Vic Country and Queensland players have dominated the 2015 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team after winning the Division One and Division Two titles respectively with 11 players selected between them.
Division One winners Vic Country has eight players selected including back-to-back All-Australians Darcy Parish and Rhys Mathieson. Queensland, the Division Two winners, has three selections which includes another dual All-Australian in Ben Keays.
Vic Country coach Paul Henricksen was named the All-Australian coach, leading his team to its first Championships since 2010. Queensland coach Adrian Fletcher was named assistant coach.
Selection for the Under-18 All-Australian team follows the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships which concluded on Thursday.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said this year’s Championships were played to a high standard and many players put their names forward for selection.
“The Vic Country team were undefeated throughout the Championships and they have been rewarded with the most players selected. It was also very pleasing to see players from all eight teams nationally included.
“A highlight of the team was the selection of the first ever Sudanese born youngster, Gach Nyuon, a 201cm ruckman from the Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country to be selected All-Australian at Under 18s level in the 20 years of the Championships. No doubt this is a glimpse into the future of the AFL with a number of other Sudanese born prospects from multiple states impressing in the Championships,” he said.
The NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian selection panel: Kevin Sheehan (AFL), Michael Ablett (AFL), Brenton Sanderson (AFL), Lenny Hayes (AFL), Dom Milesi (Collingwood), Chris Drain (Port Adelaide), Michael Agresta (Sydney Swans), Simon Dalrymple (Western Bulldogs).
The NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team is as follows – profiles are attached.
DEFENDERS: Nick O’Kearney, Kieran Collins, Eric Hipwood, Riley Bonner, Jacob Weitering, Jarrod Berry
MIDFIELDERS: Kieran Lovell, Rhys Mathieson, Ben Keays, Gach Nyuon, Jacob Hopper, Luke Partington
FORWARDS: Darcy Parich, Aaron Francis, Harley Balic, Ben Ainsworth, Josh Schache, Jade Gresham
INTERCHANGE: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Brandon Parfitt, Will Snelling, Jacob Allison
COACH: Paul Henriksen (Vic Country)
ASSISTANT COACH: Adrian Fletcher (Queensland)
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.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Trade Period
· NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
· NAB AFL Academy
· NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
