Eleven Queenslanders have been named in the inaugural Allies squad that will compete in the 2016 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Nick Kemp, Jack Rolls, Brad Scheer, Jack Bowes, Josh Williams, Daniel Charlesworth, Max Spencer, Jacob Allison, Declan Watson, Elliot Himmelberg and Connor Ballendon are part of the squad selected after Division Two matches were completed last weekend.
The squad will be coached by Tadhg Kennelly with assistant coaches Adam Sanders (Tasmania), Adrian Fletcher (Queensland) and Andrew Hodges (Northern Territory).
In 2016, Division Two of the Championships included the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW/ACT and Tasmania, and was played prior to Division One which begins on Saturday June 4.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said the format for under-age talent is constantly reviewed.
“Now in its twenty-first year the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships continues to evolve with the addition of the Allies a significant moment in its history,” he said.
“The standard of competition in Division One can only be enhanced with now the ‘Best against the Best’ Australia wide. The squad, selected by AFL Talent Football Manager Mick Ablett, NAB AFL Academy coach Brenton Sanderson in conjunction with The Allies coach Tadhg Kennelly, looks an extremely powerful one which is certain to create even greater interest in our Rising Stars Program.
Allies coach Tadgh Kennelly said: “It’s both an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to coach the Allies in the upcoming Division One NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. This is an extremely talented group of young men that have been given an opportunity to represent the Allies, a team with a senior State Of Origin history playing against the likes of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia that has seen former greats such as Matthew Richardson, Nathan Buckley and Andrew McLeod pull on the same jumper. It’s an exciting and brilliant concept that allows all players to be evaluated by AFL Club recruiting staff on an even playing field.”
The Allies Squad consists of 17 players from NSW/ACT, 11 from Queensland and six from the Northern Territory.
2016 Allies Squad
Mitch MAGUIRE Northern Jets
Fletcher CARROLL Albury/Murray Bushrangers
Rohan ARMSTRONG South Alice FC
Charlie SPARGO Albury/Murray Bushrangers
Brandan PARFITT Nightcliff FC
Jack POWELL Ainslie
Nick KEMPE Morningside/Mackay
Sam FISHER Ainslie/Canberra Demons
Ben LONG St Mary’s FC
Isaac CUMMING North Broken Hill
Jack ROLLS Redlands/Morningside
Harry PERRYMAN Collingullie-GP
Kobe MUTCH Gol Gol/Bendigo Pioneers
Angus BAKER North Shore
Brad SCHEER Palm Beach Currumbin
Jamie HAMPTON Pioneer FC
Jack BOWES Surfers Paradise/Cairns Saints
Benjamin DAVIS UNSW
Lachlan McKENZIE Nightcliff FC
Josh WILLIAMS Surfers Paradise/Hermit Park
Daniel CHARLESWORTH Cairns City Lions Player/Surfers Paradise
Will SETTERFIELD Albury/Sandringham Dragons
Max SPENCER Palm Beach Currumbin
Ryan GARTHWAITE Corowa-Rutherglen/Murray Bushrangers
Jacob ALLISON Aspley
Declan WATSON Aspley
Elliot HIMMELBERG Redlands/Mt Gravatt
Harrison MACREADIE Henty
Zachary SPROULE Albury/Murray Bushrangers
Todd MARSHALL Deniliquin Rams/Murray Bushrangers
Nathan RICHARDS Griffith
Connor BALLENDEN University of Queensland
Max LYNCH Albury/Murray Bushrangers
Tony OLANGO St Mary’s FC
2016 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships Division One matches commence on June 4.
Division 1 Fixture
Sat June 4, SA v Allies at AAMI Stadium, 10.30am
Sun June 5, WA v Vic Country at Perth, 11am
Sun June 12, SA v WA at AAMI Stadium, 11.20am
Mon June 13, Vic Country v Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium, 12pm
Sat June 18, WA v Allies at Perth, 11.20am
Sun June 19, SA v Vic Metro at AAMI Stadium, 10.45am
Fri June 24, SA v Vic Country at Etihad Stadium, 12.35pm
Fri June 24, Allies v Vic Metro at Etihad Stadium, 2.35pm
Wed June 29, Vic Metro v WA at Simonds Stadium, 3.05pm
Wed June 29, Vic Country v Allies at Simonds Stadium, 5.05pm
The NAB AFL Under-18 Championships is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL. The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
