Academy squads for 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys
The GIANTS and Sydney Swans Academy will face off this weekend in their opening matches of the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.
The Championships feature many of the most promising under 16 boys footballers from across the country over the next month.
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Format
The competition will feature 10 teams, who will each play three matches. The first round of matches will be played across four states, before all ten teams converge on the Gold Coast for the final two rounds.
The 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will again feature ten teams competing in two pools.
Pool A will feature South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.
Pool B will comprise Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast SUNS Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Northern Territory, Sydney Swans Academy and Tasmania.
The team that finishes atop each of the standings at the conclusion of the tournament will be crowned the title winner. If two teams finish equal on points atop a ladder, the title will be awarded to the team that won the round-robin match between those two teams. If more than two teams finish equal on points atop a ladder, the title will be awarded to the team with the highest percentage.
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Last year’s winners, MVPs and All Australian selection
South Australia and Tasmania enter as the reigning title holders for their respective pools following wins at the 2022 Championships.
At the conclusion of the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys each team will select their MVP, with an overall best and fairest and All Australian team to also be selected by a selection panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFL recruiters.
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Streaming and squads
WATCH: All matches in the 2023 AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will be live streamed here. Replays will also be available following each match.
SQUADS: Please click here to access squad lists and up to date times of matches.
| DATE | MATCH UP | VENUE | LOCAL TIME |
| Sat, Jun 10 | Victoria Country vs. Victoria Metro | Trevor Barker Beach Oval, VIC | 10:30am |
| Sat, Jun 17 | GWS GIANTS vs. Sydney Swans | Blacktown Int. Sports Park, NSW | 12:00pm |
| Sat, Jun 24 | Northern Territory vs. Tasmania | Highgate Rec. Reserve, VIC | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Jun 25 | Western Australia vs. South Australia | Mineral Resources Park, WA | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Jun 25 | Brisbane Lions vs. Gold Coast SUNS | Brighton Homes Arena, QLD | 11:00am |
| Mon, Jul 3 | Gold Coast SUNS vs. Tasmania | Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD | 10:00am |
| Mon, Jul 3 | GWS GIANTS vs. Northern Territory | Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD | 12:20pm |
| Mon, Jul 3 | Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans | Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD | 2:40pm |
| Tue, Jul 4 | Victoria Metro vs. Western Australia | Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD | 10:00am |
| Tue, Jul 4 | Victoria Country vs. South Australia | Heritage Bank Stadium, QLD | 12:20pm |
| Thu, Jul 6 | Tasmania vs. GWS GIANTS | Fankhauser Reserve, QLD | 9:30am |
| Thu, Jul 6 | Gold Coast SUNS vs. Sydney Swans | Fankhauser Reserve, QLD | 11:45am |
| Thu, Jul 6 | Northern Territory vs. Brisbane Lions | Fankhauser Reserve, QLD | 2:00pm |
| Fri, Jul 7 | South Australia vs. Victoria Metro | Fankhauser Reserve, QLD | 9:30am |
| Fri, Jul 7 | Western Australia vs. Victoria Country | Fankhauser Reserve, QLD | 11:45am |
*Match times subject to change
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