Nine budding Queensland footballers have been named in the Allies squad for the upcoming U18 Boys National Championships in June.
Ten members of the 2023 AFL Academy feature in the Allies squad, including Gold Coast SUNS Academy products Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, and Jed Walter.
Rogers was best afield in the AFL Academy’s win over Carlton’s VFL team at Marvel Stadium earlier this month.
Rogers, Read and Walter also represented the Allies as bottom-aged players at last year’s Championships.
The trio will join Gold Coast Academy teammates Leonardo Lombard, William Graham and Nick Williams alongside Brisban Lions Academy products Bradley McDonald, Samuel Marshall, and Patrick Snell at the squad’s training camp in Sydney this weekend in preparation for the Championships.
The Allies will be coached by Mark McVeigh, who is currently serving as head coach of the Sydney Swans Academy’s U18 Boys program.
McVeigh played 232 AFL games for Essendon from 1999 to 2012, before spending eight years as an assistant coach role at GWS Giants, serving as caretaker senior coach in 2022.
Dale Eames (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Michael Horne (GWS Giants Academy), Drew Mitchell (Brisbane Lions Academy) and Brent Renouf (Northern Territory Academy) also feature in the Allies’ coaching panel.
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will be played across Australia throughout June and July, featuring the Allies, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.
The Championships kick off with a clash between the Allies and South Australia at Adelaide’s Thebarton Oval on Sunday, June 4.
The AFL National Championships are the highest level of state and territory representative football, as part of the AFL’s Talent Pathway Program.
All games will be broadcast live and free on AFL.com.au.
Qlders in the 2023 Allies U18 Boys squad
Jake Rogers – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach
Leonardo Lombard – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach/Burleigh
Jed Walter – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin
William Graham – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin
Nick Williams – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Surfers Paradise
Ethan Read – Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin
Bradley McDonald – Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore
Samuel Marshall – Brisbane Lions Academy/St Bedes Mentone
Patrick Snell – Brisbane Lions Academy/Wilston Grange
