The 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All Australian Team and MVP winners have been selected.

The Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys were held across Australia over the past two months.

Western Australia secured the Pool A title for the first time since 2017 by completing an undefeated campaign, while the GWS Giants Academy took out the Pool B title by also winning all three matches at the Championships.

STANDINGS

POOL A

 POOL B

 BEST AND FAIREST AWARD

Western Australia midfielder Troy Warner was crowned the Kevin Sheehan Medal winner as the best and fairest player in Pool A, while James Rice from the GWS Giants Academy took out the Alan McLean Medal as the best and fairest in Pool B.

Warner was a standout across all three matches to steer Western Australia to its first title win in nine years. He averaged 24.7 disposals at 73 per cent efficiency, along with 4.7 marks and 2.7 tackles.

The younger brother of Sydney Swans midfielders Chad and Corey, Warner’s efforts across the Championships were also recognised with selection as captain of the All Australian Team.

Rice led the way for the title-winning Giants Academy, with his athleticism and contested-ball winning ability both key features throughout all three matches.

He averaged 28.3 disposals, 9.3 contested possessions, six tackles and five clearances to claim the Pool B best and fairest award. He was also named as rover in the All Australian Team.

Kevin Sheehan Medal (Pool A best and fairest)
1st: Troy Warner (Western Australia) - 19 votes
2nd: Jayke Taylor (Western Australia) - 13 votes
3rd: Eamon Hyde (Victoria Country), Logan Treverton (South Australia) and Jacob Westley (South Australia) - 11 votes

Alan McLean Medal (Pool B best and fairest)
1st: James Rice (GWS Giants Academy) - 24 votes
2nd: Alex Maher (GWS Giants Academy) - 15 votes
3rd: Noah Keam (Sydney Swans Academy) - 14 votes

The Best and Fairest awards and All Australian Team were selected by a panel comprising AFL staff and AFL club representatives.

The selection panel included 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 Steve McCrystal (Adelaide), Leon Harris (Brisbane Lions), Glenn Luff (Carlton), Shane O’Bree (Collingwood) and Rob Forster-Knight (Essendon).

ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Please click here to read profiles on each All Australian representative, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.

TEAM MVP AWARDS

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

Brisbane Lions Academy: Darcy Pearson
Gold Coast Suns Academy: Hunter Weatherley
GWS Giants Academy: Alex Maher
South Australia: Logan Treverton
Northern Territory: Billy Brown
Sydney Swans Academy: Noah Keam
Tasmania: Jordan Stevenson
Victoria Country: Eamon Hyde
Victoria Metro: Louis Grinter
Western Australia: Troy Warner

RESULTS

Northern Territory 6.5 (41) def by Tasmania 17.7 (109)
Northern Territory
Best: Hugo Timms, Billy Brown, Lane Howie, Sydney-Jack Baker, Daniel Mbemap, Cruz Vallejo
Goals: Hugo Timms 3, Lane Howie, Jaren Sambo, Lyncoln Stockwell
Tasmania
Best: Luca Latter, Lennox Hazell, Campbell Barwick, Billy Banks Smith, Jacob Wass, William Timsar
Goals: Billy Chisholm 4, Ryder Jones 3, Lennox Hazell, Luca Latter, Prince Williams 2, Campbell Barwick, Jack Marshall, Fletcher Murray, Jacob Wass
Details: Monday 8 June at Kennedy Community Centre

Victoria Metro 8.7 (55) def by Victoria Country 15.13 (103)
Victoria Metro
Best: William Thornton, Nevon Eshwara, Finn O'Callaghan, Lukas Koutoufides, Fred Hardman, Henry Woods
Goals: Liam Basil, Fred Hardman 2, Billy Brundell, Mac Hammerstein, Finn O'Callaghan, William Thornton
Victoria Country
Best: Eamon Hyde, Daniel May, Chase Whelan, Lenny Sims, Isaac Brown, Oscar Roydhouse
Goals: Chase Whelan 4, Isaac Brown 3, Lenny Sims 2, Ky Bannister, Hudson Brown, Jackson Butterworth, Alex Ingham, Jack McGinness, Harry Metcher
Details: Monday 8 June at Kennedy Community Centre

GWS Giants Academy 10.16 (76) def Sydney Swans Academy 8.7 (55)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: James Rice, Bodhi Charlton, Alex Maher, Charlie Bain, Hayden Gardiner, Ryder Murray
Goals: Bodhi Charlton 5, Hugh Crockett, Tyson Green 2, Noah Golds
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Patrick McMahon, Owen Fitzpatrick, Cooper Willis, Oliver Sheridan, Lincoln Blanch, Zane Guthrie
Goals: Brock Lampret 3, Oto Ryan, Tom Theobald, Ioanni Titmuss, Owen Trickey, Oliver Turner
Details: Saturday 27 June at Corroboree Group Oval

South Australia 9.2 (56) def by Western Australia 9.14 (68)
South Australia
Best: Tyler Hitch, Cooper Jolly, Fergus Vogt, Zane Rooney, Jack Brooks, Jacob Westley
Goals: Fergus Vogt 5, Harrison Schubert 2, Kalani Fraser, Zephyr Thomson
Western Australia
Best: Coby Jackson, Owen Hodge, Toby McLaren, Joshua Waite, Jayke Taylor, Troy Warner
Goals: Nate Torren Cass, Jack Holland, Jayke Taylor 2, Aiden Martignago, Joshua Oldroyd, Aiden Wilson
Details: Saturday 27 June at Alberton Oval

Brisbane Lions Academy 4.7 (31) def by Gold Coast Suns Academy 11.12 (78)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Darcy Pearson, Edward Waters, Finn Dunstan, Charlie Allan, Benjamin Landers, Finn O'Brien
Goals: Koda Airdrie, Jude Bannister, Solomon Hoiles, Finn O'Brien
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Kobe Mundy, Hunter Weatherley, Ashton Gardner, Paddy Fitzgibbon, Travis Larkins, Zahn Bugeja
Goals: Callum Samuelson 3, Ollie Clark, Paddy Fitzgibbon 2, Sunny Chapman, Kobe Jorgensen, Kobe Mundy, Levi Thompson
Details: Sunday 5 July at Brighton Homes Arena

GWS Giants Academy 13.9 (87) def Tasmania 6.8 (44)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Alex Maher, Samuel Brown, James Rice, Hayden Gardiner, Noah Golds, Riley Thompson
Goals: Noah Golds 4, Riley Thompson 3, Bodhi Charlton, Hugh Crockett 2, Hayden Gardiner
Tasmania
Best: Harvey Alomes, Luca Latter, Jaxan Berwick, George Ribbon, Lennox Hazell, Benjamin Atkin
Goals: Harvey Alomes 2, William Timsar, Jacob Wass, Prince Williams
Details: Monday 13 July at People First Stadium

Northern Territory 10.9 (69) def by Brisbane Lions Academy 12.9 (81)
Northern Territory
Best: Daniel Mbemap, Gary Lawford, Billy Brown, Noah Jose, Hugo Timms, Eric Junior Campbell
Goals: Eric Junior Campbell, Lukah Case 3, Hugo Timms 2, Dwaine Ah Sam, Lane Howie
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Darcy Pearson, Finn Dunstan, Edward Waters, Jude Bannister, Samuel Kernick, Max Bush
Goals: Jake Gillespie 3, Jude Bannister, Max Bush, Samuel Kernick 2, Craig Kellerman, Sebastian Kleinschmidt, Harley Wolbers
Details: Monday 13 July at People First Stadium

Gold Coast Suns Academy 9.10 (64) def Sydney Swans Academy 6.4 (40)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Travis Larkins, Fletcher Vincent, Callum Samuelson, Kobe Mundy, Harry Cloke
Goals: Jacob Moir, Lachlan Robinson 2, Harry Cloke, Kobe Jorgensen, Kobe Mundy, Callum Samuelson, Jonas Vack
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Archie Liam Lucas, Oliver Sheridan, Noah Keam, Owen Trickey, Owen Fitzpatrick, Harry Hawes
Goals: Harry Hawes 2, Noah Keam, Rafael Micheletti, Oliver Sheridan, Owen Trickey
Details: Monday 13 July at People First Stadium

Victoria Country 12.8 (80) def by South Australia 16.7 (103)
Victoria Country
Best: Chase Whelan, Eamon Hyde, Oscar Roydhouse, Lenny Sims, Fletcher Adams, Harry Metcher
Goals: Isaac Brown 3, Aidan Farr, Lenny Sims, Chase Whelan 2, Hudson Brown, Hudson Greene, Dex Rizzoli
South Australia
Best: Logan Treverton, Tyson Schultz, Harrison Schubert, Jacob Westley, Zane Rooney, Jack Gallagher
Goals: Harrison Schubert 4, Josh Allan, Kit Saracino, Fergus Vogt 2, Samuel DePalma, Levi Dudley, Ryder Lindner, Joshua Munday, Zane Rooney, Logan Treverton
Details: Tuesday 14 July at People First Stadium

Victoria Metro 6.8 (44) def by Western Australia 8.23 (71)
Victoria Metro
Best: Louis Hooper, Mac Hammerstein, Angus Dunstan, Joshua Auber, Louis Grinter, Finn O'Callaghan
Goals: Angus Dunstan, Finn O'Callaghan 2, Joshua Auber, Mackenzie Stewart
Western Australia
Best: Aiden Martignago, Xavier Stewart, Jai Keene, Troy Warner, Jayke Taylor, Ethan Wulf
Goals: Jack Holland, Joshua Oldroyd 2, Nate Torren Cass, Zinzan Clark, Sam Gooch, Aiden Martignago
Details: Tuesday 14 July at People First Stadium

Brisbane Lions Academy 11.10 (76) def Tasmania 8.8 (56)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Jude Bannister, Finn Dunstan, Joel Mwaredaga, Darcy Pearson, Angus Bryson, Craig Kellerman
Goals: Jude Bannister 4, Koda Airdrie, Samuel Kernick 2, Max Bush, Tyler Hutchinson, Benjamin Landers
Tasmania
Best: Jaxan Berwick, Billy Banks Smith, Jordan Stevenson, Luca Latter, Jacob Wass, Benjamin Atkin
Goals: Harvey Alomes 3, Angus Dunham 2, Billy Chisholm, Luca Latter, Prince Williams
Details: Thursday 16 July at Fankhauser Reserve

Gold Coast Suns Academy 9.3 (57) def by GWS Giants Academy 10.12 (72)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Hunter Weatherley, Fletcher Vincent, Jacob Moir, Ashton Gardner, Hugo McBride, Paddy Fitzgibbon
Goals: Jacob Moir 3, Ollie Clark, Harry Cloke, Kai Hawker, Kobe Mundy, Lachlan Robinson, Levi Thompson
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Alex Maher, James Rice, Darcy Borghouts, Ryder Murray, Harry McDonald, Samuel Brown
Goals: Hugh Crockett, Sam Douglas 2, Bodhi Charlton, Matthew Davies, Hayden Gardiner, Noah Golds, Alex Maher, George Morton
Details: Thursday 16 July at Fankhauser Reserve

Northern Territory 10.10 (70) def by Sydney Swans Academy 11.11 (77)
Northern Territory
Best: Gary Lawford, Hugo Timms, Daniel Mbemap, Kairyce Lowah, Lane Howie, Jaren Sambo
Goals: Gary Lawford 3, Hugo Timms 2, Lukah Case, Lane Howie, Djaydan Parfitt, Oliver Rivas, Jaren Sambo
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Spencer Millington, Noah Keam, Dominic Dametto, Oliver Sheridan, Rafael Micheletti, Patrick McMahon
Goals: Noah Keam, Brock Lampret, Spencer Millington 2, Dominic Dametto, Harry Hawes, Patrick McMahon, Oliver Sheridan, Oliver Turner
Details: Thursday 16 July at Fankhauser Reserve

South Australia 17.6 (108) def Victoria Metro 6.7 (43)
South Australia
Best: Logan Treverton, Zephyr Thomson, Jacob Westley, Ryder Lindner, Fergus Vogt, Charlie Doan
Goals: Fergus Vogt 4, Zephyr Thomson 3, Samuel DePalma, Ryder Lindner, Harrison Schubert 2, Levi Dudley, Jack Gallagher, Joshua Munday, Zane Rooney
Victoria Metro
Best: Louis Grinter, Braith Lafaialii, Thomas Tritton, Louis Hooper, Jesse Groenen, Liam Basil
Goals: Angus Dunstan, Lukas Koutoufides, Jonathan Millar, Finn O'Callaghan, Mackenzie Stewart, Thomas Tritton
Details: Friday 17 July at Fankhauser Reserve

Western Australia 8.15 (63) def Victoria Country 4.10 (34)
Western Australia
Best: Ashley Clayton, Jayke Taylor, Troy Warner, Aiden Wilson, Eli Wirrpanda, Toby McLaren
Goals: Jayke Taylor 3, Aiden Wilson 2, Sam Gooch, Jai Keene, Joshua Oldroyd
Victoria Country
Best: Daniel May, Hudson Brown, Fletcher Adams, Cuan Roberts, Angus Jones, Harry Lindsay
Goals: Eamon Hyde, Alex Ingham, Jack McGinness, Dex Rizzoli
Details: Friday 17 July at Fankhauser Reserve

Please click here to access the 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys hub.