THIS year will see a major change to the format of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. For just the third time since the championship switched from under-17 level to an under-18 format in 1996, the carnival will be played outside of Victoria.
The reason the championships have been played in Victoria on a consistent basis has been due to the other states wanting matches played at the home of football.
But we're looking far wider now because we want to see other outcomes. No one is disappointed, and the Victorians also want to take up the new challenge.
This year, the carnival will be played in four states – New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
This change is for several reasons.
It gives a whole host of people – including coaches, officials and spectators – outside Victoria a greater opportunity to see the quality of football on display.
It also gives aspiring players an opportunity to see what they have to achieve in order to make it at the highest level.
Sydney will host two division-two matches this weekend at the SCG and Telstra Stadium, while the following weekend will feature division-one matches in Perth and Adelaide.
The matches at Telstra Stadium (NSW/ACT v NT) and Subiaco Oval (WA v Vic Metro) will be played as curtain-raisers to AFL games, while at AAMI Stadium the South Australia and Vic Country clash will be fought out after the Adelaide/West Coast match.
The format change also gives players varying experiences.
For example, it will be great to see the Victorian players from Metro and Country play outside of their state.
They'll have to get to the airport, travel by plane, and meet the challenges of playing interstate.
For the Victorian teams, being an away team will add another fascinating aspect to this year's tournament.
Another change this year is the length of the championships.
The titles will be stretched over a longer period, which allows the players greater rest between matches.
In the past, we've found players participating in three matches over eight days, which is far too tough.
The best of the midfielders were running 15km a match, so to expect them to run that amount in eight days is unfair, particularly when they are being closely watched by AFL clubs.
The championships are a key component of the drafting process and last year a record 53 players were drafted to primary AFL lists.
Overall, including rookies, 71 of the 200 championship players were drafted.
So far this season, 21 players from last year's championships have made their AFL debut – a fantastic result.
Historically, 70 per cent of AFL players now come via these matches, so that's why every AFL recruiting manager, every scout and, when available, every AFL coach will be keeping an eye on the championships.
It's also interesting to note that Tom Hawkins and Ricky Petterd, who won last year's Larke Medal (division one) and Harrison Medal (division two) respectively, have both received NAB AFL Rising Star nominations.
Last year's number-one draftee Bryce Gibbs has also received a gong.
It must be remembered that national titles are on the line and two division cups will be presented at the conclusion of the carnival.
Fierce rivalry remains between the states and territories and we want that to continue – it's also one of the key reasons why we hold the event.
So for all these reasons, we're hoping to raise the awareness of the wonderful standard of the NAB AFL Under-18 championships.
The fixtures
Division one
Saturday June 30 – match one – WA v Vic Metro at Subiaco, 11.15am (as a curtain-raiser to the round-13 Fremantle v Carlton match)
Sunday July 1 – match two – SA v Vic Country at AAMI Stadium, 4.10pm (following to the round-13 Adelaide v West Coast match)
Friday July 6 – match three – winner WA/Vic Metro v loser SA/Vic Country at Skilled Stadium, 11am
Friday July 6 – match four – Winner SA/Vic Country v loser WA/Vic Metro at Skilled Stadium, 1.30pm
Wednesday July 11 – loser WA/Vic Metro v loser SA/Vic Country at MC Labour Park, 11am
Wednesday July 11 – winner WA/Vic Metro v winner SA/Vic Country at MC Labour Park, 1.30pm
Division two
Saturday June 23 – match One – Tasmania v Queensland at the SCG, 10am
Saturday June 23 – match two – NSW-ACT v NT at Telstra Stadium, 3.50pm (as a curtain-raiser to the round-12 Sydney v Collingwood match)
Thursday July 5 – match three - winner Tasmania/Queensland v loser NSW-ACT/NT at Skilled Stadium, 11am
Thursday July 5 – match four - winner NSW-ACT/NT v loser Tasmania/Queensland at Skilled Stadium, 1.30pm
Tuesday July 10 – match five – loser Tasmania/Queensland v loser NSW-ACT/NT at MC Labour Park, 11am
Tuesday July 10 – match six – winner Tasmania/Queensland v winner NSW-ACT/NT at MC Labour Park, 1.30pm
