2017 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian Team announced

FOUR WA players were named in the All-Australian team following the completion of the 2017 NAB AFL Under 18 National Championships.

The Deppro WA State 18s finished second on percentage to Victoria Metro, claiming three wins from four games. WA’s wins came against South Australia, Vic Country and the Allies.

Fellow co-captain and West Perth Football Club Colts captain Oscar Allen won the Larke Medal for best player at the NAB AFL National 18s Championships.

Key tall defender Sam Taylor, co-captain Aaron Naughton, prolific ball-winning medium midfielder Brayden Ainsworth, and mobile tall forward Oscar Allen were named in the NAB AFL Under 18 All-Australian team with Coach Peter Sumich named the All-Australian Assistant Coach.

The 2017 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team is as follows ..

DEFENDERS: Ben Paton (VC), Oscar Clavarino (VC), Sam Taylor (WA), Charlie Constable (VM), Aaron Naughton (WA), Nicholas Coffield (VM)
MIDFIELDS: Patrick Naish (VM), Brayden Ainsworth (WA), Izak Rankine (SA), Brayden Crossley (QLD- Allies) , Cameron Rayner (VM), Paddy Dow (VC)
FORWARDS: Jack Higgins (VM), Jarrod Brander (NSW/ACT-Allies) , Zac Bailey (NT-Allies), Callum Coleman-Jones (SA), Oscar Allen (WA), Dylan Moore (VM)
INTERCHANGE: Lachlan Fogarty (VM), Joel Garner (VM), Sam Hayes (VM), Harrison Petty (SA), James Worpel (VC)

AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan once again headed the selection panel which included:

Luke Power NAB AFL Academy Head Coach

Mick Ablett National Talent Football Manager

Phil Bunn Adelaide Football Club Recruiting Manager

Kall Burns Gold Coast Suns Recruiting Manager

Mark Finnigan North Melbourne Recruiting Manager

Mark McKenzie Hawthorn Football Club Recruiting Manager

Mr Sheehan said the high standard of play during the Championships made selecting the team challenging.

“It was a fantastic climax for the championships to see the Allies get up and have that victory over Vic Metro who had previously been undefeated. They did the same thing last year but that’s to be expected being gathered together from all part of Australia,” he said.

“But there is still plenty more state level football before the draft for those boys who didn’t quite get into the team.”