The AFL has released the fixture dates and locations for the 2022 NAB AFL National Championships – U18 Boys and the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys.
The NAB AFL National Championships and NAB AFL National Development Championships are the highest level of state and territory representative football, as part of the AFL’s Talent Pathway Program. The competitions will feature the most talented boys from across Australia who are the next generation of stars in the men’s game.
Matches will be played across the country mostly throughout June and July, with the NAB AFL National Championships – U18 Boys concluding when Victoria Metro and Victoria Country clash on Friday 23 September in Melbourne, the AFL Grand Final eve public holiday.
In line with the 2022 NAB AFLW National Championships – Girls U18, which is underway and will continue throughout April, the program structure for the boys will, where possible, involve same day travel for teams rather than a multi-day carnival model, which has traditionally been the case for the U16 Boys, with the health and safety of all involved the top priority.
AFL Head of Talent Pathways, Grant Williams, said: “NAB AFL National Championships matches are the highest standard of representative state and territory football for aspiring talent across Australia and we look forward to seeing the best boys in the country compete against each other.
“Some of the boys in these age groups have missed out on a lot over the past two years and we are very excited about and committed to delivering a full program of NAB AFL National Championships matches in 2022.”
The first match of the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will be played on Saturday 11 June, when Victoria Country and Victoria Metro meet.
The 2022 NAB AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will commence the following weekend, with South Australia to host the Allies at Thebarton Oval in Adelaide on Sunday 19 June.
Squads and coaches for all teams will be announced in the lead up to the matches. Live streaming and broadcast details will be confirmed closer to the Championships.
Some match venues and start times are still to be finalised but dates and locations are confirmed.
2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships - U16 Boys
Teams: Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, Sydney Swans, Tasmania and Western Australia
DATE - MATCH UP - VENUE/TIME*
ROUND 1
Sat, Jun 11 - Victoria Metro v Victoria Country - Melbourne/Geelong, 12.00pm
Sat, Jun 18 - GWS Giants v Sydney Swans - Sydney, 12.00pm
Sun, Jun 19 - Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns - GC/Brisbane, 12.00pm
Sun, Jun 26 - South Australia v Western Australia - Thebarton Oval, 11.00am
Sun, Jun 26 - Northern Territory v Tasmania - Melbourne, TBC
ROUND 2
Mon, Jul 4 - Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants - Metricon Stadium, 10.00am
Mon, Jul 4 - Tasmania v Brisbane Lions - Metricon Stadium, 12.30pm
Mon, Jul 4 - Northern Territory v Sydney Swans - Metricon Stadium, 3.00pm
Tues, Jul 5 - Victoria Metro v South Australia - Metricon Stadium, 12.00pm
Tues, Jul 5 - Victoria Country v Western Australia - Metricon Stadium, 2.30pm
ROUND 3
Fri, Jul 8 - GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions - Canberra, 1:30pm
Sat, Jul 9 - Northern Territory v Gold Coast Suns - Darwin, 12:00pm
Sat, Jul 9 - Western Australia v Victoria Metro - Adelaide, 10:00am
Sat, Jul 9 - South Australia v Victoria Country - Adelaide, 3:00pm
Sun, Jul 10 - Tasmania v Sydney Swans - Hobart, 12:00pm
*All times local. Match details subject to change.
2022 NAB AFL National Championships - U18 Boys
Teams: Allies (comprising New South Wales/ACT, Tasmania, Queensland and Northern Territory), South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia
DATE - MATCH UP - VENUE/TIME*
Sun, Jun 19 - South Australia v Allies - Thebarton Oval, Adelaide, 1.30pm
Sat, Jun 25 - Allies v Victoria Metro - Blacktown Int. Sports Park, 1.00pm
Sun, Jun 26 - South Australia v Victoria Country - Thebarton Oval, Adelaide, 1.30pm
Sat, Jul 2 - Victoria Metro v Western Australia - Melbourne, 12.00pm
Sun, Jul 3 - Allies v Victoria Country - Gold Coast, 1.00pm
Sat, Jul 9 - Allies v Western Australia - Adelaide, 12.30pm
Sun, Jul 17 - Victoria Metro v South Australia - GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, 11.00am
Sun, Jul 17 - Victoria Country v Western Australia - GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, 1.30pm
Sun, Jul 24 - South Australia v Western Australia - Adelaide, 12.00pm
Fri, Sep 23 - Victoria Metro v Victoria Country - Melbourne, TBC
*All times local. Match details subject to change.