WA Teenage Quartet to Represent Australia U18 TeamWednesday, May 10, 2023 - 2:02 PM

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