axel Walsh
South Australia
Best: Harvey Croker, Sam Tassone, Jack Slattery, Memphis Webb, Mitchell Harris, Taj Garrett
Goals: Anthony Long, Gabriel Patterson 3, Cain Florance, Taj Garrett, Jack Nelson, Jack Slattery
Details: Saturday 13 June at Mineral Resources Park

Allies 12.11 (83) def by Victoria Country 14.12 (96)
Allies
Best: Ethan Matthews, Henry Meaney, Ben Pignatelli, Caylen Murray, Lachlan Price, Cooper French
Goals: Ben Pignatelli 3, Coen Hardy, Brynley Ryan 2, Guy Jenkin, Henry Meaney, Taj Murray, Matthew Owen, Archie Watts
Victoria Country
Best: Tanner Armstrong, Ethan Drever, Jackson Phillips, Marlon Neocleous, Klay Nicholls, Clancy Snell
Goals: Keenan Boi, Wil Malady, Jackson Phillips 2, Jett Elek, Leo Ellerton, Archie Elliott, Charlie Hanegraaf, Xavier Ladbrook, Marlon Neocleous, Andrio Sousa, Max Thompson
Details: Sunday 14 June at Blacktown International Sports Park

Western Australia 5.9 (39) def by Victoria Metro 11.9 (75)
Western Australia
Best: Tom Brown, Benji van Rooyen, Heath Mellody, Leo Steed, George Gale, Fynn Tomasini
Goals: Lachlan McGlade 2, Kyan Perera, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Axel Walsh
Victoria Metro
Best: Billy Wigmore, George Dimer, Toby Krasna, Jake Miller, Archie Spencer, Angus Tippett
Goals: Arki Butler, Lewis Houndsome 2, Sam Gayfer, Sam Harris, Lachlan Hicks, Toby Krasna, Harrison Leeder, Gus Teixeira, Angus Tippett
Details: Saturday 20 June at Cockburn ARC Oval

South Australia 16.13 (109) def Allies 6.7 (43)
South Australia
Best: Mitchell Harris, Jack Slattery, Memphis Webb, Kodah Edwards, Anthony Long, Hugo Jaeschke
Goals: Jack Slattery 6, Charlie Bradford 4, Anthony Long 3, Kodah Edwards, Ethan Herbert, Kai Ivins
Allies
Best: Caylen Murray, Jonah Harris, Mason McGroder, Cooper French, Will Morahan
Goals: Caylen Murray 2, Jake Beams, Charlie Bovill, Coen Hardy, Archie Watts
Details: Sunday 21 June at Alberton Oval

Victoria Metro 20.19 (139) def Allies 8.8 (56)
Victoria Metro
Best: George Dimer, Jordan Knapp, Harry van Hattum, Gus Teixeira, Toby Krasna, Jake Miller
Goals: Gus Teixeira 4, George Dimer 3, Arki Butler, Sam Gayfer, Jake Miller, Angus Tippett 2, Sam Harris, Lewis Houndsome, Blake Justice, Toby Krasna, Harry van Hattum
Allies
Best: Caylen Murray, Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Cooper French, Jake Callinan, Will Morahan, Archie Hill
Goals: Jake Callinan, Reece Thompson 2, Archie Hill, Henry Meaney, Sonny Smiler, Archie Watts
Details: Sunday 28 June at Mars Stadium

Victoria Metro 16.15 (111) def South Australia 10.5 (65)
Victoria Metro
Best: Harvie Cooke, Tyson Bradley, Jordan Knapp, Harry van Hattum, Kai Parker, Sam Gayfer
Goals: Sam Gayfer, Jake Miller 4, Harvie Cooke 3, Gus Teixeira 2, Arki Butler, Max Downes, Toby Krasna
South Australia
Best: Jack Slattery, Kodah Edwards, Memphis Webb, Jack Leys, Laurence Andriani, Jake Eime
Goals: Jack Slattery 5, Kodah Edwards 2, Charlie Bradford, Harvey Croker, Gabriel Patterson
Details: Friday 3 July at Marvel Stadium

Victoria Country 9.6 (60) def by Western Australia 10.16 (76)
Victoria Country
Best: Gus Kennedy, Tanner Armstrong, Andrio Sousa, Clancy Snell, Oscar Henwood, Jackson Phillips
Goals: Cody Templeton 3, Xavier Ladbrook 2, Ethan Drever, Levi Macumber, Wil Malady, Jackson Phillips
Western Australia
Best: Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen, Harper Banfield, George Gale, Leo Steed, Garrison Kenh
Goals: Lachlan McGlade 3, Cameron Maynard, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Finlay Yeo 2, Axel Walsh
Details: Friday 3 July at Marvel Stadium

Victoria Country 11.8 (74) def by South Australia 10.15 (75)
Victoria Country
Best: Cody Walker, Ethan Drever, Klay Nicholls, Archie Elliott, Noah Williams, Clancy Snell
Goals: Archie Elliott 4, Cody Templeton 2, Ethan Drever, Charlie Hanegraaf, Levi Macumber, Jackson O’Brien, Andrio Sousa
South Australia
Best: Sam Tassone, Jack Slattery, Memphis Webb, Ethan Herbert, Mitchell Harris, Jacob McNicol
Goals: Jack Slattery 4, Kai Edwards 2, Charlie Bradford, Kodah Edwards, Taj Garrett, Jacob McNicol
Details: Wednesday 8 July at Mars Stadium

Allies 12.12 (84) def Western Australia 11.12 (78)
Allies
Best: Caylen Murray, Jake Beams, Jonah Harris, Charlie Bovill, Jake Callinan, Cooper Hodge
Goals: Jake Callinan, Sonny Smiler 2, Jake Beams, Jackson Bridge, Jed Corbett, Connor Freiberg, Archie Hill, Henry Meaney, Ben Russell, Reece Thompson
Western Australia
Best: Heath Mellody, Finlay Yeo, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Harper Banfield, Noah Braun, George Gale
Goals: Harvey Spawton-Guy 3, Noah Braun, Finlay Yeo 2, Cameron Maynard, Cooper Ramsay, Leo Steed, Benji van Rooyen
Details: Wednesday 8 July at Mars Stadium

Victoria Country 5.9 (39) def by Victoria Metro 20.11 (131)
Victoria Country
Best: Cody Walker, Xavier Ladbrook, Nate Mensch, Ethan Drever, Klay Nicholls, Gus Kennedy
Goals: Archie Elliott 2, Keenan Boi, Wil Malady, Nate Mensch
Victoria Metro
Best: Sam Gayfer, Flynn Woolhouse, Archie Spencer, Tyson Bradley, Angus Tippett, Harry van Hattum
Goals: Flynn Woolhouse 5, Sam Gayfer, Harrison Leeder 3, Lewis Houndsome, Angus Tippett 2, Koby Bewick, Harrison Chapman, Harvie Cooke, Khaled El Souki, Albert Macgowan
Details: Sunday 19 July at Mars Stadium

Please click here to access the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys hub.