This weekend marks the beginning of a major event in Australian Football League (AFL): the 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys. Kicking off on Sunday, June 4th, South Australia is set to host the Allies at Adelaide’s Thebarton Oval in a tournament that will showcase some of the most talented under 18 boys footballers across the nation.
These championships are not merely games; they are the furnace that will forge the next generation of AFL stars. Among these competitors, fans may well spot the nascent talent of future premiership heroes.
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys features five teams: South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, Western Australia, and the Allies. The Allies bring together a mix of talent from ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania, truly representing the wide berth of young AFL talent across Australia.
The Championships, scheduled to be played throughout June and July, promises to carry the excitement and thrill of Australian rules football across the country. The opening match between South Australia and the Allies is set to kick off at 11:00am (ACST) on Sunday.
The tournament intensifies the following week, as Victoria Metro and Western Australia step into the fray with a double-header alongside South Australia and the Allies at Thebarton Oval on Sunday, June 11. Victoria Country joins the contest later, facing off against South Australia at IKON Park on Sunday, June 18.
The format of the Championships sees all five teams clashing once, creating an all-in-one opportunity for each team to prove its mettle against the others. The team that finishes at the top of the standings at the conclusion of the round-robin tournament will be crowned the title winner, providing a rigorous and exciting contest of skill and strategy.
Defending champions, Victoria Metro, will undoubtedly be keen to repeat their 2022 triumph, their first Championship victory since 2017.
Post-Championships, each team will select their Most Valuable Player (MVP). Additionally, an overall MVP and All Australian team will be chosen by a selection panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFL recruiters, providing a tangible acknowledgment of the emerging talents showcased during the Championships.
In a simultaneous celebration of the younger talent, the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys commences on Saturday, June 10 with a clash between Victoria Country and Victoria Metro.
And let’s not forget the girls. The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls kicked off in April, with South Australia claiming an impressive 35-point win over Western Australia. The remainder of these Championships will continue to enthrall audiences throughout July and August.
This weekend marks the beginning of a pivotal journey for these young athletes, one that could catapult them into AFL stardom. As they take to the field, dreams will collide with determination, and future AFL legends will take their first steps onto the grand stage.
