The AFL National Academy stands as a beacon for emerging talent in Australian football, nurturing young athletes through a rigorous program designed to hone both their sporting prowess and personal growth.
Established to cultivate the stars of tomorrow, the Academy offers unparalleled opportunities and experiences to players born in 2006, paving the way for their future in the AFL and AFLW. As these promising individuals gear up for eligibility in the 2024 drafts, they embark on a transformative journey of development, equipped with invaluable insights and training to propel them towards their aspirations in the world of Australian football.
Sid Draper | SA | South Adelaide
Profile: The South Australian product has had a tough run of injury to start the season but possesses a lot of eye-catching traits in the midfield. Draper’s bottom-age year was a compilation of his flashy ability through the midfield, setting up chains in transition, breaking out of the stoppage, and providing an offensive presence wherever he can get his hands on the footy.
Ben Camporeale | SA | Glenelg
Profile: Winner of the U17 Future’s Game Best on Ground last year, Ben is an accountable hard-working midfielder who capitalises on good positioning around the contest. Ben played both games for the AFL Academy and had a similar role in the midfield, providing as a quick outlet and disposal accumulator who was willing to provide some bounce offensively and relieve stress around the contest.
Lucas Camporeale | SA | Glenelg
Profile: A Carlton father-son to Scott Camporeale, Lucas is an outside player who loves to cover a heap of grass with his running and set up the play down the field. In his two AFL Academy games he played on the wing, trying to generate a lot of metres gained with every possession. His general work rate and running capacity give him the capacity to run through the midfield, which he does at SANFL U18’s level.
Malakai Champion | WA | Subiaco
Profile: The flashy WA product gave us a glimpse of his exciting potential in the AFL Academy’s second game. Champion is a smaller half-forward type that likes to generate a burst of speed away from his opponent and create space further up the ground to keep the ball moving forward. Part of the West Coast Eagles NGA, Champion has a great goal sense and the ability to take a high-flying mark on special occasions.
Leonardo Lombard | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy
Profile: Lombard has built himself up as a powerful midfield unit that possesses class, stoppage nous, and great burst to provide some offensive flair. Lombard won a VFL Premiership at 16 years old for the Gold Coast and the Academy product looks all but set to end up at the Suns by the end of the year. Lombard can play at half forward and push further up to provide some assistance in transition, but ultimately his one-step ahead approach at the stoppage makes him a task to shut down.
Full AFL Academy Highlights v Footscray... WATCH NOW
Ricky Mentha | NT | Northern Territory Academy
Profile: X-Factor personified, Mentha has that razzle and dazzle inside forward 50, only needing a moment or two to have a highlight reel goal ready to go. His pace and natural bounce around the stoppage make him a difficult opponent to match up on. Mentha played both games for the AFL Academy, playing his usual half-forward role, whilst also playing further up the field to provide an asset in transition.
Bo Allan | WA | Peel Thunder
Profile: Allan is one of WA’s next rising star defenders, a composed unit out of defensive 50 who takes on a physical challenge and understands the game well to make moments of chaos, composed. Allan played the second AFL Academy game against Footscray and showed great moments one-on-one and his general transitional kicking out of the defensive part of the game.
Joel Cochran | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy
Profile: The Sydney Swans Academy product has good height for a key defender and played the role to an extent in the AFL Academy’s first game against Coburg. Cochran’s fundamentals are well balanced and he’s often able to provide some ease and composure in transition. The ease in transition is helped by his general versatility for a tall as he’s able to provide some drive out of defensive 50.
Jonty Faull | VIC C | GWV Rebels
Profile: Some of the best hands in the draft crop, Faull’s tall forward presence is capitalised by his ability to win his one-on-ones and good position on his leads. Faull had an injury-interrupted start to 2024 with a back injury but had a stellar bottom-age year, finishing with 20 goals from 12 games. At 195cm, the key forward has a lot of athletic capability and still a lot of scope, working on the technical side of his game.
Harry O’Farrell | VIC M | Calder Cannons
Profile: One of the top defensive key defenders this year, O’Farrell plays a succinct role in the backline, shutting down key forwards and calmly relieving the pressure with his defensive exits. A natural forward at junior levels, O’Farrell’s understanding of forward craft elevates his defensive work, able to win front position or force a spoil in aerial battles. O’Farrell had a harder task against Coburg in the AFL Academy but had moments of poise early and late in the encounter.
Finn O’Sullivan | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons
Profile: A versatile midfielder with game-changing ability, O’Sullivan will be considered as a number one pick for his raw skill and difference in his game. O’Sullivan’s midfield craft has well-rounded execution, pressure, second efforts, and an aerial capability that gives him the capacity to play several roles on the inside and outside. O’Sullivan played the second AFL Academy game and impressed with his intensity around the contest. A genuine number-one pick contender.
Full AFL Academy Highlights v Coburg... WATCH NOW
Sam Lalor | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy
Profile: Likened as one of the best power midfielders in this year’s draft, Lalor’s impact can’t go understated. Playing for Queensland as a bottom-ager, his footy IQ and ability to impact with his stoppage craft is elite and he’s proven an asset in the forward half as well with his natural power. He was prominent in the second AFL Academy game where he provided moments of class by foot entering inside 50, and flexed his strength at some marking contests inside 50.
Matt Whitlock | VIC C | Murray Bushrangers
Profile: A key-position player who has exposed form at both ends of the ground, the former basketballer has developed well during his time in the Murray Bushrangers system. Positions himself well to impact aerially, his ball handling and work rate are notable for a player of his size.
Taj Hotton | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers
Profile: Suffered a shattering season-ending ACL rupture in May, but not before piecing together an irresistible patch of form. Athletic and with a penchant for the highlight reel, Hotton played a breakout game against Oakleigh in round 2, combining 32 disposals with 10 marks, five tackles and four goals. That form propelled him into the AFL Academy as a late callup, and he showed his unbelievable forward craft, marking and x-factor.
Oliver Dean | TAS | North Hobart
Profile: A raw and developing Tasmanian ruck, Dean has shown some positive signs of his growth in 2024. Fundamentally sound and capable overhead, he was the primary ruck for the AFL Academy’s two games and particularly held a strong account of himself in the second game.
Archer Day-Wicks | VIC C | Geelong Falcons
Profile: Has channeled his focus since being overlooked for the under-16s Vic Country squad and it’s shown. A powerful forward who is strong overhead and can stand up in a contest, Day-Wicks put his name on the map at the start of his bottom-aged campaign with a stylish first month. It saw him catapult into the Vic Country squad, one of just three bottom-agers on the initial list. Injury and illness have since punctuated his time in the talent pathway system which has again frustrated him this year, but when he has played, his leadership on the field has been notable.
Jobe Shanahan | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy
Profile: A strong marking, sweet-kicking gun who moves towards the footy with such ease at his best. The 194cm Shanahan can play at either end confidently and has long been regarded internally, showing why in fine style during an under-17s NSW-ACT Rams trial match late last year. Played a statement game up forward, taking big clunks for fun and slotting three goals.
Xavier Lindsay | VIC M | Northern Knights
Profile: A smooth-moving, hard-running, efficient-kicking midfielder who can play inside or outside, Lindsay has somewhat flown under-the-radar in a midfield-dominant crop. Has long had a strong reputation in the region, making his Coates League debut in 2022, and has since gained significant size and demonstrated his excellent understanding of the game and clean skills.
Luke Trainor | VIC M | Dandenong Stingrays
Profile: Aerially potent, dangerously efficient by foot and has an appetite for the tough stuff. Trainor showed all of that in a backline masterclass in the AFL Academy’s loss to Coburg, bestowed with best-on-ground honours, and was almost as strong against Footscray. It capped off a month where he established himself as a bona-fide prospect at the pointy end of the draft. The Brighton Grammar boy’s intercepting work in particular has caught the eye and he shapes as a dynamic third tall at the next level.
Noah Mraz | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers
Profile: A 198cm key defender out of action for much of his top-aged season due to a fractured foot, Mraz is an enticing key-position prospect. The two-time Vic Country squad member has sticky mits, moves well, has deceptive speed and positions himself nicely to impact aerial contests.
Tobie Travaglia | VIC M | Eastern Ranges
Profile: A lightly framed halfback/winger who is gutsy overhead and takes the game on, Travaglia made the most of a late call-up for the AFL Academy. It was his defensive efforts which caught the eye; in a game where most looked to showcase their weapons with the footy, he was willing to run hard both ways, mop up, spoil, scrap and tackle. That competitiveness is the perfect accompaniment to his well-known speed and elusiveness.
Jack Whitlock | VIC C | Geelong Falcons
Profile: Played a deceptively sound game after receiving a late call-up for the AFL Academy game against Coburg. Hardly lost an aerial battle against senior opponents, rotated into the ruck, showed his dynamism by winning some footy in general play and finished with two goals. While he remains raw, he strengthened moderately across preseason which is showing in his grapples. Has grown up alongside twin and fellow Vic Country representative, Matt, and has a basketball background.
Christian Moraes | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy
Profile: A clearance-winner, a ball-magnet and a goal-kicker, Moraes has the tricks to develop into a game-changer at AFL level. Another player with strong basketball pedigree, it shows with his spatial awareness and ability to dance through traffic. He’s hard to stop when he gets the ball in space and his acceleration from stoppage catches the eye. An exciting package.
Josh Smillie | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers
Profile: Smillie arguably has the most significant point of difference of the pick one contenders this year: size. A clearance beast, he’s powerful, strong and quick, separating himself from the pick one contenders with his sterling Coates League form, and a couple of brilliant outings for the AFL Academy. Is handling the spotlight excellently and looks set to impact early in his AFL career.
Levi Ashcroft | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy
Profile: The Brisbane father-son prospect has had a fine top-aged campaign so far, highlighted by taking out the AFL Academy’s best-on-ground honours in its second game, against Footscray. The brother of 2022 pick two Will, the similarities in the pair’s game are uncanny: ball-winning midfielders who make good decisions and win it in dangerous spots.
Tom Gross | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons
Profile: Tough and always looking to make things happen, Gross is at his best when he’s on the move at the contest and looking to accelerate away using his sharp stepping. The effervescent 181cm talent is also a reliable contributor on the scoreboard and has the perfect skillset for a forward-midfielder.
Harvey Langford | VIC M | Dandenong Stingrays
Profile: An excellent player around stoppages who is clean, poised and tough, the Dandenong co-captain also has a dangerous and pinpoint left foot on him. Has shown this season he’s capable of going forward, taking a mark and hitting the scoreboard.
Sam Marshall | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy
Profile: A hard-running midfielder, who’s also damaging on the spread, Marshall has had a strong start to the season. A Brisbane Lions Academy member, he’s the sort of player you’d love in your team; you know what you’ll get and he’s willing to bring his teammates into it. Has shown his versatility across the last 12 months, spending time on the wing, and even off halfback in the Academy series.
Matt Whitlock | VIC C | Geelong Falcons
Profile: A key-position player who has exposed form at both ends of the ground, the former basketballer has developed well during his time in the Murray Bushrangers system. Positions himself well to impact aerially, his ball handling and work rate are notable for a player of his size.
Taj Hotton | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers
Profile: Suffered a shattering season-ending ACL rupture in May, but not before piecing together an irresistible patch of form. Athletic and with a penchant for the highlight reel, Hotton played a breakout game against Oakleigh in round 2, combining 32 disposals with 10 marks, five tackles and four goals. That form propelled him into the AFL Academy as a late callup, and he showed his unbelievable forward craft, marking and x-factor.
Oliver Dean | TAS | North Hobart
Profile: A raw and developing Tasmanian ruck, Dean has shown some positive signs of his growth in 2024. Fundamentally sound and capable overhead, he was the primary ruck for the AFL Academy’s two games and particularly held a strong account of himself in the second game.
