State Talent and DraftAAMI WA Football State 18s squad picked for expanded winter program
Jordan McArdle
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21 Apr 2026
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Four of WA’s most talented draft-age footballers will represent the Australia under 18 team as the 2023 AFL Academy Boys play Carlton’s VFL team at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Riley Hardeman from Swan Districts, Koltyn Tholstrup from Subiaco, Daniel Curtin from Claremont and Peel Thunder’s Mitchell Edwards have been named in the squad.
The match will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Round 9 AFL match between Carlton and Western Bulldogs.
The first bounce will take place at 2:10 (WA time), ahead of the AFL match which will commence at 5:30pm (WST)
The AFL Academy Boys will take part in their third and final camp of the 2023 program in Melbourne, beginning today.
The AFL Academy Boys program features a selection of the most talented male footballers across the country.
All players were aged 17 as of January 1, 2023 and will be eligible in the 2023 AFL Draft.
Players participate in high-performance and personal development programs throughout the 2023 season, with the AFL Academy’s purpose to best prepare players for the transition from talent pathways into elite football programs.
The 30-player squad includes a host of the most exciting prospects in this year’s draft pool, with all states and territories represented.
The AFL Academy Boys represented Australia last month during the AFL’s Gather Round – A Festival of Footy, falling to a 13-point defeat to Port Adelaide’s SANFL team in an entertaining clash at Adelaide Hills.
Among those who impressed were Harley Reid (22 touches, seven clearances, one goal), Colby McKercher (15 disposals, four tackles), Jake Rogers (12 disposals, one goal), Ryley Sanders (20 disposals, six tackles), Nick Watson (18 disposals, four rebound-50s) and Darcy Wilson (19 disposals, three inside-50s).
National Academy Manager, Tarkyn Lockyer, said: “We are thrilled to provide another opportunity for the AFL Academy Boys to represent Australia.
“It is a significant honour to wear the Australia jumper and all players represented it with distinction in the match against Port Adelaide during Gather Round last month.
“We look forward to the future stars of our game putting their talents on show again against Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.”
HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
The match between the AFL Academy Boys and Carlton VFL will be available to watch live and free on the AFL website.
Continue below to view the AFL Academy Boys squad that will represent Australia on Saturday.
Carlton’s VFL team will be announced ahead of Saturday’s match.
AUSTRALIA
#
NAME
SURNAME
STATE
STATE LEAGUE CLUB
COMMUNITY CLUB
1
Nick
Watson
VIC M
Eastern Ranges
East Ringwood
2
Jack
Callinan
TAS
Tasmania Devils
Clarence
3
Caiden
Cleary
NSW/ACT
Sydney Swans Academy
Sydney University
4
Jack
Delean
SA
South Adelaide
Reynella
5
Riley
Hardeman
WA
Swan Districts
Caversham
6
Colby
McKercher
TAS
Tasmania Devils
Launceston
7
Harley
Reid
VIC C
Bendigo Pioneers
Tongala
8
Archie
Roberts
VIC M
Sandringham Dragons
Hampton Rovers
9
Jake
Rogers
QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Broadbeach
10
Ryley
Sanders
TAS
Sandringham Dragons
North Launceston
11
Orlando
Turner
NT
Norwood
South Alice Springs
12
Darcy
Wilson
VIC C
Murray Bushrangers
Wangaratta Rovers
17
Lachlan
Cabor
NSW/ACT
Sydney Swans Academy
Shellharbour
18
Nate
Caddy
VIC M
Northern Knights
Yarrambat
19
Zane
Duursma
VIC C
Gippsland Power
Foster
20
William
Lorenz
VIC M
Oakleigh Chargers
Boroondara Hawks
21
Kane
McAuliffe
SA
North Adelaide
Central Augusta
22
Ashton
Moir
SA
Glenelg
Plympton
23
Connor
O’Sullivan
NSW/ACT
Murray Bushrangers
Albury
24
William
Patton
SA
West Adelaide
Mitcham
25
Nathan
Philactides
VIC M
Oakleigh Chargers
Blackburn
26
Cooper
Simpson
VIC C
Dandenong Stingrays
Mount Martha
27
George
Stevens
VIC C
GWV Rebels
South Warrnambool
28
Koltyn
Tholstrup
WA
Subiaco
Newtown-Condingup
29
Daniel
Curtin
WA
Claremont
West Coast
30
Mitchell
Edwards
WA
Peel Thunder
South Mandurah
31
William
Green
VIC M
Northern Knights
Northcote
32
Ethan
Read
QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Palm Beach Currumbin
33
Archer
Reid
VIC C
Gippsland Power
Inverloch-Kongwak
34
Jed
Walter
QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Palm Beach Currumbin
"*" indicates required fields
WA Football acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the many lands across Western Australia where we train, play, and come together through football. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people. We recognise the deep and continuing contribution First Nations peoples make to our game and our communities.
"*" indicates required fields
