State Talent and DraftAAMI WA Football State 16s Girls finish carnival on a high
Jordan McArdle
|
16 Apr 2026
Read
more
The AFL has released the fixture dates and locations for the 2023 AFL National Championships (U18) and 2023 AFL National Development Championships (U16).
The competitions will run from April to August and will feature the most talented under 18 and under 16 footballers from across Australia, some of whom may become the next generation of stars in the men’s and women’s game.
AFL Head of Talent Pathways, Grant Williams, said: “These Championships are the highest standard of representative state and territory football for aspiring talented players across Australia.
“The Championships provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best young talent in our game and we look forward to seeing the best footballers compete against each other in matches played across the country.
“It was a great outcome to have the Championships return in 2022 after two Covid-interrupted years and we are extremely excited to have the boys and girls competitions run in conjunction in 2023.”
West Australian Football Commission State Talent Manager Adam Jones has forecast an exciting year for the local pathway program.
“Everyone at the WAFC is looking forward to the upcoming National Championships for the boys and the girls.
We can’t wait to showcase the emerging talent in WA and we have high hopes the respective teams can produce outstanding results,” Jones said.
Squads and broadcast details will be confirmed closer to each of the Championships.
Please continue below to see the schedules for the 2023 AFL National Championships (U18) and 2023 AFL National Development Championships (U16).
2023 AFL NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS – U16 GIRLS
The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls will be played from Tuesday, April 11 through to Sunday, April 30.
For the first time, the AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls will be played as an interstate carnival, with matches scheduled across four states.
The competition will feature 10 teams, who will each play two matches. All games will be played across a three-week period, which will include a triple-header in Queensland, as well as several double-headers.
Teams: Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast SUNS Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Northern Territory, South Australia, Sydney Swans Academy, Tasmania, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia
DATE
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
VENUE
Tue, April 11
GC SUNS Academy
Sydney Swans Academy
Bond University, QLD
Tue, April 11
Brisbane Lions Academy
GWS GIANTS Academy
Bond University, QLD
Tue, April 11
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Bond University, QLD
Thu, April 13
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
Deakin Reserve, VIC
Fri, April 14
Sydney Swans Academy
GWS GIANTS Academy
Blacktown Int. Sportspark, NSW
Fri, April 14
GC SUNS Academy
Tasmania
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Fri, April 14
Brisbane Lions Academy
Northern Territory
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Sun, April 23
Victoria Country
Western Australia
Arden Street Oval, VIC
Sun, April 23
Victoria Metro
South Australia
Arden Street Oval, VIC
Sun, April 30
Western Australia
South Australia
Pentanet Stadium, WA
2023 AFL NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS – U16 BOYS
The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will begin with a clash between Victoria Country and Victoria Metro on Saturday, June 10 during the King’s Birthday weekend in Victoria.
The first round of fixtures will be played across four states, before all ten teams converge on the Gold Coast where the final two rounds will be played from July 3 to July 7.
Teams: Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast SUNS Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, Sydney Swans Academy, Tasmania and Western Australia
DATE
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
VENUE
Sat, June 10
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
IKON Park, VIC
Sat, June 17
GWS GIANTS Academy
Sydney Swans Academy
Blacktown Int. Sportspark, NSW
Sat, June 24
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Highgate Rec. Reserve, VIC
Sun, June 25
Western Australia
South Australia
TBC, WA
Sun, June 25
Brisbane Lions
GC SUNS Academy
Brighton Homes Arena, QLD
Mon, July 3
GC SUNS Academy
Tasmania
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Mon, July 3
GWS GIANTS Academy
Northern Territory
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Mon, July 3
Brisbane Lions
Sydney Swans
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Tue, July 4
Victoria Metro
Western Australia
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Tue, July 4
Victoria Country
South Australia
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Thu, July 6
Tasmania
GWS GIANTS Academy
Fankhauser Reserve, QLD
Thu, July 6
GC SUNS Academy
Sydney Swans Academy
Fankhauser Reserve, QLD
Thu, July 6
Northern Territory
Brisbane Lions Academy
Fankhauser Reserve, QLD
Fri, July 7
South Australia
Victoria Metro
Fankhauser Reserve, QLD
Fri, July 7
Western Australia
Victoria Country
Fankhauser Reserve, QLD
2023 AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – U18 GIRLS
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls will feature six teams and be played between April and August.
The opening match of the 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls will be played between Western Australia and South Australia on Sunday, April 30.
All remaining games will be played throughout July and August, culminating with a game between Western Australia and Victoria Country on Saturday, August 19.
Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania), Queensland, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia
DATE
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
VENUE
Sun, April 30
Western Australia
South Australia
Pentanet Stadium, WA
Sun, July 2
Allies
Victoria Metro
Brighton Homes Arena, QLD
Sun, July 9
Victoria Metro
South Australia
Avalon Airport Oval, VIC
Sat, July 15
South Australia
Queensland
Adelaide Oval, SA
Sun, July 30
Queensland
Victoria Country
Brighton Homes Arena, QLD
Sun, August 6
Queensland
Allies
Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD
Sun, August 13
Allies
Western Australia
Blacktown Int. Sportspark, NSW
Sun, August 13
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
Queen Elizabeth Oval, VIC
Sat, August 19
Western Australia
Victoria Country
Pentanet Stadium, WA
2023 AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – U18 BOYS
The 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will be played in June and July, with all five teams to each play four matches.
The Championships commence with a game between South Australia and the Allies on Sunday, June 4 and conclude with Victoria Country and Victoria Metro clashing on Saturday, July 15.
The two Victorian sides also met in the final game of last year’s Championships, with Metro prevailing to take out the title for the first time since 2017.
Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania), South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia
DATE
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
VENUE
Sun, June 4
South Australia
Allies
Thebarton Oval, SA
Sun, June 11
South Australia
Victoria Metro
Thebarton Oval, SA
Sun, June 11
Allies
Western Australia
Thebarton Oval, SA
Sun, June 18
Victoria Country
South Australia
IKON Park, VIC
Sat, June 24
Western Australia
South Australia
Optus Stadium, WA
Sat, July 1
Western Australia
Victoria Country
TBC, WA
Sun, July 2
Allies
Victoria Metro
Brighton Homes Arena, QLD
Sun, July 9
Victoria Metro
Western Australia
RSEA Park, VIC
Sun, July 9
Victoria Country
Allies
RSEA Park, VIC
Sat, July 15
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
IKON Park, VIC
ENDS:
Mark Readings
"*" 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
