Future stars to feature ahead of 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final

The AFL has today announced a squad of 46 players who will feature in the 2023 AFL Futures match.

Many of the most talented under 17 footballers from across the country will take part in the match, which will be played at the MCG prior to the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday, September 30.

Three Queenslanders have been named: Tom Gillett, Leonardo Lombard, and Sam Marshall. 

The 46-player squad will be split into two teams named after former Geelong Cats captain and four-time premiership player Joel Selwood and recently retired West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui.

Team selection will be confirmed in the week before the match.

All players named for the sixth annual AFL Futures match are born in 2006 and will be eligible for selection in the 2024 AFL Draft.

The AFL Futures match provides next year’s draft prospects an opportunity to be part of a high-performance environment and showcase their talent on the big stage as they push for selection for the 2024 AFL Academy Boys program.

Players were nominated by state talent programs, national selectors and AFL clubs, with all states and territories represented across the 46-player squad.

Among those selected to play in the AFL Futures match are 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Boys All-Australian representatives Levi Ashcroft, Sid Draper and Finn O’Sullivan. The trio were standouts at this year’s Championships while competing in their bottom-age year.

Ashcroft is the son of three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Marcus and younger brother of Will, who finished runner-up for this year’s AFL Rising Star award after being selected with pick No. 2 in the 2022 AFL Draft.

Draper claimed South Australia’s MVP at the U18 Championships to add to his All-Australian selection, while O’Sullivan this year continued his impressive form after winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Division 1 best and fairest at the 2022 AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys.

The AFL Futures squad also includes South Australian father-son prospects Ben and Lucas Camporeale, Louie Montgomerie and Tyler Welsh.

Twin brothers Ben and Lucas Camporeale are eligible to join Carlton, where their father Scott played 233 matches.

Louie Montgomerie is the son of former Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs defender Brett and is eligible to join the Power, while key forward Tyler Welsh is eligible to join Adelaide, where his father Scott played 129 of his 205 AFL matches.

AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “The AFL Futures match is a highlight on the AFL Talent calendar and provides football fans an introduction to the talented young players who are about to enter their draft year.

“We are delighted to be able to play the game ahead of the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final and provide the opportunity for our young stars from across the country to experience the excitement of being part of the biggest day of the AFL season.

“Many of the players who take part in the AFL Futures match will go on to be part of next year’s AFL Academy Boys program and we look forward to seeing them put their skills on display on the MCG.”

The 2023 AFL Futures squad will arrive in Melbourne on Friday, September 29, with a training session to be held at The Hangar in preparation for the match.

HOW TO WATCH: The 2023 AFL Futures match will be broadcast live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.

Continue below for the list of players selected for the 2023 AFL Futures match.
 

NAME

SURNAME

DOB

STATE

STATE LEAGUE CLUB

COMMUNITY CLUB

Bo

Allan

16-02-06

WA

Peel Thunder

Halls Head

Levi

Ashcroft

18-12-06

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Old Brighton
Grammarians

Ben

Camporeale

21-07-06

SA

Glenelg

Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars

Lucas

Camporeale

21-07-06

SA

Glenelg

Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars

Malakai

Champion

17-05-06

WA

Subiaco

Mines Rovers

Joel

Cochran

28-03-06

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

East Sydney

Jesse

Dattoli

07-08-06

VIC M

Northern Knights

Ivanhoe

Archer

Day-Wicks

13-05-06

VIC C

Bendigo Pioneers

Sandhurst

Oliver

Dean

16-08-06

TAS

Tasmania Devils

North Launceston

Sid

Draper

05-07-06

SA

South Adelaide

Willunga

Jonty

Faull

01-02-06

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Redan

Tom

Gillett

09-01-06

QLD

Brisbane Lions Academy

Sherwood

Lucca

Grego

15-09-06

VIC M

Western Jets

Keilor

Tom

Gross

15-09-06

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Old Trinity
Grammarians

Phoenix

Hargrave

15-09-06

SA

South Adelaide

Reynella

Joe

Harrison

20-07-06

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

Warners Bay

Kade

Herbert

03-04-06

SA

Woodville-West Torrens

Bute

Taj

Hotton

17-06-06

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Old Haileybury

Zak

Johnson

24-12-06

VIC M

Northern Knights

Old Ivanhoe
Grammarians

Isaac

Kako

07-03-06

VIC M

Calder Cannons

Pascoe Vale

Nash

King

15-03-06

VIC M

Calder Cannons

Wallan

Sam

Lalor

30-08-06

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Bacchus Marsh

Harvey

Langford

15-03-06

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Mount Martha

Xavier

Lindsay

03-08-06

VIC C

Gippsland Power

Leongatha

Leonardo

Lombard

05-10-06

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Broadbeach

Tom

Luck

06-04-06

SA

Woodville-West Torrens

Central Yorke

Sam

Marshall

19-01-06

QLD

Brisbane Lions Academy
Sandringham Dragons

St Bedes/Mentone

Ricky

Mentha

04-09-06

NT

NT Academy
Gippsland Power

Morwell

Louie

Montgomery

24-04-06

SA

North Adelaide

Glenunga

Christian

Moraes

08-11-06

VIC M

Eastern Ranges

Glen Waverley

Noah

Mraz

20-02-06

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Narre North Foxes

Joshua

Murphy

28-11-06

NSW/ACT

Murray Bushrangers

North Albury

Harry

O’Farrell

03-05-06

VIC M

Calder Cannons

Maribyrnong Park

Finn

O’Sullivan

30-05-06

VIC C

Oakleigh Chargers

Koroit

Flynn

Penry

20-04-06

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Cobden

Murphy

Reid

30-07-06

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

South Melbourne
Districts

Clay

Shadforth

11-04-06

NT

NT Academy
South Adelaide

Palmerston

Jobe

Shanahan

02-08-06

NSW/ACT

Bendigo Pioneers

Moama

Josh

Smillie

17-05-06

VIC M

Eastern Ranges

Park Orchards

Jagga

Smith

28-01-06

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Richmond

Luke

Trainor

10-04-06

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Old Brighton
Grammarians

Tobie

Travaglia

26-10-06

VIC C

Bendigo Pioneers

Sandhurst

Austin

Van der Struf

17-03-06

WA

Claremont

Claremont

Oliver

Warburton

13-06-06

VIC C

Murray Bushrangers

Shepparton Swans

Tyler

Welsh

15-08-06

SA

Woodville West-Torrens

Henley

Mitch

Woods

15-05-06

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans

Penshurst

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