The 38-player 2016 Vic Metro squad that will seek to claim its first NAB AFL U18 Championships title since 2012 has been announced.
In 2015, Vic Metro won two games out of six at the U18 Championships, with subsequent first-round AFL draftee Jade Gresham (St Kilda/ex-Northern Knights) winning the team’s MVP award.
The Eastern Ranges contribute the most members to this year’s squad with 11 players. The Oakleigh Chargers have nine representatives, followed by the Sandringham Dragons with seven, Western Jets with six, Northern Knights with three and Calder Cannons with two.
There’s no shortage of leadership material amongst the squad, with captains from five of the six Metro clubs selected: Dylan Clarke (Eastern), Mason Blakey (Northern), Jack Roughsedge (Oakleigh), Hamish Brayshaw (Sandringham) and Wilson Berry and Oscar Junker (Western co-captains).
NAB AFL Academy Level Two (top-age) squad members Jordan Gallucci (Eastern) and Jack Scrimshaw (Sandringham) are part of the Metro squad, as are Level One (bottom-age) members Lachlan Fogarty (Western), Joel Garner (Eastern), Jack Higgins (Oakleigh), Patrick Naish (Northern) and Jaidyn Stephenson (Eastern).
Ranges big men Sam Hayes and Harrison Nolan join the latter five as bottom-age players in the squad, while Calder Cannons spearhead Karl Brown – equal-second on the TAC Cup’s goalkicking table – is the only over-ager included.
Two sons of guns have also been selected: Eastern’s Callum Brown – son of former Collingwood captain Gavin Brown – and Oakleigh’s Josh Daicos – son of ex-Magpies goalsneak Peter Daicos.
Many eyes will be on an exciting group of ball-winners integral to Sandringham’s early-season success including Corey Lyons, Andrew McGrath and Tim Taranto, while there’s a buzz around some of Western’s 2016 prospects following a lean 2015 season, such as Junker, defender Brodie Romensky and mid-forward Daniel Venables.
The progression of Oakleigh Chargers 2015 TAC Cup premiership players Taylin Duman, Patrick Kerr, Sam McLarty and Roughsedge will also be keenly watched.
Vic Metro - proudly supported by Dairy Australia - will again be coached by David Flood and starts its Championships campaign against Vic Country on Monday June 13 at Simonds Stadium after a first-round bye.
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| Karl BROWN |
Calder Cannons/Essendon Doutta Stars FC |
| Hayden BLYTHE |
Calder Cannons/Glenroy FC |
| Jaidyn STEPHENSON |
Eastern Ranges/ Ferntree Gully FC |
| Sam HAYES |
Eastern Ranges/ Ferntree Gully FC |
| Harrison NOLAN |
Eastern Ranges/ Mt Evelyn FC |
| Jordan LYNCH |
Eastern Ranges/ Norwood FC |
| Callum BROWN |
Eastern Ranges/Bulleen Temp. FC/Marcellin |
| Nelson LANE |
Eastern Ranges/Heathmont FC |
| Dylan CLARKE |
Eastern Ranges/Knox FC/Melbourne GS |
| Jack MAIBAUM |
Eastern Ranges/Knox FC/Melbourne GS |
| Jordan GALLUCCI |
Eastern Ranges/Lilydale FC/Yarra Valley GS |
| Adam CERRA |
Eastern Ranges/Norwood FC/Wesley College |
| Joel GARNER |
Eastern Ranges/Wandin FC/Scotch |
| Mason BLAKEY |
Northern Knights/Eltham FC |
| Patrick NAISH |
Northern Knights/Ivanhoe JFC/Ivanhoe GS |
| Luke BUNKER |
Northern Knights/St Mary's FC/Ivanhoe GS |
| Josh DAICOS |
Oakleigh Chargers/ Bulleen-Temp. FC/Camberwell GS |
| Sam McLARTY |
Oakleigh Chargers/Beverley Hills JFC/Yarra Valley GS |
| Jack ROUGHSEDGE |
Oakleigh Chargers/Blackburn FC |
| Jack HIGGINS |
Oakleigh Chargers/East Malvern FC/Caullfield Grammar |
| Patrick KERR |
Oakleigh Chargers/Glen Iris JFC/St Kevin's |
| Nick LARKEY |
Oakleigh Chargers/Hawthorn Citizens JFC/Trinity GS |
| Jordan RIDLEY |
Oakleigh Chargers/Knox FC |
| Taylin DUMAN |
Oakleigh Chargers/Norwood FC |
| Callum SEARLE |
Oakleigh Chargers/Waverley Blues FC/Haileybury |
| Corey LYONS |
Sandringham Dragons /St Peters FC |
| Jack SCRIMSHAW |
Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris FC/Haileybury |
| Oliver FLORENT |
Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris FC/Mentone GS |
| Andrew McGRATH |
Sandringham Dragons/East Brighton FC/Brighton GS |
| Hamish BRAYSHAW |
Sandringham Dragons/Hampton Rovers FC |
| Lachlan FILIPOVIC |
Sandringham Dragons/Ormond FC |
| Tim TARANTO |
Sandringham Dragons/Parkdale FC/St Kevin's |
| Wilson BERRY |
Western Jets/Aberfeldie FC |
| Daniel VENABLES |
Western Jets/Keilor FC/PEGS |
| Brodie ROMENSKY |
Western Jets/Maribyrnong Park FC |
| Brock McGREGOR |
Western Jets/Melton FC/PEGS |
| Lachlan FOGARTY |
Western Jets/Spotswood FC/St Kevin's |
| Oscar JUNKER |
Western Jets/Werribee Districts FC |
Last Modified on 31/05/2016 14:00
