In great news for the AFL’s under 18 Championships, games will now be streamed on the AFL website. Perviously we’ve had to wait until the final few weeks to see the boys play.
At the conclusion of Week 2 in the Under 18 Championships, we saw some dominant performances, and we also saw some shockers.
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Week 1 of the Championships saw two games go down to the wire, as Western Australia defeated South Australia by a point, and Country Victoria beat Metro Victoria by five points, thanks to a goal after the siren.
Week 2 didn’t see the same thrillers. South Australia took the chocolates against Vic Metro by 25 points, as Vic Country defeated Western Australia by a whopping 105 points.
So which players are behind their team’s success, who’s rising and who’s falling?
Rising
Joshua Schache
Vic Country (Murray Bushrangers)
Tall forward, 199cm, 96kg
Schache had a solid performance without being great in Round 1, with 12 disposals, four marks (three contested) and two goals. However in Round 2 he really announced himself as a serious top-10 selection candidate, with 24 disposals, seven marks (three contested) and 8.4 in front of goal.
Schache is a good kick on goal, runs a 14.1 beep test, and took the game by the scruff of the neck. He looks like the best key forward option so far, and quite a few teams at the bottom of the table wouldn’t mind a key forward this season.
He could go very early if he continues putting in good performances.
Aaron Francis
South Australia (West Adelaide)
Medium defender/utility, 190cm, 86kg
Francis went at 80 per cent efficiency from 10 disposals and five marks (two contested) in Round 1. Round 2 saw him dominate the game as a medium to tall defender in the backline, with 17 hard-earned disposals and 12 marks (five contested) going at 88 per cent efficiency.
He moves the ball on quickly out of the back half and upwards of 10 of his marks were intercepts. His game was so dominant that he was applauded as he came from the field.
He has a little over two months before he turns 18, so still has some scope for improvement and growth.
Luke Partington
South Australia (Norwood)
Midfielder, 182cm, 75kg
Partington has had two very good games to begin the carnival, racking up 28 and 24 disposals, being SA’s leader with both tallies. Is averaging five clearances and seven inside 50s and has been the main man in the midfield so far.
Has taken a couple of risky options on occasion but still goes at just under 70 per cent with his disposal being fairly effective.
Harley Balic
Vic Metro (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder/half forward, 186cm, 80kg
So far he has 27 and 26 disposals to his name, going at 77.5 per cent. Vic Metro have a weaker squad this season, but Balic is a chance to go high in the first round.
Has some serious skills, is a real smooth mover, and has been likened by some to Chad Wingard.
Special mentions: Greg Clark, Jade Gresham, Oleg Markov.
Falling
Stephen Tahana
South Australia (North Adelaide)
Half back, 185cm, 77kg
Was projected to do well this season but has started slowly, and hasn’t shown that he can become a big accumulator.
In Round 1 he played a shut-down role in the backline and got just the two disposals. Round 2 was a little better with 12 disposals at 83 per cent.
Will need to have better games and rack up more of the ball to be the top-30 pick many think him to be.
Sam Skinner
Vic Country (Gippsland Power)
Tall defender, 197cm, 96kg
Skinner will be out for a while, after doing his knee following two games of eight and 10 disposals respectively at 50 per cent.
He will fall down the draft order as many with long-term injuries do, but he has at least shown enough promise as a key defender to be given a shot somewhere – whether it’s mid draft or rookie draft, it’s too far out to tell.
This weekend South Australia come against Western Australia, as the Vic teams battle it out.
TW
Guest
Some more info has emerged on the proposed 2017 Womens National Comp. There is an article in todays West Australian paper which explains what is likely. The article is not online at this time. Initially there will be 1 x 30? women squad each from WA,SA,QLD and NSW/ACT. Victoria will field two x 30? women squads being by far the strongest state. This new comp WILL be included in the 2017 AFL TV DEAL said the AFL CEO. It has been brought forward from 2020 to 2017 to capitalise on the growing interest from around the country from Girls/Women to play our game particularly QLD where there are 50,000 registered players and to combat several other National Womens Sports comps. On another angle --- The International scene has seen growth in several countries. Last year the AFL International Cup comp was held in Melbourne and it attracted WOMEN from 5 countries and was dominated by Canada who along with the USA fielded 2 squads. Since then very small comps formed in NZ , England.and Denmark. It is thought if the above league goes semi professional eventually several internationals will try to join any national draft. Perhaps they will not wait for that and travel here and play anyhow. Here is link to the 2014 Cup final -Canada v Ireland http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-23/canada-downs-ireland
Jack
Roar Pro
Rice has to choose between the Saints and the Blues, and has gathered 8 disposals in round 1 (88%) and 5 disposals in round 2 (100%) of the Champs, would like him to become a bigger accumulator but is playing down back most of the time. Is a lovely kick however. Silvagni had 8 disposals and 3 marks in round 1 of the Champs and 7 disposals and a goal in round 2 of the Champs. Bradley wasn't selected in the squad so will continue playing TAC Cup.
TW
Guest
Off topic but related. While quite correctly the focus in the Under Age categorys has been on the boys/men there has been very slowly but surely another group of Under Age players expanding. Of course we are referring to the girls/women. There is a lot of competition for players in Womens Sports from Soccer Football, Netball, Basketball and Womens Hockey who are all International Sports, so it is good to see some girls/women preferring our game. The aim of the AFL is to have a National Comp for Women who will be attached to the 18 AFL Clubs and here are some recent developments. In Brisbane recently the Lions said they could field a 30 women squad right now from current QLD playing stocks and that the Lions and the Suns will field teams eventually. It appears this was announced at a conference on the topic headed by the AFL CEO who is very enthusiastic for the idea to happen. Hawthorn announced a Womens team will be attached to the club in the near future and is planned for in their new complex. Yesterday in Perth the WA Womens team beat the Vics for the first time. Concurrently the second match in this years series between the Demons and the Bulldogs is coming up. The teams selected players from a National draft of 100 players we think. This move may give some inkling of what is planned in filling the squads. It is still early days but momentum is growing and with Gil pushing things along something is planned for 2017.
Macca
Guest
Do you have any info on how any of the Father Sons the BLues could take went ie Silvagni, Rice or Bradley (if Bradley is even playing)?