Future NSW stars get a run on Grand Final day
The AFL has today announced a squad of 46 players who will feature in the 2023 AFL Futures match, five of which are from NSW.
Many of the most talented under 17 footballers from across the country will take part in the match, which will be played at the MCG prior to the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday, 30 September.
The 46-player squad will be split into two teams named after former Geelong Cats captain and four-time premiership player Joel Selwood and recently retired West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui.
Team selection will be confirmed in the week before the match.
All players named for the sixth annual AFL Futures match are born in 2006 and will be eligible for selection in the 2024 AFL Draft.
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A step closer to the big time
The AFL Futures match provides next year’s draft prospects an opportunity to be part of a high-performance environment and showcase their talent on the big stage as they push for selection for the 2024 AFL Academy Boys program.
Players were nominated by state talent programs, national selectors and AFL clubs, with all states and territories represented across the 46-player squad.
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Players to watch – NSW
Congratulations to the following players selected from NSW:
| Name | DOB | Talent program | Community Club |
| Joel Cochran | 28-03-06 | Sydney Swans Academy | Cronulla, East Sydney Bulldogs, UNSW |
| Joe Harrison | 20-07-06 | Sydney Swans Academy | Warners Bay |
| Joshua Murphy | 28-11-06 | Murray Bushrangers | Howlong, North Albury |
| Jobe Shanahan | 2-08-96 | Bendigo Pioneers | Moama |
| Mitch Woods | 15-05-06 | Sydney Swans Academy | Penshurst Panthers, St George Dragons |
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Joel Cochran, Mitch Woods, Joe Harrison, Josh Murphy and Jobe Shanahan
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Players to watch – the rest
Among those selected to play in the AFL Futures match are 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Boys All-Australian representatives Levi Ashcroft, Sid Draper and Finn O’Sullivan. The trio were standouts at this year’s Championships while competing in their bottom-age year.
Ashcroft is the son of three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Marcus and younger brother of Will, who finished runner-up for this year’s AFL Rising Star award after being selected with pick No. 2 in the 2022 AFL Draft.
Draper claimed South Australia’s MVP at the U18 Championships to add to his All-Australian selection, while O’Sullivan this year continued his impressive form after winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Division 1 best and fairest at the 2022 AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys.
The AFL Futures squad also includes South Australian father-son prospects Ben and Lucas Camporeale, Louie Montgomerie and Tyler Welsh.
Twin brothers Ben and Lucas Camporeale are eligible to join Carlton, where their father Scott played 233 matches.
Louie Montgomerie is the son of former Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs defender Brett and is eligible to join the Power, while key forward Tyler Welsh is eligible to join Adelaide, where his father Scott played 129 of his 205 AFL matches.
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AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “The AFL Futures match is a highlight on the AFL Talent calendar and provides football fans an introduction to the talented young players who are about to enter their draft year.
“We are delighted to be able to play the game ahead of the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final and provide the opportunity for our young stars from across the country to experience the excitement of being part of the biggest day of the AFL season.
“Many of the players who take part in the AFL Futures match will go on to be part of next year’s AFL Academy Boys program and we look forward to seeing them put their skills on display on the MCG.”
The 2023 AFL Futures squad will arrive in Melbourne on Friday, September 29, with a training session to be held at The Hangar in preparation for the match.
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How to watch
The 2023 AFL Futures match will be broadcast live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
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2023 AFL Futures squad
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| NAME | SURNAME | DOB | STATE | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| Bo | Allan | 16-02-06 | WA | Peel Thunder | Halls Head |
| Levi | Ashcroft | 18-12-06 | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Old Brighton Grammarians |
| Ben | Camporeale | 21-07-06 | SA | Glenelg | Brighton Districts & Old Scholars |
| Lucas | Camporeale | 21-07-06 | SA | Glenelg | Brighton Districts & Old Scholars |
| Malakai | Champion | 17-05-06 | WA | Subiaco | Mines Rovers |
| Joel | Cochran | 28-03-06 | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | East Sydney |
| Jesse | Dattoli | 07-08-06 | VIC M | Northern Knights | Ivanhoe |
| Archer | Day-Wicks | 13-05-06 | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers | Sandhurst |
| Oliver | Dean | 16-08-06 | TAS | Tasmania Devils | North Launceston |
| Sid | Draper | 05-07-06 | SA | South Adelaide | Willunga |
| Jonty | Faull | 01-02-06 | VIC C | GWV Rebels | Redan |
| Tom | Gillett | 09-01-06 | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Sherwood |
| Lucca | Grego | 15-09-06 | VIC M | Western Jets | Keilor |
| Tom | Gross | 15-09-06 | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | Old Trinity Grammarians |
| Phoenix | Hargrave | 15-09-06 | SA | South Adelaide | Reynella |
| Joe | Harrison | 20-07-06 | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Warners Bay |
| Kade | Herbert | 03-04-06 | SA | Woodville-West Torrens | Bute |
| Taj | Hotton | 17-06-06 | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Old Haileybury |
| Zak | Johnson | 24-12-06 | VIC M | Northern Knights | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians |
| Isaac | Kako | 07-03-06 | VIC M | Calder Cannons | Pascoe Vale |
| Nash | King | 15-03-06 | VIC M | Calder Cannons | Wallan |
| Sam | Lalor | 30-08-06 | VIC C | GWV Rebels | Bacchus Marsh |
| Harvey | Langford | 15-03-06 | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | Mount Martha |
| Xavier | Lindsay | 03-08-06 | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Leongatha |
| Leonardo | Lombard | 05-10-06 | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy | Broadbeach |
| Tom | Luck | 06-04-06 | SA | Woodville-West Torrens | Central Yorke |
| Sam | Marshall | 19-01-06 | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy Sandringham Dragons | St Bedes/Mentone |
| Ricky | Mentha | 04-09-06 | NT | NT Academy Gippsland Power | Morwell |
| Louie | Montgomery | 24-04-06 | SA | North Adelaide | Glenunga |
| Christian | Moraes | 08-11-06 | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Glen Waverley |
| Noah | Mraz | 20-02-06 | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | Narre North Foxes |
| Joshua | Murphy | 28-11-06 | NSW/ACT | Murray Bushrangers | North Albury |
| Harry | O’Farrell | 03-05-06 | VIC M | Calder Cannons | Maribyrnong Park |
| Finn | O’Sullivan | 30-05-06 | VIC C | Oakleigh Chargers | Koroit |
| Flynn | Penry | 20-04-06 | VIC C | GWV Rebels | Cobden |
| Murphy | Reid | 30-07-06 | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | South Melbourne Districts |
| Clay | Shadforth | 11-04-06 | NT | NT Academy South Adelaide | Palmerston |
| Jobe | Shanahan | 02-08-06 | NSW/ACT | Bendigo Pioneers | Moama |
| Josh | Smillie | 17-05-06 | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Park Orchards |
| Jagga | Smith | 28-01-06 | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | Richmond |
| Luke | Trainor | 10-04-06 | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Old Brighton Grammarians |
| Tobie | Travaglia | 26-10-06 | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers | Sandhurst |
| Austin | Van der Struf | 17-03-06 | WA | Claremont | Claremont |
| Oliver | Warburton | 13-06-06 | VIC C | Murray Bushrangers | Shepparton Swans |
| Tyler | Welsh | 15-08-06 | SA | Woodville West-Torrens | Henley |
| Mitch | Woods | 15-05-06 | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans | Penshurst |
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