AAMI WA Football State 16s Boys squad selected

The AAMI WA Football State 16s squad has been selected ahead of the AFL National Under-16s Championship which kicks off in June.

WA will have three trial games against EGT WAFL Colts opposition in the lead up to their championship opener against South Australia at Alberton Oval in Adelaide on Saturday, June 27.

The squad will train together for the first time next week ahead of their first trial game against South Fremantle Colts at Fremantle Oval on Saturday, May 9.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what this squad can produce after having a really talented group in the AFL National Under-16s Championship last year,” AAMI WA Football State Talent Manager Adam Jones said.

“We’ve been excited by how these young men have performed in the CTF WAFL Futures and EGT WAFL Colts competitions so far this season and welcome them to the AAMI WA Football Talent program ahead of our first session next week.

“For those who didn’t make it, there will be additional opportunities for players to be added over the coming weeks as we ramp up our preparations ahead of our first championship game against South Australia on June 27.”

A dozen members of East Fremantle dominant CTF WAFL Futures team, which went through the entire season undefeated, made the squad including Troy Warner, the younger brother of Sydney Swans pair Chad and Corey who featured in last year’s State 16s side as a bottom-ager.

There’s seven Next Generation Academy-linked players in the squad including East Fremantle trio Aiden Martignago, Naka Herwanto and Jayden Makanza who are all part of Fremantle’s NGA alongside South Fremantle’s Luke Websdale Jnr.

West Coast have three NGA members in the squad, East Perth’s Eli Wirrpanda who’s the son of Eagles champion David, Perth’s Ashley Clayton and Swan Districts and South West Academy talent Bernard Edmondson.

AAMI WA Football State 16s Boys squad

Claremont: Sam Gooch

East Fremantle: Aiden Martignago, Aiden Wilson, Clancy Gasper, Jack Holland, Jayden Makanza, Jayke Taylor, Josh Waite, Naka Herwanto, Owen Hodge, Raf McRae, Tom De Jong, Troy Warner

East Perth: Eli Wirrpanda, Nate Cass, Noth Thompson (South West Academy)

Peel Thunder: Jai Keene, Xavier Stewart (South West Academy)

Perth: Ashley Clayton, Cruz Ingleton, Lincoln Workman

South Fremantle: Henry Synnot, Noah Haskell, Luke Websdale Jnr

Subiaco: Levi Ord, Toby McLaren, Zinzan Clark

Swan Districts: Bernard Edmondson (South West Academy), Coby Jackson, Dylan Wood, Ethan Wulf, James Kent

West Perth: Josh Oldroyd

Train-ons: Sam Keys (East Perth), Tye Subritzky (Perth), Josh King (Subiaco), Darcy Dingle (Subiaco) and Jed McGuane (West Perth)

WA’s AFL National Under-16s Championship fixtures

Saturday, June 27: v South Australia at Alberton Oval, Adelaide (11.20am)

Tuesday, July 14: v TBC at People First Stadium (time TBC)

Friday, July 17: v TBC at Southport (time TBC)