Academy Watch

[The Flying Belgian]

I’m flabbergasted at some of those over ages and staggered at the omission of some over ages

I mean, it's very an imperfect science (or should that be "art") and the Academy staff probably need to tick off a broad range of criteria that people in club land or draft aficionados are probably never going to agree with entirely.

5-10 years ago the criticism was that they weren't casting their net wide enough. Well, that was one of my criticisms anyway. Now they're casting their net wider but still getting criticised.

They've been criticised for abandoning kids once they miss out in their draft year, now they're taking more kids into their overage year. Again, the criticism comes.

I think constructive criticism is warranted and useful, but I've always thought many of those in QAFL club land will take any opportunity to sink the boot in. And I think if you're willing to criticise them for who they're missing out, you should be willing to put your money where your mouth is and state who you think is getting a raw deal and why.

I will say, despite all that, I very much appreciate those who are more connected with local footy sharing what they do.

 

[Thommo 42]

Tanks is 18 next year, but there are a ton of over agers in that list.

60 kids is massive over kill, just wasting people's time and they will hold onto them until April and they lose connection with club footy.

Given the glaring omissions as well, will be hard to re-integrate into clubland when these young players through no fault of their own come back feeling superior to those that weren't in the academy, but are far superior players!

I'd almost guarantee the top place getters in the Colts B&F of say the top 3-4 Brisbane clubs won't have any representation in academy footy. Something is broken!

Pretty hard to be critical of an organisation with both Premiership cups on the table.

Don't think there are any real glaring omissions, sure there are heaps of strange decisions, but the best ~30 are there and really the rest don't really matter that much.

If you've missed out, you've been saved 3+ months of misery, no feedback, mates looking after mates, training all over SEQ as much as 3 times a week only to be cut on the eve of club footy (when you've probably known you're getting cut for at least 2 of those months, but gone along anyway).

It truly is the mcdonalds special sauce and KFC mystery herbs and spices on how it's all done.

Clubs were asked for a list of names, those were submitted. Kids invited to a single one off training session and a single game, and then invites came from that.

You'd think a body of work over a season, rather than one game might be more important, but really don't know. We have boys from our u15s in there who couldn't get a kick in 17s, let alone QAFL Colts, and multiple Colts lads who had sensational seasons and absolutely dominated youth footy on the rare occasion they went back who missed out. Even more random that some of the ones that missed out did actually play well in the one off game so got overlooked.

However, no glaring omissions from what you'd suggest is the likely sort of top 30.

Two I think are very unlucky are Ben Morison from Morningside. A bottom age u17 player who played Senior QAFL footy this year, and was one of the best in the Colts GF, in fact I'd have him BOG to half time. Played pretty well in the 'trial game'.

Another lad Jarvis Warr from Sherwood, he played Colts and u17s this year. He was a level above u17s, had 30 and kicked 3+ every time he went back, and was a solid Colts player. Also played well in the 'trial' kicking 2 long bomb goals on the run from outside 50.

However neither of these lads I think would threaten the playing 22, but are better comfortably than 20 others that are there.

Think it's just the lack of respect for club footy and coaches, and the internal issues it can cause when kids not up to it come back expecting the red carpet, when there are 20 in clubland that have always been better, but were mysteriously dudded.

Like a 16 year old playing seniors in the QAFL, can obviously play, but let's grab the 16 year old dining around in the u15.5 comp instead ust to confused everyone....

If I'm being honest, I reckon my own kid is a bit stiff - but I suspect that's more to do do with me than him, and while he is down about it, I reckon a senior pre-season will be far more beneficial and if I was picking the final 25 I wouldn't have him in, so don't mind if he's in the top 50 or top 1000 as only the top 25 matter.

 

[M Malice]

Pretty hard to be critical of an organisation with both Premiership cups on the table.

Don't think there are any real glaring omissions, sure there are heaps of strange decisions, but the best ~30 are there and really the rest don't really matter that much.

If you've missed out, you've been saved 3+ months of misery, no feedback, mates looking after mates, training all over SEQ as much as 3 times a week only to be cut on the eve of club footy (when you've probably known you're getting cut for at least 2 of those months, but gone along anyway).

It truly is the mcdonalds special sauce and KFC mystery herbs and spices on how it's all done.

Clubs were asked for a list of names, those were submitted. Kids invited to a single one off training session and a single game, and then invites came from that.

You'd think a body of work over a season, rather than one game might be more important, but really don't know. We have boys from our u15s in there who couldn't get a kick in 17s, let alone QAFL Colts, and multiple Colts lads who had sensational seasons and absolutely dominated youth footy on the rare occasion they went back who missed out. Even more random that some of the ones that missed out did actually play well in the one off game so got overlooked.

However, no glaring omissions from what you'd suggest is the likely sort of top 30.

Two I think are very unlucky are Ben Morison from Morningside. A bottom age u17 player who played Senior QAFL footy this year, and was one of the best in the Colts GF, in fact I'd have him BOG to half time. Played pretty well in the 'trial game'.

Another lad Jarvis Warr from Sherwood, he played Colts and u17s this year. He was a level above u17s, had 30 and kicked 3+ every time he went back, and was a solid Colts player. Also played well in the 'trial' kicking 2 long bomb goals on the run from outside 50.

However neither of these lads I think would threaten the playing 22, but are better comfortably than 20 others that are there.

Think it's just the lack of respect for club footy and coaches, and the internal issues it can cause when kids not up to it come back expecting the red carpet, when there are 20 in clubland that have always been better, but were mysteriously dudded.

Like a 16 year old playing seniors in the QAFL, can obviously play, but let's grab the 16 year old dining around in the u15.5 comp instead ust to confused everyone....

If I'm being honest, I reckon my own kid is a bit stiff - but I suspect that's more to do do with me than him, and while he is down about it, I reckon a senior pre-season will be far more beneficial and if I was picking the final 25 I wouldn't have him in, so don't mind if he's in the top 50 or top 1000 as only the top 25 matter.

My grandson played with Ben Morrison and was coached by my son at Yeronga Devils a couple of seasons ago, Ben looked like a man against boys in that Div 1 competition for the most part.

To my eye he had heaps of potential but lacked the fitness required and nuance by foot, (lovely long kick on him but just thumped it long most of the time) to jump up to elite junior/potential AFL draftable level... has he improved in those areas?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Clubs were asked for a list of names, those were submitted. Kids invited to a single one off training session and a single game, and then invites came from that.

You'd think a body of work over a season, rather than one game might be more important, but really don't know. We have boys from our u15s in there who couldn't get a kick in 17s, let alone QAFL Colts, and multiple Colts lads who had sensational seasons and absolutely dominated youth footy on the rare occasion they went back who missed out. Even more random that some of the ones that missed out did actually play well in the one off game so got overlooked.

The line from Luke Curran used to be "you don't know what we're looking for". I honestly don't know what they're looking for as I've had family members overlloked also. They would have been borderline too but definitely had some dratable traits. Would it be the worst thing to at the least let the clubs know what those criteria are, or would that invite more quierying and campaigning than they probably already get?

 

[Miller1971]

Easy line to give, but really only relevant to the top 10 or so.

One of the biggest issues is that 60 kids now think they're getting drafted, when 3-4 max will be and the other 50+ are witches hats.

If you are going to bring witches hats, at least make it performance/merit based, especially considering they have now hijacked all representative footy, so if you ever want to wear the QLD jumper outside the school stuff or be rewarded for performance, there is only one place that can happen.

Above poster about young Morrison from Yeronga/Moringside is spot on, he does have some limitations. But based on merit and performance, he should be there. Isn't it a development program? Isn't fitness the easiest thing to work on? I watched that kid in the Colts GF and his kicking is perfectly fine, on both side of the body.

If you're 16, and playing Senior footy for the QAFL Premiership side - then you're going ok. Meanwhile kids playing u15s getting picked ahead of you. As tommo said, how disrespectful can you be towards club footy?

If you want a list of kids who should be there, I have a few for you.

Jake Howson - 10 x Colts games for 27 goals and 3 x QAFL Seniro games for Aspley for 4 goals. Seriously good player, overlooked again. (Aspley need someone to push for him like they had to for Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

...) - for me, I disagree with the above, this kid is undoubtedly in the mix for best 22, more like Best 10.

Ethan Myers - 10 x QAFL Senior games for Aspley, still an u17 eligible player.

Tom Levi - bottom ager, alleged to have a bad attitude, so black balled for life..? Amazing talent, elite ball user.

Harry Caspers - bottom ager from Noosa, I watched the trial game live. He would have had 30+ disposals, why invite him and then ignore how he goes?

Cooper Mataia - Grange ruck/forward. Low footy IQ, but as far as potential goes, he is right up there if in the roght program

Hayden Hall - Grange - think he won the QAFL colts goalkicking, great contested mark and hits the scoreboard.

Cooper Stone - hard running mid small forward from Sherwood, also played senior footy in 2024 as an u17 eligible player

Harry Thompson - only 15 year old in the QAFL Colts competition (17 games) is as tough as they come, tackles like a machine, uses it well and would be the quickest kid in the program

Jervis War - I'd never seen this kid in my life, but as above - he kicked 2 of the most elite long left foot running goals from well beyond 50m in the 'trial' game that even if he didn't touch it again, you would pick him from those alone!

Tyan Prindable - been somewhat out of site as a elite inside mid playing seniors for Coorparoo, will be the surprise packet of the QAFL next year, dominates around stoppage. Do yourself a favour and watch the live stream of the 2 x school cup finals from the weekend, he was the best player at the carnival other than Murray from Palm Beach

Thomas Waters - son of former Bear Matt Waters - and plays like his old man, tough and skilful. u17 eligible kid playing Colts at Grange all year and one of their best.

Ben Morrison - as discussed above


From the above, I would say Howson, Myers, Caspers, Hall, Stone and Prindable would be pushing the best 22 without a shadow of a doubt. The others unlucky, but only because they have name so many.

I don't know how old some of these kids are either, but you can generally work it out from their playing history. Doesn't seem to matter either when you look at the squad!

 

[The Flying Belgian]

If you want a list of kids who should be there, I have a few for you.

Appreciate the effort.

 

[Thommo 42]

Prindable is in.

Good call on Jake Howson, kid is an absolute beast.

 

[Schache_off]

The last few posts reminds me of a book I read recently by Economist, Cameron Murray. The book has nothing to do with footy but all about power and money and how corrupt mining, superannuation, housing etc is. It references a study where people were put in a game and could reward others but not themselves and no-one had an advantage when all strangers played. When people who knew each other played together they were very likely to reward a friend or someone they had a personal relationship with.

It sounds like a little bit of this is probably going on. It would be very hard to design a system for identifying players for a squad that everyone would think is fair and gets the right result. The bias of a few would still come through in the end...

 

[nWo]

Easy line to give, but really only relevant to the top 10 or so.

One of the biggest issues is that 60 kids now think they're getting drafted, when 3-4 max will be and the other 50+ are witches hats.

If you are going to bring witches hats, at least make it performance/merit based, especially considering they have now hijacked all representative footy, so if you ever want to wear the QLD jumper outside the school stuff or be rewarded for performance, there is only one place that can happen.

Above poster about young Morrison from Yeronga/Moringside is spot on, he does have some limitations. But based on merit and performance, he should be there. Isn't it a development program? Isn't fitness the easiest thing to work on? I watched that kid in the Colts GF and his kicking is perfectly fine, on both side of the body.

If you're 16, and playing Senior footy for the QAFL Premiership side - then you're going ok. Meanwhile kids playing u15s getting picked ahead of you. As tommo said, how disrespectful can you be towards club footy?

If you want a list of kids who should be there, I have a few for you.

Jake Howson - 10 x Colts games for 27 goals and 3 x QAFL Seniro games for Aspley for 4 goals. Seriously good player, overlooked again. (Aspley need someone to push for him like they had to for Harris Andrews...) - for me, I disagree with the above, this kid is undoubtedly in the mix for best 22, more like Best 10.

Ethan Myers - 10 x QAFL Senior games for Aspley, still an u17 eligible player.

Tom Levi - bottom ager, alleged to have a bad attitude, so black balled for life..? Amazing talent, elite ball user.

Harry Caspers - bottom ager from Noosa, I watched the trial game live. He would have had 30+ disposals, why invite him and then ignore how he goes?

Cooper Mataia - Grange ruck/forward. Low footy IQ, but as far as potential goes, he is right up there if in the roght program

Hayden Hall - Grange - think he won the QAFL colts goalkicking, great contested mark and hits the scoreboard.

Cooper Stone - hard running mid small forward from Sherwood, also played senior footy in 2024 as an u17 eligible player

Harry Thompson - only 15 year old in the QAFL Colts competition (17 games) is as tough as they come, tackles like a machine, uses it well and would be the quickest kid in the program

Jervis War - I'd never seen this kid in my life, but as above - he kicked 2 of the most elite long left foot running goals from well beyond 50m in the 'trial' game that even if he didn't touch it again, you would pick him from those alone!

Tyan Prindable - been somewhat out of site as a elite inside mid playing seniors for Coorparoo, will be the surprise packet of the QAFL next year, dominates around stoppage. Do yourself a favour and watch the live stream of the 2 x school cup finals from the weekend, he was the best player at the carnival other than Murray from Palm Beach

Thomas Waters - son of former Bear Matt Waters - and plays like his old man, tough and skilful. u17 eligible kid playing Colts at Grange all year and one of their best.

Ben Morrison - as discussed above


From the above, I would say Howson, Myers, Caspers, Hall, Stone and Prindable would be pushing the best 22 without a shadow of a doubt. The others unlucky, but only because they have name so many.

I don't know how old some of these kids are either, but you can generally work it out from their playing history. Doesn't seem to matter either when you look at the squad!

Don’t disagree with much on that list except Ethan Myers is now a 20 year old next year….

 

[Miller1971]

yeah, wasn't sure how old they all were. thought Myers played u17s only last year though. I guess you can play u17 when you are 18, so 19 this year, 20 next year - makes sense.

Howson though....what a beast! Is he related to Mitch at Morningside?

 

[M Malice]

Jake Howson, I'm assuming he is a KPF?

Miller1971 , Thommo 42 and nWo , if you have seen much of him what do you think of Ty Gallop?

Howson or Gallop the better prospect?

 

[Miller1971]

Gallop is much better, but I'd say Howson is the next best KPF in that age bracket in QLD

 

[nWo]

Jake is the younger brother of Mitch - will be interesting to see how he goes in 2025

 

[nWo]

yeah, wasn't sure how old they all were. thought Myers played u17s only last year though. I guess you can play u17 when you are 18, so 19 this year, 20 next year - makes sense.

Howson though....what a beast! Is he related to Mitch at Morningside?

Ethan had a fantastic year at Aspley - never got an Academy chance but played heaps of seniors this year

 

[Thommo 42]

Jake is the younger brother of Mitch - will be interesting to see how he goes in 2025

How old is he?

He's a specimen. Big boy, good skills, aggressive and tough.

 

[nWo]

How old is he?

He's a specimen. Big boy, good skills, aggressive and tough.

He will be 18 in a month or so I think - just about to finish grade 12

 

[Miller1971]

ahh, so he would be an over ager.

Still worth a shot, he is a very very good player - mystery why he hasn't been there before.

These kids overlooked by Lions should be given alternative pathways, the monopoly controlled by a few, who have a history of bias and looking after mates means kids like Howson don't get the right opportunities.

 

[Bob Neil]

Per AFLQ FB account:

A huge congrats to the Queenslanders who have just been named in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Academy squads!

These rising stars are among Australia’s top football talent and will take part in the elite program during their Draft year.

2025 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls:
Dekota Baron (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)
Georja Davies (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)
Ava Usher (Bond Uni/GC SUNS Academy)
Alannah Welsh (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)

2025 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys:
Beau Addinsall (GC SUNS Academy/Burleigh)
Daniel Annable (Brisbane Lions Academy/Redland-Victoria Point)
Dylan Patterson (GC SUNS Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Zeke Uwland (GC SUNS Academy/Burleigh)
Kalani White (GC SUNS Academy/Broadbeach)

Read more at bit.ly/3Aqv73d

 

[GC2015]

Per AFLQ FB account:

A huge congrats to the Queenslanders who have just been named in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Academy squads!

These rising stars are among Australia’s top football talent and will take part in the elite program during their Draft year.

2025 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls:
Dekota Baron (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)
Georja Davies (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)
Ava Usher (Bond Uni/GC SUNS Academy)
Alannah Welsh (Southport/GC SUNS Academy)

2025 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys:
Beau Addinsall (GC SUNS Academy/Burleigh)
Daniel Annable (Brisbane Lions Academy/Redland-Victoria Point)
Dylan Patterson (GC SUNS Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Zeke Uwland (GC SUNS Academy/Burleigh)
Kalani White (GC SUNS Academy/Broadbeach)

Read more at bit.ly/3Aqv73d

Unbelievable to see 8 of 9 Queenslanders named in the national academies are from the Suns Academy. It's good to see Annable made it as well. I know he was highly rated in his younger years and we've seen too many highly rated Queensland prospects (in their younger years) fall away once we get to their draft year. Looks like it's going to be a good year for the Allies in 2025 so Annable should be in a good position to push his case.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Unbelievable to see 8 of 9 Queenslanders named in the national academies are from the Suns Academy.

I find that very worrying as a Lions fan because it shows how far behind our academy set up is compared to the Suns. If it were a one-off you could say the Suns just had good luck, but they've developed plenty of first round prospects in the past couple drafts (Read, Rogers, Walter, Lombard, Harris). We've had a couple too (Fletcher, Long, Peters) but the cracks have been papered over by Marshall's development at Melbourne Grammar and Marcus Ashcroft's amazing sperm. Something needs to change or we'll keep developing fewer top academy players.

 

[Thommo 42]

couple of unlucky Lions imo, but Annable is a star.

 

[Nunez]

Find a way to sneak Lillico in.

 

[GC2015]

I find that very worrying as a Lions fan because it shows how far behind our academy set up is compared to the Suns. If it were a one-off you could say the Suns just had good luck, but they've developed plenty of first round prospects in the past couple drafts (Read, Rogers, Walter, Lombard, Harris). We've had a couple too (Fletcher, Long, Peters) but the cracks have been papered over by Marshall's development at Melbourne Grammar and Marcus Ashcroft's amazing sperm. Something needs to change or we'll keep developing fewer top academy players.

I'd say it's a direct reflection of how reliant the two clubs are on their academies. Right now, we need the academy to succeed far more than you guys do, so we're taking it very seriously and spending more money/dedicating more resources to it. I get the impression that it's really just a cherry on top situation for you guys - we'll take it if it's there, but we're not going to go out of our way to make it succeed. The only way I see it changing is if you guys fall away and become more reliant on it, like we are. Although your recent success with the F/S rule probably makes that very unlikely and Marshall is very much the exception to the rule as a product of the Victorian APS system.

On paper, the Lions Academy looks solid producing two first round picks in Fletcher and Marshall in three years. In reality, the numbers like those mentioned in the national academy article above suggest otherwise.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I'd say it's a direct reflection of how reliant the two clubs are on their academies. Right now, we need the academy to succeed far more than you guys do, so we're taking it very seriously and spending more money/dedicating more resources to it. I get the impression that it's really just a cherry on top situation for you guys - we'll take it if it's there, but we're not going to go out of our way to make it succeed. The only way I see it changing is if you guys fall away and become more reliant on it, like we are. Although your recent success with the F/S rule probably makes that very unlikely and Marshall is very much the exception to the rule as a product of the Victorian APS system.

On paper, the Lions Academy looks solid producing two first round picks in Fletcher and Marshall in three years. In reality, the numbers like those mentioned in the national academy article above suggest otherwise.

I'm sure the club still wants discounted access to great talent, they're just not doing what's necessary to make it happen like the Suns are. And Miller1971 and Thommo 42 have detailed many of the problems with how we do things.

Although...

The end of the academy system will come when they're producing so much good talent each year that the AFL finally agrees with the other 14 clubs that it's too big an advantage. 2-3 draftable prospects a season isn't going to trigger that. 8 will. Maybe that entered into the Lions' thinking on academy funding?

The problem with this theory is that even one northern club academy pumping out both quantity and quality of talent each year will be enough to kill it for all of them, and the Suns will reach that stage long before we're within cooee of it.

 

[briztoon]

I'd say it's a direct reflection of how reliant the two clubs are on their academies. Right now, we need the academy to succeed far more than you guys do, so we're taking it very seriously and spending more money/dedicating more resources to it. I get the impression that it's really just a cherry on top situation for you guys - we'll take it if it's there, but we're not going to go out of our way to make it succeed. The only way I see it changing is if you guys fall away and become more reliant on it, like we are. Although your recent success with the F/S rule probably makes that very unlikely and Marshall is very much the exception to the rule as a product of the Victorian APS system.

On paper, the Lions Academy looks solid producing two first round picks in Fletcher and Marshall in three years. In reality, the numbers like those mentioned in the national academy article above suggest otherwise.

I’d argue Fletcher’s success has a lot more to do with his father’s training than what he received from the academy.

Very much a father son selection.