VIC COUNTRY announced its 31-player squad during the week ahead of the 2023 AFL Under 18 National Championships which start this weekend.
Among the best Under 18s in the state are the following:
- #9 Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power, Foster)
- #22 Archer Reid (Gippsland Power, Inverloch-Kongwak)
- #35 Wil Dawson (Gippsland Power, Leongatha)
- #40 Lachlan Smith (Gippsland Power, Warragul)
The Victorian outfit is set to open its campaign on Sunday morning, June 18 with a clash against South Australia at IKON Park.
Six AFL Academy players have been included in the squad, Gippsland Power pair Zane Duursma and Archer Reid, as well as Harley Reid, Cooper Simpson, George Stevens and Darcy Wilson.
The Country contingent is scheduled play three games in Victoria and two at IKON Park, with the only interstate trip, to Western Australia where they play the home side at the WACA.
This Sunday’s game will be broadcast live on Fox Footy.
2023 VIC COUNTRY U18 FIXTURE
Vic Country vs. South Australia | Sunday June 18, 10:35pm @ IKON Park (VIC)
Vic Country vs. Western Australia | Friday June 30, 6:00pm @ WACA (WA)
Vic Country vs. Allies | Sunday July 9, 1:35pm @ RSEA Park (VIC)
Vic Country vs. Vic Metro | Saturday July 15, 10:35am @ IKON Park (VIC)
2023 VIC COUNTRY U18 SQUAD
- #1 Oliver Poole (Bendigo Pioneers)
- #2 Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels)
- #3 Cooper Simpson (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #4 Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
- #5 Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers)
- #6 Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels)
- #7 Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels)
- #8 Tom Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons)
- #9 Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power)
- #10 Kade De La Rue (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #11 Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #12 Oskar Smartt (Bendigo Pioneers)
- #13 Coby James (Murray Bushrangers)
- #14 Kobe Shipp (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #15 Oscar Ryan (Murray Bushrangers)
- #16 Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #17 Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)*
- #18 Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels)*
- #19 Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons)
- #20 Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers)*
- #21 Jacob Grant (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #22 Archer Reid (Gippsland Power)
- #23 George Stevens (GWV Rebels)
- #25 Michael Rudd (Geelong Falcons)
- #27 Riak Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays)
- #33 Hamish Pierson (Geelong Falcons)**
- #34 Thomas Pierce (Geelong Falcons)
- #35 Wil Dawson (Gippsland Power)
- #38 Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays)*
- #39 Joe Pike (Geelong Falcons)
- #40 Lachlan Smith (Gippsland Power)