Final team named for State 16s Boys opener in Adelaide

Nine players from East Fremantle’s undefeated CTF WAFL Futures team will feature for the AAMI WA Football State 16s Boys in their carnival opener against South Australia at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

The Black Swans fly out to Adelaide on Friday ahead of their first game of the AFL National Under-16s Championships.

The Michael Glassborow-coached team will have a trio of co-captains – East Fremantle pair Troy Warner and Jack Holland and Peel Thunder’s Jai Keene.

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Warner is the younger brother of Sydney Swans Chad and Corey and impressed in last year’s championships as a bottom-ager.

Highly-rated Subiaco and Kalgoorlie talent Zinzan Clark (knee) will be a massive loss for the opener but is expected to return for WA’s second game against Vic Metro at People First Stadium on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, July 14.

“We’re feeling really good with the level of talent that we’ve got,” WA Football’s State Talent Manager Adam Jones said.

“You obviously never know until you play against the opposition but the signs that we’re seeing are really positive.

“The boys are travelling really nicely and showed some really good form in the trial games and should head over with a bit of confidence.

“The SA team that we’ve seen on vision look quite reasonable as well so it should be really good contest.”

Four Next Generation Academy-linked players in action in the first game, East Fremantle pair Aiden Martignago and Jayden Makanza (both Fremantle), Perth’s Ashley Clayton and Swan Districts and South West Academy talent Bernard Edmondson (both West Coast).

The match will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au from 10am WST.

AAMI WA Football State 16s Boys team v SA

Claremont: Sam Gooch

East Fremantle: Aiden Martignago, Aiden Wilson, Jack Holland, Jayden Makanza, Jayke Taylor, Josh Waite, Owen Hodge, Tom De Jong, Troy Warner

East Perth: Nate Cass, Noah Thompson (South West Academy), Sam Keys

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

Perth: Ashley Clayton, Cruz Ingleton, Lincoln Workman

Subiaco: Toby McLaren

Swan Districts: Bernard Edmondson (South West Academy), Coby Jackson, Ethan Wulf

West Perth: Josh Oldroyd

WA’s AFL National Under-16s Championship fixtures

Saturday, June 27: v South Australia at Alberton Oval, Adelaide (10am WST)

Tuesday, July 14: v Vic Metro at People First Stadium (10.30am WST)

Friday, July 17: v Vic Country at Fankhauser Reserve (9.45am WST)