Victoria Country and the Sydney Swans Academy claimed title wins at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.

Victoria Country took out the Pool A crown in thrilling style, claiming the title with a one-point win over South Australia in the final match of the Championships, courtesy of a behind to Wil Malady with the final kick of the game in extra time.

The result saw both Victoria Country and South Australia finish with 2-1 records, meaning Victoria Country claimed the title because of its win in the head-to-head encounter between the two sides.

Sydney Swans Academy took out the Pool B title as the only undefeated side in the six-team pool. The Swans won all three of their matches, including a 13-point victory over Tasmania in Round 3 which decided the title.

STANDINGS

POOL A

POOL B

BEST AND FAIREST AWARDS AND ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

South Australian defender Douglas Cochrane was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best and fairest for Pool A, while Matthew Owen from the Brisbane Lions Academy claimed the Alan McLean Medal as the Pool B best and fairest.

Cochrane, the son of former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide midfielder Stuart Cochrane, averaged 24 disposals, 6.7 marks and 4.3 tackles and was also named South Australia’s MVP.

Owen was a prolific ball winner through the midfield for the Lions, also winning his side's MVP award after averaging 32 disposals and 4.7 clearances per match throughout the Championships.

The best and fairest awards were selected by a panel comprising Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Tarkyn Lockyer (Marsh AFL National Academy Manager) and AFL club recruiting staff Brett Anderson (Port Adelaide), Scott Clayton (North Melbourne), Mark Finnigan (Hawthorn), Neville Stibbard (Tasmania), Jason Taylor and Matt Lannan (Melbourne).

The panel also selected the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys All Australian team.

Please click here to read profiles on each player selected in the All Australian team, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.

TEAM MVP AWARDS

The team MVP winners were selected by the coaching staff of each program:

Brisbane Lions Academy: Matthew Owen (Victoria Point)
Gold Coast Suns Academy: Archie Hill (Broadbeach)
GWS Giants Academy: Charlie Harper (Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes)
Northern Territory: Kalen Russell (Darwin Buffaloes)
South Australia: Douglas Cochrane (Central District/Port District)
Sydney Swans Academy: Conrad Blackwell-Smith (Glebe)
Tasmania: Ewan Dillon (Glenorchy)
Victoria Country: Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca)
Victoria Metro: Lachlan Hicks (Western Jets/Altona)
Western Australia: Lucas Robinson (South Fremantle/Lake Grace Pingrup)

RESULTS

Pool A

Victoria Metro 7.7 (49) def by Victoria Country 8.17 (65)
Victoria Metro
Best: Arki Butler, Max Downes, Harry van Hattum, William Waller, Hunter Ryan, Jordan Knapp
Goals: Arki Butler 3, Samuel Gayfer 2, Hunter Ryan, Harry van Hattum
Victoria Country
Best: Cody Walker, Marcus Prasad, Noah Williams, Ethan Drever, Cody Templeton, Darcy Szerszyn
Goals: Jack Pickett, Cody Walker 2, Seamus Doherty, Wil Malady, Marcus Prasad, Noah Williams
Details: Saturday, June 8 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval

South Australia 10.8 (68) def Western Australia 8.10 (58)
South Australia
Best: Archie Van Dyk, Douglas Cochrane, Ethan Herbert, Jack Gordon, Gus White, Koby Moir
Goals: Jacob McNicol, Koby Moir, Zemes Pilot 2, Brodie Bretones, Taj Garrett, Jermaine Miller, Archie Van Dyk
Western Australia
Best: Lucas Robinson, Jayden Clarke, Damien Newry, Koby LeCras, Elijah Dennis, Leo Steed
Goals: Koby LeCras, Lachlan McGlade, Kye Ormerod 2, James Barnard, Damien Newry
Details: Saturday, June 22 at Thebarton Oval

Victoria Metro 6.12 (48) def by South Australia 12.8 (80)
Victoria Metro
Best: Lachlan Hicks, Jack Surkitt, Billy Wigmore, Max Matthews, Jordan Knapp, Tate Hodgson
Goals: Arki Burler 2, Max Downes, Samuel Gayfer, Harry Van Hattum, Flynn Woolhouse
South Australia
Best: Douglas Cochrane, Archie Van Dyk, Kodah Edwards, Memphis Webb, Zackariah Young, Jermaine Miller
Goals: Jermaine Miller 4, Cain Florance 3, Ryan Davies, Kodah Edwards, Taj Garrett, Jack Leys, Memphis Webb
Details: Tuesday, July 9 at People First Stadium

Victoria Country 9.6 (60) def by Western Australia 13.9 (87)
Victoria Country
Best: Tanner Armstrong, Marlon Neocleous, Ethan Drever, Wil Malady, Marcus Prasad, Cody Walker
Goals: Wil Malady 3, Marlon Neocleous 2, Jackson Phillips, Jack Pickett, Marcus Prasad, Cody Templeton
Western Australia
Best: Lucas Robinson, Garrison Kenh, Leo Steed, Kye Ormerod, Cooper Ramsay, Josh Nathan
Goals: Lachlan McGlade 3, Koby LeCras, Thatcher Simmons 2, Angus Abbonizio, Tazzi Faithfull, Samuel Hill, Kye Ormerod, Cooper Ramsay, Benjamin van Rooyen
Details: Tuesday, July 9 at People First Stadium

Western Australia 7.13 (55) def by Victoria Metro 11.11 (77)
Western Australia
Best: Lucas Robinson, Leo Steed, Elijah Dennis, Jai Debono, Koby LeCras, Axel Walsh
Goals: Koby LeCras 3, Angus Abbonizio, Samuel Hill, Kye Ormerod, Lucas Robinson
Victoria Metro
Best: Arki Butler, Zac Antonellos, Jack Surkitt, Jordan Knapp, Tate Hodgson, Lachlan Hicks
Goals: Arki Butler, Archie Spencer, Jack Surkitt 2, Samuel Gayfer, Sam Harris, Jaden Lawrence, Hunter Ryan, Flynn Woolhouse
Details: Friday, July 12 at Fankhauser Reserve

South Australia 9.10 (64) def by Victoria Country 9.11 (65)
South Australia
Best: Cain Florance, Douglas Cochrane, Gus White, Ethan Herbert, Jack Gordon, Zackariah Young
Goals: Cain Florance, Jermaine Miller, Gus White 2, Jacob McNicol, Koby Moir, Memphis Webb
Victoria Country
Best: Tanner Armstrong, Cody Walker, Marcus Prasad, Wil Malady, Gus Kennedy, Noah Williams
Goals: Marcus Prasad 3, Wil Malady, Noah Williams 2, Xavier Ladbrook, Jack Pickett
Details: Friday, July 12 at Fankhauser Reserve

Pool B

Northern Territory 7.3 (45) def by Tasmania 9.6 (60)
Northern Territory
Best: Jaxon Boulton, Jack Hewett, Kalen Russell, Nathias Bourke-Miler, Ethan Bush, Calvin Peris Chong
Goals: Nathias Bourke-Miler, Juraiya Calma-Long, Tyreece Forbes, Jack Hewett, Aaron McWilliams, Joel Munnich, Kenny Raggett
Tasmania
Best: Samuel McNamara, Ryder Bugg, Blake Philpott, Charlie Bovill, Archie Devine, Riley Walters
Goals: Ryder Bugg, Archie Devine 2, Benjamin Barwick, Charlie Bovill, Mason Flanagan, Jake Hingston, Hugh McCallum
Details: Saturday, June 8 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval

GWS Giants Academy 7.11 (53) def by Sydney Swans Academy 10.9 (69)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Bailey-Dean Latanis, Billy Hilton, Jaxon. Steele, Tom Wichman, Matthew MacDonald, Lucas Roberts
Goals: Harper Bromson, Izack Daley, Bohdi Edwards, Billy Hilton, Tex Longmire, Matthew MacDonald, Tom Wichman
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Mason McGroder, Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Patrick Smith, Cody Beavis, Lachlan Price, Thomas Coughlin
Goals: Aidan McCartney 3, Lincoln Chambers 2, Guy Jenkin, Mason McGroder, Henry Meaney, Nathanael Newman, James O'Loughlin
Details: Saturday, June 29 at Manuka Oval

Gold Coast Suns Academy 7.7 (49) def by Brisbane Lions Academy 10.11 (71)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Archie Hill, Ty Lockwood, Isaac Mayne, Taj Murray, Samuel Murray, Jake Callinan
Goals: Blake Tissington, Leroy Kaesler, Kodi Wallace, Tyler Johnson, Taj Murray, Samuel Murray, Jesse Wenzel
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Jared Moss, Matthew Owen, Baelin Phillips, D'Arcy Jones, Caylen Murray, Oscar Tanks
Goals: Noah Cameron 3, Hamish McPherson, Beau Williams 2, Oscar Tanks, Matthew Owen, Archie Watts
Details: Sunday, June 30 at Brighton Homes Arena

Sydney Swans Academy 11.13 (79) def Northern Territory 4.3 (27)
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Oliver Griffiths, Cody Beavis, Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Leon Titmuss, James O'Loughlin, Guy Jenkin
Goals: Aidan McCartney, James O'Loughlin, Benjamin Pignatelli 3, Oliver Griffiths, Henry Meaney
Northern Territory
Best: Kalen Russell, Taj Murray, Ethan Bush, Nathias Bourke-Miler, Nathaniel Lampton, Deacon Summerville
Goals: Gus Trigwell 2, Mar’Quell Albert, Nathias Bourke-Miler
Details: Monday, July 8 at People First Stadium

Gold Coast Suns Academy 5.2 (32) def by GWS Giants Academy 9.16 (70)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Archie Hill, Jake Callinan, Jez Brindley, Leroy Kaesler, Elijah Welsh, Brae Agrums
Goals: Samuel Murray, Harry Heathcote 2, Elijah Welsh
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Bailey-Dean Latanis, Charlie Harper, Thomas Naujok, Zach Lambert, Tom Wichman, Cameron Morphett
Goals: Tom Wichman 3, Harper Bromson, Izack Daley 2, Charlie Bull, Jonah Korsten
Details: Monday, July 8 at People First Stadium

Brisbane Lions Academy 4.14 (38) def by Tasmania 11.7 (73)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Matthew Owen, Oscar Tanks, Caylen Murray, Hamish McPherson, Jethro Grills
Goals: Matthew Owen, Archie Watts, Hamish Paterson, Caylen Murray
Tasmania
Best: Archie Devine, Blake Philpott, Ewan Dillon, Samuel McNamara, Riley Walters, Hugh McCallum
Goals: Riley Walters 3, Benjamin Barwick, Mason Whitney 2, Hugh McCallum, Tyane Thomas, Brodie Speed, Rye Stewart
Details: Monday, July 8 at People First Stadium

Brisbane Lions Academy 8.13 (61) def GWS Giants Academy 5.16 (46)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Matthew Owen, Caylen Murray, Noah Cameron, Oscar Tanks, Noah Rafter, Hamish Paterson
Goals:  Noah Cameron, Hamish McPherson 2, Ethan Duke, Jared Moss, Noah Rafter, Oscar Tanks
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Charlie Harper, Isaac Conlan, Jaxon. Steele, Lucas Roberts, Zach Lambert, Bailey-Dean Latanis
Goals: Jesse Borghouts, Harper Bromson, Lane Fettell, Bailey-Dean Latanis, Tex Longmire
Details: Thursday, July 11 at Fankhauser Reserve

Tasmania 7.4 (46) def by Sydney Swans Academy 8.11 (59)
Tasmania
Best: Blake Philpott, Brodie Speed, Samuel McNamara, Mason Brown, Ewan Dillon, Hugh McCallum
Goals: Blake Philpott 3, Charlie Bovill, Jess Bula, Rye Stewart, Mason Whitney
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Lachlan Price, Patrick Smith, Leon Titmuss, Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Oliver Griffiths, William Jenkin
Goals: Nathanael Newman, Benjamin Pignatelli 2, Aidan McCartney, Henry Meaney, James O'Loughlin, Leon Titmuss
Details: Thursday, July 11 at Fankhauser Reserve

Northern Territory 9.8 (62) def by Gold Coast Suns Academy 9.10 (64)
Northern Territory
Best: Calvin Peris Chong, Deacon Summerville, Taj Murray, Kyran Cole-Manolis, Edward Darcy, Hau-Tze Rock
Goals: Edward Darcy 4, Gus Trigwell 2, Jaxon Boulton, Nathaniel Lampton, Calvin Peris Chong
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Archie Hill, Taj Murray, Brae Agrums, Jez Brindley, Isaac Mayne, Caleb Williams
Goals:  Zayne Moore 2, Allan Sevara, Caleb Williams, Kodi Wallace, Lachlan Jones, Taj Murray, Archie Hill, Hugo Howard
Details: Thursday, July 11 at Fankhauser Reserve

Please click here to watch replays from all matches in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.