On Saturday, the Academy side composed of the country’s most talented draftage boys footballers played an exciting match against Port Adelaide’s SANFL team in Adelaide Hills. Despite a slow start, the Australian team fought back, but eventually lost 10.10 (70) to 8.9 (57) in a game watched by AFL recruiters.

Harley Reid was the top possession winner for Australia, finishing with 22 touches, seven clearances, five inside50s, and a goal. Colby McKercher, Jake Rogers, Ryley Sanders, Nick Watson, and Darcy Wilson also put in impressive performances. Despite Port Adelaide having several AFL regulars, Australia's young team demonstrated great determination throughout the game.

The match was played as a curtaincloser to the Round 5 AFL game between the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne at Mount Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park. The AFL Academy Boys will continue their program in Melbourne next month, which includes a match against Carlton’s VFL side at Marvel Stadium on May 13. Meanwhile, the AFL Academy Girls are currently in Melbourne for their second camp of the year, with more details to be announced soon.

Australia (AFL Academy Boys) 1.1, 3.4, 6.5, 8.9 (57)
Port Adelaide (SANFL) 3.1, 4.4, 7.6, 10.10 (70)

Goals: Nate Caddy, Jack Callinan, Zane Duursma, Kane McAuliffe, Harley Reid, Jake Rogers, Jed Walter, Nick Watson

Best (alphabetical order): Colby McKercher, Harley Reid, Jake Rogers, Ryley Sanders, Nick Watson, Darcy Wilson


SQUAD:

1 Nick Watson VIC M Eastern Ranges East Ringwood

2 Jack Callinan TAS Tasmania Devils

Clarence

3

Caiden

Cleary

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

Sydney University

4

Jack

Delean

SA

South Adelaide

Reynella

5

Riley

Hardeman

WA

Swan Districts

Caversham

6

Colby

McKercher

TAS

Tasmania Devils

Launceston

7

Harley

Reid

VIC C

Bendigo Pioneers

Tongala

8

Archie

Roberts

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Hampton Rovers

9

Jake

Rogers

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Broadbeach

10

Ryley

Sanders

TAS

Sandringham Dragons

North Launceston

11

Orlando

Turner

NT

Norwood

South Alice Springs

12

Darcy

Wilson

VIC C

Murray Bushrangers

Wangaratta Rovers

17

Lachlan

Cabor

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

Shellharbour

18

Nate

Caddy

VIC M

Northern Knights

Yarrambat

19

Zane

Duursma

VIC C

Gippsland Power

Foster

20

William

Lorenz

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Boroondara Hawks

21

Kane

McAuliffe

SA

North Adelaide

Central Augusta

22

Ashton

Moir

SA

Glenelg

Plympton

23

Connor

O'Sullivan

NSW/ACT

Murray Bushrangers

Albury

24

William

Patton

SA

West Adelaide

Mitcham

25

Nathan

Philactides

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Blackburn

26

Cooper

Simpson

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Mount Martha

27

George

Stevens

VIC C

GWV Rebels

South Warrnambool

28

Koltyn

Tholstrup

WA

Subiaco

NewtownCondingup

29

Daniel

Curtin

WA

Claremont

West Coast

30

Mitchell

Edwards

WA

Peel Thunder

South Mandurah

31

William

Green

VIC M

Northern Knights

Northcote

32

Ethan

Read

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Palm Beach Currumbin

33

Archer

Reid

VIC C

Gippsland Power

InverlochKongwak

34

Jed

Walter

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Palm Beach Currumbin