The AFL has today announced the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All-Australian Team.

This year’s Championships featured 10 teams competing across two divisions, with 15 matches played across Australia over the past two months.

South Australia edged out Victoria Metro and Western Australia to secure the Division 1 title. All three sides won two of their three matches in the round-robin series, with South Australia claiming first place on percentage. Victoria Country rounded out the Division 1 ladder in fourth spot.

Tasmania was undefeated across three matches to win the Division 2 title, ahead of Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants, Sydney Swans and Northern Territory.

The 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All-Australian Team was selected with 18 players on the field and five players on the interchange, with players selected in their best position.

South Australia and Victoria Metro both have five players named in the team, while Western Australia and Victoria Country each have four representatives.

The team features four father-son prospects, including Levi Ashcroft (son of Marcus), Lucas Camporeale (son of Scott), William McCabe (son of Luke) and Tyler Welsh (son of Scott).

South Australia’s Julian Farkas was selected as coach, with Tasmania's Jamie Hayward named as assistant coach. Victoria Country’s Finn O'Sullivan was selected as captain.

The All-Australian Team was selected by a panel comprising Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chairman), Tarkyn Lockyer (AFL National Academy Coach/Manager), Mick Agresta (Carlton), Robert Forster-Knight (Essendon), Leon Harris (Brisbane Lions), Derek Hine (Collingwood) and Richard Taylor (Adelaide).

The panel awarded Victoria Country’s Finn O'Sullivan the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Best and Fairest in the Division 1 competition, while the Alan McLean Medal for the Division 2 Best and Fairest was presented to Tasmania’s Oliver Depaoli-Kubank.

The team MVP winners, as selected by the coaching staff of each program, were awarded to Tom Fry (Brisbane Lions), Leonardo Lombard (Gold Coast Suns), Cooper Bell (GWS Giants), Waylon Davey (Northern Territory), William McCabe (South Australia), Joel Cochran (Sydney Swans), Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (Tasmania), Finn O'Sullivan (Victoria Country), Josh Smillie (Victoria Metro) and Chayse Martinson (Western Australia).

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan congratulated everyone selected in the All-Australian team and said it was deserved recognition for their outstanding performance throughout the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys.

“Selection in the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All-Australian Team is a significant honour and all players are thoroughly deserving of their selection in the team,” Sheehan said.

“The players selected represent the best young footballers in the country and highlight the quality of talent coming through the national pathway programs.”

Please find below the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All-Australian Team. Player profiles compiled by Kevin Sheehan.

Back Pocket
Thomas Cathcart
(Western Australia/Swan Districts/Caversham)
Date of Birth: 28/05/06; Height: 189cm; Weight: 78kg
Very composed third tall defender who reads the game exceptionally well. Showed safe hands overhead and at ground level and used the ball efficiently by hand and foot. Outstanding in Western Australia’s win over Victoria Country and was consistent throughout, averaging 21.7 disposals.

Full Back
Tadhg McCarthy
(Victoria Metro/Oakleigh Chargers/Kew Rovers/Carey Grammar)
Date of Birth: 07/03/06; Height: 190cm; Weight: 76kg
Mobile defender who played his role exceptionally well, competing strongly in the contests and used the ball effectively on the way out. Strong overhead and composed under pressure, he averaged 10 disposals and 3 marks in deep defence to be one of Victoria Metro’s best players throughout the Championships.

Back Pocket
Brady Hall
(Victoria Country/Geelong Falcons/Colac/Trinity College)
Date of Birth: 09/03/06; Height: 189cm; Weight: 76kg
Medium defender whose natural leap and overhead marking were both features of his game. Reads the ball exceptionally well in flight to intercept overhead and at ground level he averaged 15.7 disposals (at 78% efficiency) and 4 marks in the Championships. He excelled in the final game against South Australia, where he was Victoria Country’s best player.

Half Back Flank
Josh Smillie
(Victoria Metro/Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards/Whitefriars College)
Date of Birth: 17/05/06; Height: 191cm; Weight: 90kg
Tall defender/forward who played at both ends in the Championships, averaging 21.7 disposals (10.7 contested), 4 marks and 5.7 tackles to win Victoria Metro’s MVP award. Very competitive type who is both athletic and skillful.

Centre Half Back
William McCabe
(South Australia/Central District/Tanunda/Sacred Heart College)
Date of Birth: 29/09/05; Height: 196cm; Weight 75kg
Tall athletic defender who also can go forward. Very competitive player who excels one-on-one and uses the ball effectively on the rebound. Son of former Hawthorn player Luke McCabe, who played 138 games after being selected at pick 15 in the 1993 National Draft. Played as an approved overage player in the Championships, so is eligible father-son to the Hawks in 2023.

Half Back Flank
Dyson Sharp
(South Australia/Central District/Barossa District/Xavier College)
Date of Birth: 23/05/07; Height: 184cm; Weight: 77kg
Bottom-aged defender who read the play superbly to regularly intercept, as well as dominating one-on-one contests. Prolific ball winner throughout the Championships, averaging 23.7 disposals (10 contested) and 7.3 rebounds.

Wing
Lucas Camporeale
(South Australia/Glenelg/Brighton/Sacred Heart College)
Date of Birth: 21/07/06; Height: 182cm; Weight: 62kg
Left-footed wingman who showed he had a high footy IQ in reading the play to win the ball and using it effectively by hand and foot. Averaged 17.3 disposals and along with his twin brother Ben provided great drive for the South Australia team from midfield. They are sons of former Carlton star Scott Camporeale, who played 233 AFL games, including the 1995 premiership, after being selected with pick 15 in the 1994 National Draft.

Centre
Chayse Martinson
(Western Australia/Swan Districts/Carey Park)
Date of Birth: 06/02/06; Height: 179cm; Weight 75kg
Hard-working midfielder who was a consistent ball winner and leader of his team throughout the Championships, averaging 20.7 disposals and 4.7 tackles. Won his team’s MVP award.

Wing
Oliver Depaoli-Kubank
(Tasmania/Ulverstone)
Date of Birth: 24/07/06; Height: 172cm; Weight: 58kg
Wingman with good speed, agility, courage and neat skills. Was a prolific ball winner, averaging 28.2 disposals (10.7 contested) 4 clearances and 3.7 tackles to win the MVP for Tasmania, as well as the Alan McLean Medal as the Best and Fairest player in Division 2.

Half Forward Flank
Sam Lalor
(Victoria Country/GWV Rebels/Bacchus Marsh/St Patrick’s College)
Date of Birth: 30/08/06; Height: 186cm; Weight: 78kg
Powerful inside midfielder who excels at stoppages, using his acceleration, clean hands and vision to set up his team. Uses his assets to be dangerous and creative when forward, averaging 16.7 disposals (50% contested), 4 clearances and 4 tackles to be one of Victoria Country’s stars.

Centre Half Forward
Caleb Nancarrow
(Gold Coast Suns Academy/Cairns City Lions/Scotch College)
Date of Birth: 31/05/06; Height: 195cm; Weight: 81kg
Mobile tall forward/ruckman with an excellent natural leap. Averaged 13 disposals (7.7 contested), 4 marks and 8 hitouts to be one of the Gold Coast Suns Academy’s best players.

Half Forward Flank
Levi Ashcroft
(Victoria Metro/Sandringham Dragons/St. Kilda City/Brighton Grammar)
Date of Birth: 18/12/06; Height: 179cm; Weight 76kg
Medium forward/midfielder with exceptional clean hands and vision who set up his team with his creative play, averaging 24.3 disposals (9.3 contested) and 4.3 tackles to be one of his team’s best. Brother to emerging draftee Will and son of Marcus Ashcroft, a 318-game player and three-time premiership player with the Brisbane Lions.

Forward Pocket
Malakai Champion
(Western Australia/Subiaco/Mines Rovers)
Date of Birth 17/05/06; Height: 170cm; Weight: 64kg
Small forward who is both quick and creative and a difficult match up. Was outstanding in Western Australia’s win over Victoria Country, with his connection with Anthony Hansen a feature of the match. Averaged 13 disposals (5 contested) and always looked dangerous around goals.

Full Forward
Tyler Welsh
(South Australia/Woodville-West Torrens/Henley/Henley High School)
Date of Birth: 15/08/06; Height: 189cm; Weight: 83kg
Medium forward who is outstanding overhead with his natural leap and vice-like grip being real assets. Averaged 7.7 marks (3.3 contested) together with 13 .7 disposals and kicked four goals across three matches. Son of former North Melbourne, Adelaide Crows and Western Bulldogs forward Scott Welsh. Is eligible for the Crows under the father-son rule, where his father played 129 of his 205 AFL games.

Forward Pocket
Anthony Hansen
(Western Australia/Swan Districts/South Bunbury)
Date of Birth: 26/02/06; Height: 172cm; Weight: 61kg
Small forward who is quick and elusive with excellent fundamental skills. Provided an excellent avenue to goal in both of Western Australia’s wins over Victoria Country and Victoria Metro. Across the Championships he averaged 10.3 disposals and kicked 3 goals, as well as setting up his team on many occasions.

Ruck
Billy Richardson
(Brisbane Lions Academy/Wilston Grange)
Date of Birth: 10/12/05; Height: 194cm; Weight 87kg
Mobile ruckman/tall forward who competes aggressively and uses the ball efficiently by hand and foot. Averaged 15 disposals and 25 hitouts to be one of the Brisbane Lions’ top prospects across the Championships.

Ruck Rover
Finn O’Sullivan (C)
(Victoria Country/Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit/Xavier College)
Date of Birth: 30/05/06; Height: 180cm; Weight: 69kg
Midfielder who is a prolific ball winner with elite endurance and has a penetrating kick. Was a standout player winning Victoria Country’s MVP and the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Best and Fairest player in Division 1, averaging 27.3 disposals (11.3 contested) and 5.3 clearances across the Championships.

Rover
Jagga Smith
(Victoria Metro/Oakleigh Chargers/Kew Rovers/Scotch College)
Date of Birth: 28/01/06; Height 179cm; Weight 62kg
Creative midfielder with great vision and neat step through traffic. Accumulates the ball with his exceptional work rate and running capacity. He averaged 24.7 disposals (10.3 contested) and 3.7 clearances to finish runner-up in the Division 1 Best and Fairest award to Finn O’Sullivan.

Interchange
Xavier Lindsay
(Victoria Country/Gippsland Power/Inverloch-Congwak/Mary Mackillop College)
Date of Birth: 03/08/06; Height: 179cm; Weight: 66kg
Left-footed wingman with a touch of class. Was a consistent player for Victoria Country throughout the Championships, averaging 21.7 disposals and 4 inside 50s.

Leonardo Lombard
(Gold Coast Suns Academy/Burleigh Bombers/Varsity College)
Date of Birth: 05/10/06; Height: 175cm; Weight: 71kg
Prolific ball-winning midfielder who averaged 26.6 disposals and 6 tackles in the Championships. Was a model of consistency for the Gold Coast Suns Academy, winning their Most Valuable Player.

Tom Luck
(South Australia/Woodville-West Torrens/Maitland/Kadina Memorial School)
Date of Birth: 06/04/06; Height: 196cm; Weight: 80kg
Developing ruckman with excellent ruck craft, giving his midfielders first use of the ball. Strong and brave overhead and mobile around the ground. Averaged 10 disposals and 13.7 hitouts to catch the eye for South Australia in the Championships.

Luke Trainor
(Victoria Metro/Sandringham Dragons/St Kilda City/Brighton Grammar)
Date of Birth: 10/04/06; Height: 191cm; Weight: 77kg
Tall defender who uses the ball exceptionally well on either foot. Is very composed and provided great rebound for his team, averaging 17.5 disposals (6 contested) and 4 marks across two games for Victoria Metro in the Championships.

Mitchell Woods
(Sydney Swans Academy/Penshurst Panthers/St Patrick’s Strathfield)
Date of Birth: 15/05/06; Height: 179cm; Weight: 73kg
Midfielder whose acceleration and power in bursts through the centre of the ground and away from stoppages was a real weapon in the Championships. He averaged 21.3 disposals (13 contested) 4.3 clearances and 4 tackles. A dual sports athlete, he’s also a highly regarded Rugby League prospect.

Coach
Julian Farkas
(South Australia)

Assistant Coach
Jamie Hayward
(Tasmania)

Players by team
South Australia: (5) Lucas Camporeale, Tom Luck, William McCabe, Dyson Sharp, Tyler Welsh
Victoria Metro: (5) Levi Ashcroft, Tadhg McCarthy, Josh Smillie, Jagga Smith, Luke Trainor
Victoria Country: (4) Brady Hall, Sam Lalor, Xavier Lindsay, Finn O’Sullivan
Western Australia: (4) Thomas Cathcart, Malakai Champion, Anthony Hansen, Chayse Martinson
Gold Coast Suns Academy: (2) Leonardo Lombard, Caleb Nancarrow
Brisbane Lions Academy: (1) Billy Richardson
Sydney Swans Academy: (1) Mitchell Woods
Tasmania: (1) Oliver Depaoli-Kubank

Please click here to see the results and watch replays of all matches in the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys.