The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will begin this weekend.
Victoria Country and Victoria Metro will kick off the tournament when they clash at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday, June 10. The opening bounce will take place at 10:30am.
The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will feature many of the most promising under 16 boys footballers from across the country over the next month.
The competition will feature 10 teams, who will each play three matches. The first round of matches will be played across four states, before all ten teams converge on the Gold Coast for the final two rounds.
Ten teams will compete in two pools. Pool A will feature South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia. Pool B will comprise Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast SUNS Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Northern Territory, Sydney Swans Academy and Tasmania.
The team that finishes atop each of the standings at the conclusion of the tournament will be crowned the title winner. If two teams finish equal on points atop a ladder, the title will be awarded to the team that won the round-robin match between those two teams. If more than two teams finish equal on points atop a ladder, the title will be awarded to the team with the highest percentage.
South Australia and Tasmania enter as the reigning title holders for their respective pools following wins at the 2022 Championships.
At the conclusion of the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys each team will select their MVP, with an overall best and fairest and All Australian team to also be selected by a selection panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFL recruiters.
SCHEDULE AND SQUADS: Please click here to access match details and squad lists for the 2023 AFL National Development Championships. Please note: Squads will be included in the week leading up to each team's first match.
WATCH: All matches in the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will be live streamed here. Replays will also be available following each match.
The AFL National Championships and AFL National Development Championships are the highest level of state and territory representative football, as part of the AFL’s Talent Pathway Program. The competitions will feature the most talented footballers from across Australia who are the next generation of stars in the game.
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys began last week, with the Allies downing South Australia at Thebarton Oval in the opening game. The Championships will be played across Australia throughout June and July.
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls began in April, with South Australia claiming a 35-point win over Western Australia at Pentanet Stadium. All remaining games in the 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls will be played throughout July and August.
The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls was played in April, with South Australia taking out the Pool A tile, while Brisbane Lions Academy won Pool B.
