Under Age U16s - 2027 AFL Draft General Discussion

[Futbolista]

Another one to keep an eye on from the 2027 WA cohort.

Carl Rex (CL listed already on the WAFL data base/15 years old) is already playing league up North for the Ord River Magpies. He may well be one to watch out of left field.

 

[Haggas]

Another one to keep an eye on from the 2027 WA cohort.

Carl Rex (CL listed already on the WAFL data base/15 years old) is already playing league up North for the Ord River Magpies. He may well be one to watch out of left field.

Might be Freo NGA

 

[Futbolista]

Haggas will Angus Abbonizio make his WAFL colts debut for Subiaco in round one 2025?

By then he would just have turned 16.

 

[Haggas]

Haggas will Angus Abbonizio make his WAFL colts debut for Subiaco in round one 2025?

By then he would just have turned 16.

Let's hope so

 

[GC2015]

View attachment 2174279

Didn't think Taj Murray was rated as high as pick 4, but I guess when you've been named in the U15 AA team for two years running then there's probably a good chance that you are one of the best players in your draft class. Has a junior ever been named in the U15 team two years running and then followed it with an U16 AA team selection the next year?

 

[Futbolista]

Didn't think Taj Murray was rated as high as pick 4, but I guess when you've been named in the U15 AA team for two years running then there's probably a good chance that you are one of the best players in your draft class. Has a junior ever been named in the U15 team two years running and then followed it with an U16 AA team selection the next year?

Early days. Lists will evolve.

 

[Jen2310]

Didn't think Taj Murray was rated as high as pick 4, but I guess when you've been named in the U15 AA team for two years running then there's probably a good chance that you are one of the best players in your draft class. Has a junior ever been named in the U15 team two years running and then followed it with an U16 AA team selection the next year?

Long way to go.
I know of a player that was AA U16 a couple years ago then to fall off a cliff and didn't even get drafted. So many things can change.

 

[GC2015]

Long way to go.
I know of a player that was AA U16 a couple years ago then to fall off a cliff and didn't even get drafted. So many things can change.

That happened to Caleb Nancarrow this year. I'd be curious to know, on average, what percentage of the U16 AA team goes on to get draft two years later.

 

[Jen2310]

That happened to Caleb Nancarrow this year. I'd be curious to know, on average, what percentage of the U16 AA team goes on to get draft two years later.

Hard to say. A lot needs to go right, from form and injuries, to their development year on year. Its also a big gap between U16 and U18, the development between those two years can make or break a player. Case by case basis.

 

[Miller1971]

Didn't think Taj Murray was rated as high as pick 4, but I guess when you've been named in the U15 AA team for two years running then there's probably a good chance that you are one of the best players in your draft class. Has a junior ever been named in the U15 team two years running and then followed it with an U16 AA team selection the next year?

Jed Hagan won the JL Williams Medal as player of the carnival as both a 14 yr old and a 15 yr old, and naturally was All-Australian both years as a result.

Has missed out in the last 3 drafts and had a stint at Port in the SANFL and is now back at East Freo

In fact, if you look at the AA u15 side at schoolboy level from the last decade, 90% of them never go on to play at the elite level.

Look at the winners of the JL Williams for the last decade as well Tarryn Thomas and LDU are the only ones that have progressed to the AFL, before that you need to go back to Joel Selwood in 2003 for another kid to win that medal and then go onto the AFL.

schoolboy representative footy is a terrible guide for success at 18.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Jed Hagan won the JL Williams Medal as player of the carnival as both a 14 yr old and a 15 yr old, and naturally was All-Australian both years as a result.

Has missed out in the last 3 drafts and had a stint at Port in the SANFL and is now back at East Freo

In fact, if you look at the AA u15 side at schoolboy level from the last decade, 90% of them never go on to play at the elite level.

Look at the winners of the JL Williams for the last decade as well Tarryn Thomas and LDU are the only ones that have progressed to the AFL, before that you need to go back to Joel Selwood in 2003 for another kid to win that medal and then go onto the AFL.

schoolboy representative footy is a terrible guide for success at 18.

Correct...still so much development to go for a lot of these boys.

 

[briztoon]

Jed Hagan won the JL Williams Medal as player of the carnival as both a 14 yr old and a 15 yr old, and naturally was All-Australian both years as a result.

Has missed out in the last 3 drafts and had a stint at Port in the SANFL and is now back at East Freo

In fact, if you look at the AA u15 side at schoolboy level from the last decade, 90% of them never go on to play at the elite level.

Look at the winners of the JL Williams for the last decade as well Tarryn Thomas and LDU are the only ones that have progressed to the AFL, before that you need to go back to Joel Selwood in 2003 for another kid to win that medal and then go onto the AFL.

schoolboy representative footy is a terrible guide for success at 18.

Did Hagan win 3 AA’s at U15 level?

 

[tasmania2028draft]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14s6x836Qp/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Reeve Sheldon played as a bottom ager in The WAFL futures, I was talking to someone about him and he lives on the same street as Lawson Humphries.

 

[Miller1971]

Did Hagan win 3 AA’s at U15 level?

he might have, would be amazinf if he did.

Fair effort to be player of the carnival for 2 years running, but imagine the hype when he was 16.

Now undrafted 4 times I think.

 

[Futbolista]

he might have, would be amazinf if he did.

Fair effort to be player of the carnival for 2 years running, but imagine the hype when he was 16.

Now undrafted 4 times I think.

I recall that he was as tall as he is now when he was 13 or 14.

It's difficult to know which players will grow beyond that age.

 

[briztoon]

I recall that he was as tall as he is now when he was 13 or 14.

It's difficult to know which players will grow beyond that age.

Yeah, there was a lot of commentary about his lack of growth in his U17 and U18 years on here.

Kid was a 13 year old man child, who’s genetics were against him.

 

[Yoda_]

Correct...still so much development to go for a lot of these boys.

Cody Walker has already won three brown lows and a norm smith.

should we break it to them?

 

[Half Back Pocket]

I recall that he was as tall as he is now when he was 13 or 14.

It's difficult to know which players will grow beyond that age.

It’s not really. Spending time in an age group across different comps/formats give you a good indication of who’s matured early.

We look at parents, look at shoe size, look at shoulder span, look at running style or the way they cover the ground….plenty of tells. Even a late birthday makes a big difference.

Baxter Sruk for example was a man child at 13. There will always be a Bont who grows 10 cm at 17 and turns into something special

 

[Futbolista]

It’s not really. Spending time in an age group across different comps/formats give you a good indication of who’s matured early.

We look at parents, look at shoe size, look at shoulder span, look at running style or the way they cover the ground….plenty of tells. Even a late birthday makes a big difference.

Baxter Sruk for example was a man child at 13. There will always be a Bont who grows 10 cm at 17 and turns into something special

ok fair enough mate

 

[Balardong]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14s6x836Qp/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Reeve Sheldon played as a bottom ager in The WAFL futures, I was talking to someone about him and he lives on the same street as Lawson Humphries.

That is correct. They both played for Wickham Wolves. Reeve is a good size and is very skillful - he will play First XVIII for Wesley College next year

 

[Half Back Pocket]

ok fair enough mate

Sorry if that came across wrong. I was not trying to be rude.

 

[GC2015]

Jed Hagan won the JL Williams Medal as player of the carnival as both a 14 yr old and a 15 yr old, and naturally was All-Australian both years as a result.

Has missed out in the last 3 drafts and had a stint at Port in the SANFL and is now back at East Freo

In fact, if you look at the AA u15 side at schoolboy level from the last decade, 90% of them never go on to play at the elite level.

Look at the winners of the JL Williams for the last decade as well Tarryn Thomas and LDU are the only ones that have progressed to the AFL, before that you need to go back to Joel Selwood in 2003 for another kid to win that medal and then go onto the AFL.

schoolboy representative footy is a terrible guide for success at 18.

I remember seeing a stat recently that it was something like only 2 of the 22 selected in the U15 AA team made the U16 AA team the following year. So you're right, there's definitely less merit in the U15 AA selection process. Although Taj Murray has been selected in both the U16 & U18 Suns Academy teams for next year so that's a fair indication that he's well ahead of most players his age. He'll transition into U18s footy in 2025 and if he continues to progress on the trajectory then he'll likely find his way into the VFL in his 17th year. That seems to be the way the Suns Academy does it these days with the most impressive juniors.

 

[Miller1971]

I doubt he'll be selected to play any u18 games in 2025, mainly just because its a pretty strong year for the Suns.

though the year above him isn't very strong at all, so not many 17 year olds will be in that side other than Hill. So could be mainly 18 and 16 year olds.

 

[tassiefoot]

Let's hope so

Haggas what can you tell us about the Tasmanian boys coming through in this draft crop?
Since it is the Devils first draft surely, they would have some eyes on local talent aswell. I see Mason Whitney and Ben Russell named in u15 AA team this year, potential players to watch?

 

[GC2015]

I doubt he'll be selected to play any u18 games in 2025, mainly just because its a pretty strong year for the Suns.

though the year above him isn't very strong at all, so not many 17 year olds will be in that side other than Hill. So could be mainly 18 and 16 year olds.

I think Taj Murray will play U18 Coates League games next year. Zeke Uwland, Beau Addinsall and Jai Murray all played U18 Coates League games in 2023 and we've seen how that has paid dividends. Plus, letting the Murray brothers play together for the Suns academy could be beneficial for the club later down the track.